Saint Prisca was a child martyr who  lived over seventeen hundred years ago and died at the age of 13. She lived in Rome and her parents were from a noble Christian family. Her parents attended Holy Mass in secret chapels underground for fear of being suspected as Christians. Prisca believed in Christ and was not scared to show it. Having been reported as a Christian to the Emperor's officers, she was taken by the guards and presented before the Emperor.

Claudius, the Emperor, was surprised at how young she was and thought he could change her mind and make her obey him. He made his men take her to one of the seven hills of Rome and offer incense to the god of the silver bow. She was taken to the temple of Apollo, the sun-god, and was placed in front of a fire. They gave her incense and demanded her to throw it in the fire for the sun-god. Prisca knew it was wrong to worship false gods and refused.

The furious emperor ordered the soldiers to whip her until she obeyed. The young girl did not give in to the torture and was admired by many for her bravery. Tradition says that she appeared in a robe of yellow sunshine. A glorious light shone around her, and she seemed to be a human star giving off light.

After being whipped, Prisca was imprisoned in solitude. She was then taken to the amphitheatre to be executed by animals (ad bestias). Unfazed by the crowd, the little saint immersed herself in prayer. A hungry lion was let out to the arena to tear her down. To the surprise of the crowd, the lion which had dashed out of the den to pounce on the girl stopped suddenly. The lion then walked up to Prisca, bent his head and licked her bare feet and crouched down by her side. The whole crowd went silent. The emperor watched in disbelief as she played with the lion’s mane.

Amazed and puzzled by her bravery, the emperor granted her one more chance for survival. She was taken to the heathen temple and told to sacrifice to the pagan gods and renounce Christianity. Though ill and tired she did not give into the orders. Realising that the girl would never obey the Emperor, they brought her outside the Ostian gate and beheaded her.

It is told that Prisca never cried or screamed or showed the slightest fear while being beheaded. After she was executed, an eagle was seen hovering over her lifeless body. The attempt of the Roman guards to remove her body was foiled by the eagle, as every time they tried to do so, the eagle came down with dreadful screeches. No one dared to touch Prisca because they feared the great eagle.

Christians eventually approached to bury her body in secret and the eagle allowed them to do so. They buried her in a secret cemetery where the Romans could not find her.

Saint Prisca stayed strong when she saw everyone else around her becoming weak. No one else dared to speak of God for fear of being persecuted. Prisca stood up for her faith and was able to influence others. The citizens of Rome saw her strength and courage. They saw how brave she was and how much she truly believed in her faith. It is amazing how she was able to stay that strong for so long since she was only a child.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Margaret of Hungary
2. Saint Deicola
3. Saint Paul of Egypt
4. Saint Susanna the Martyr
5. Saint Archelais the Martyr

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