Devota
Encyclopedia
Saint Devota is the patron saint
of Corsica
and Monaco
. She was killed during the persecutions of Diocletian
and Maximian
. She is sometimes identified with another Corsican saint named Julia
, who was described in Latin
as Deo devota ("devoted to God"). The description was misinterpreted as a proper name
. The legend connected with her is similar to those told of other saints of the region, such as Saint Reparata
and Saint Torpes.
. A young virgin, she had decided to devote herself fully to the service of God. By order of the prefect Barbarus, she was imprisoned and tortured for her faith. Her mouth was crushed, and her body was dragged through rocks and brambles. She was martyred at Mariana by being racked
or stoned
to death.
After her death, the governor of the province ordered for her body to be burnt to prevent its veneration. However, it was saved from the flames by Christians. Her body was placed on a boat bound for Africa. Gratianus (Graziano), the boat's pilot; Benedict (Benenato), a priest; and Apollinaris, his deacon; believed it would receive proper Christian burial there. However, a storm overtook the boat and a dove
flew out from the mouth of the saint. The dove guided the boat to present-day Les Gaumates, today part of the Principality of Monaco, where a chapel dedicated to Saint George
already stood.
Her mutilated body was discovered by fishermen. In her honor a chapel was built, which stands in Monaco still. Traditionally, flowers are said to bloom before their season on January 27, the saint's feast day.
. The chapel was rebuilt and expanded several times. It became a priory in the 13th century and in 1536 was acquired by Honoré I, Lord of Monaco
.
, Devota's relics were translated to safety at the monastery of Cimiez
. They were returned to Monaco, to a church restored much later by Antonio I
, prince of Monaco.
In 1070, Antinope, the captain of a Florentine
ship, attempted to steal the reliquary containing Devota's relics. The legend states that a violent wind impeded him from escaping with the relics. Arrested, Ugo Grimaldi ordered his ears and nose to be cut off. Antinope's boat was then burnt on the beach of Monaco.
In the 16th century, Devota was invoked for protection against the Genoese
and the Pisa
ns. Their ultimate failure to take away the independence of Monaco was attributed to the divine protection of Devota. An end to the outbreak of the plague
in 1631 was attributed to Devota, as well as the expulsion of the Spanish
on the night of 17 November 1641 -a galley taken from the Spanish was rebaptized "Devota." Monégasque coin
s bearing the effigy of Devota were issued in the 16th century, beginning in the reign of Honoré II, Prince of Monaco
.
Her cult therefore became important to Monaco and the Grimaldis. Louis II, Prince of Monaco
introduced the custom in 1924 of setting fire to a fishing boat on the evening of January 26, in memory of the retributive action against Antinope. A white dove symbolizing her spirit is also released. On January 27, a religious service at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, with the Grimaldis and other important figures, is held and there is a procession of the relics, accompanied by a blessing of the Palace, the town, and the sea. Fireworks
and receptions in the Monte Carlo Opera House also take place. Albert II, Prince of Monaco
participated in this ceremony.
A series of postage stamps bearing Devota's likeness were issued in 1944 as well as 1992.
However, one source has commented that "Saint Devota's name is unfortunately heard on the radio waves solely for the Monaco's Grand Prix Formula 1
for the famous bend of Saint Devota."
Her feast day
is January 27 (formerly January 17).
Joseph Méry
put the legend of Saint Devota into verse. The Monégasque
writer Louis Notari
composed A legenda de Santa Devota in 1927. It is important because it was composed in the Monégasque language
, which until then had been utilized orally.
official recognition of Devota as special patroness of Corsica. These were refused because there was scant evidence of her existence. However, the diffusion of her cult continued and Pascal Paoli created a short-lived "Order of Saint-Devote" in 1757 during the movement for Corsican independence.
In 1820, the first bishop of the diocese of Corsica proclaimed both Saint Devota and Saint Julia to be the principal patron saints of Corsica. In 1893, a church was dedicated to Saint Devota on the island. Her cult was officially approved in 1984 by the bishop of Ajaccio. The new Roman Martyrology
commemorates her on January 27, with the description, "At Mariana, on the island of Corsica, in memory of Saint Devota, virgin and martyr."
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
and Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. She was killed during the persecutions of Diocletian
Diocletian
Diocletian |latinized]] upon his accession to Diocletian . c. 22 December 244 – 3 December 311), was a Roman Emperor from 284 to 305....
and Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
. She is sometimes identified with another Corsican saint named Julia
Julia of Corsica
Saint Julia of Corsica , also known as Saint Julia of Carthage, and more rarely Saint Julia of Nonza, was a virgin martyr who is venerated as a Christian saint. The date of her death is most probably on or after AD 439. She, along with Saint Devota, are the patron saints of Corsica in the Roman...
, who was described in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
as Deo devota ("devoted to God"). The description was misinterpreted as a proper name
Proper name
"A proper name [is] a word that answers the purpose of showing what thing it is that we are talking about" writes John Stuart Mill in A System of Logic , "but not of telling anything about it"...
. The legend connected with her is similar to those told of other saints of the region, such as Saint Reparata
Saint Reparata
Saint Reparata was a third century Christian virgin and martyr, possibly mythical, of Caesarea in Palestine. Sources vary as to her age - from 11 to 20-years old - though the Sainte-Réparte cathedral in Nice gives it as 15 . She was arrested for her faith and tortured during the persecution of...
and Saint Torpes.
Legend
Tradition holds that she was a Corsican woman born around 283 AD at MarianaMariana, Corsica
Mariana is a Roman site south of Biguglia, in the Haute-Corse département of the Corsica région of south-east France. It lies in the littoral area known as La Marana, near the present town of Lucciana. There are several old churches in the area including the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and San...
. A young virgin, she had decided to devote herself fully to the service of God. By order of the prefect Barbarus, she was imprisoned and tortured for her faith. Her mouth was crushed, and her body was dragged through rocks and brambles. She was martyred at Mariana by being racked
Rack (torture)
The rack is a torture device consisting of a rectangular, usually wooden frame, slightly raised from the ground, with a roller at one, or both, ends, having at one end a fixed bar to which the legs were fastened, and at the other a movable bar to which the hands were tied...
or stoned
Stoning
Stoning, or lapidation, is a form of capital punishment whereby a group throws stones at a person until the person dies. No individual among the group can be identified as the one who kills the subject, yet everyone involved plainly bears some degree of moral culpability. This is in contrast to the...
to death.
After her death, the governor of the province ordered for her body to be burnt to prevent its veneration. However, it was saved from the flames by Christians. Her body was placed on a boat bound for Africa. Gratianus (Graziano), the boat's pilot; Benedict (Benenato), a priest; and Apollinaris, his deacon; believed it would receive proper Christian burial there. However, a storm overtook the boat and a dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
flew out from the mouth of the saint. The dove guided the boat to present-day Les Gaumates, today part of the Principality of Monaco, where a chapel dedicated to Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
already stood.
Her mutilated body was discovered by fishermen. In her honor a chapel was built, which stands in Monaco still. Traditionally, flowers are said to bloom before their season on January 27, the saint's feast day.
Sainte-Dévote Chapel
The Saint-Devote chapel is first mentioned about 1070, belonging to the abbey of Saint-PonsSaint-Pons
Saint-Pons is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Saint-Pons, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence département* Saint-Pons, Ardèche, in the Ardèche département...
. The chapel was rebuilt and expanded several times. It became a priory in the 13th century and in 1536 was acquired by Honoré I, Lord of Monaco
Honoré I, Lord of Monaco
Honoré I was Lord of Monaco from August 22, 1523 to October 7, 1581.Honoré was the youngest child of Lucien Grimaldi and Jeanne de Pontevès-Cabanes. He became Lord of Monaco at the age of 9 months, upon the assassination of his father on August 22, 1523...
.
Veneration in Monaco
Reports of miracles soon sprung in connection with the tomb. During incursions by MoorsMoors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
, Devota's relics were translated to safety at the monastery of Cimiez
Cimiez
Cimiez is a neighborhood in Nice, southern France. The area contains the Musée Matisse and the ruins of Cemenelum, capital of the Ancient Roman province Alpes Maritimae on the Ligurian coast...
. They were returned to Monaco, to a church restored much later by Antonio I
Antonio I of Monaco
Antonio I was the Prince of Monaco from 1701 to 1731. He was the elder son of Louis I, Prince of Monaco and Catherine Charlotte de Gramont....
, prince of Monaco.
In 1070, Antinope, the captain of a Florentine
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
ship, attempted to steal the reliquary containing Devota's relics. The legend states that a violent wind impeded him from escaping with the relics. Arrested, Ugo Grimaldi ordered his ears and nose to be cut off. Antinope's boat was then burnt on the beach of Monaco.
In the 16th century, Devota was invoked for protection against the Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
and the Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
ns. Their ultimate failure to take away the independence of Monaco was attributed to the divine protection of Devota. An end to the outbreak of the plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
in 1631 was attributed to Devota, as well as the expulsion of the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on the night of 17 November 1641 -a galley taken from the Spanish was rebaptized "Devota." Monégasque coin
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
s bearing the effigy of Devota were issued in the 16th century, beginning in the reign of Honoré II, Prince of Monaco
Honoré II, Prince of Monaco
Honoré II was Sovereign Prince of Monaco. He was the first to be called Prince, but started his reign as Lord of Monaco....
.
Her cult therefore became important to Monaco and the Grimaldis. Louis II, Prince of Monaco
Louis II, Prince of Monaco
Louis II was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 27 June 1922 until 9 May 1949.-Early years:Born Louis Honoré Charles Antoine Grimaldi in Baden-Baden, Germany, he was the only child of Prince Albert I of Monaco , and Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton...
introduced the custom in 1924 of setting fire to a fishing boat on the evening of January 26, in memory of the retributive action against Antinope. A white dove symbolizing her spirit is also released. On January 27, a religious service at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, with the Grimaldis and other important figures, is held and there is a procession of the relics, accompanied by a blessing of the Palace, the town, and the sea. Fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
and receptions in the Monte Carlo Opera House also take place. Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly...
participated in this ceremony.
A series of postage stamps bearing Devota's likeness were issued in 1944 as well as 1992.
However, one source has commented that "Saint Devota's name is unfortunately heard on the radio waves solely for the Monaco's Grand Prix Formula 1
Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula One race held each year on the Circuit de Monaco. Run since 1929, it is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world, alongside the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans...
for the famous bend of Saint Devota."
Her feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is January 27 (formerly January 17).
Joseph Méry
Joseph Méry
Joseph Méry was a French writer.Méry was born at Marseille. An ardent romanticist, he collaborated with Auguste Barthélemy in many of his satires and wrote a great number of stories, now forgotten...
put the legend of Saint Devota into verse. The Monégasque
Monégasque
Monégasque may refer to:* Monégasque dialect, the local Ligurian dialect of Monaco* Something of, from, or related to Monaco, a small sovereign city-state located in southwestern Europe...
writer Louis Notari
Louis Notari
Louis Notari was the pioneer of Monégasque literature. He wrote in the French and Monégasque languages.-Principal writings:...
composed A legenda de Santa Devota in 1927. It is important because it was composed in the Monégasque language
Monégasque language
Monégasque is a dialect of the modern Ligurian language, spoken in Monaco.- Language family :Forming a part of the Western Romance dialect continuum, Monégasque shares many features with the variety of Ligurian spoken in Genoa, but differs from its neighboring dialects Intemelio and Mentonasc. It...
, which until then had been utilized orally.
Diffusion of cult in Corsica
In the 17th century, some of Devota's relics were transported from Monaco to the Jesuit church of Sant'Ignazio on the island. Between 1727 and 1751, attempts were made to receive from the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
official recognition of Devota as special patroness of Corsica. These were refused because there was scant evidence of her existence. However, the diffusion of her cult continued and Pascal Paoli created a short-lived "Order of Saint-Devote" in 1757 during the movement for Corsican independence.
In 1820, the first bishop of the diocese of Corsica proclaimed both Saint Devota and Saint Julia to be the principal patron saints of Corsica. In 1893, a church was dedicated to Saint Devota on the island. Her cult was officially approved in 1984 by the bishop of Ajaccio. The new Roman Martyrology
Martyrology
A martyrology is a catalogue or list of martyrs , arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts. Local martyrologies record exclusively the custom of a particular Church. Local lists were enriched by names borrowed from neighbouring churches...
commemorates her on January 27, with the description, "At Mariana, on the island of Corsica, in memory of Saint Devota, virgin and martyr."