St. Balbina

The story of Balbina is introduced in the legendary Acts of Sts. Alexander and Balbina, where it is said that she was the daughter of Quirinus, a Tribune in the Roman Army. Usuardus speaks of her in his martyrology; his account of St. Balbina rests on the record of the martyrdom of St. Alexander. Legend has it that Pope Alexander I healed the daughter of Quirinius of a goiter by telling her to kiss the chains that had bound Peter in prison. Quirinius and his whole family converted to the Christian faith.  Quirinus was then arrested as a Christian and martyred through decapitation on March 30, 116. He was buried in the catacomb of Prætextatus on the Via Appia. His grave was later regarded with great veneration and is referred to in the old itineraries (guides for pilgrims) of the Roman catacombs. It is not fully known what happened to Balbina after the death of her father, but some accounts list her as living as a virgin recluse nun until her death in 130 A.D. Her feast is kept on March 31, a day after her father’s.