Saint Prisca

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Saint Prisca
Died	late 1st century
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Major shrine	Santa Prisca
Feast	January 18
Saints Portal

Saint Prisca was a Roman young woman allegedly tortured and executed for her Christian faith. She is revered as a saint and a martyr by the Roman Catholic Church.

[edit] Legend

Prisca was of a noble family and at thirteen years of age was accused of Christianity before Emperor Claudius. By his command she was taken to the temple of Apollo to sacrifice there, and when she refused, was buffeted and sent to prison. She was released from prison, but when she still held steadfastly to the faith, they flogged her, poured boiling tallow upon her, and sent her back a second time. She was at last thrown to a lion in the amphitheater, but it quietly lay down at her feet. She was starved for three days in a slaves' prison house, and then tortured upon the rack. Pieces of flesh were next torn from her body with iron hooks, and she was thrown on a burning pile. She miraculously still remained alive, and was accordingly beheaded outside the city.