VV (8) - Seraphina

[David Morris]

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saints/fina.html

"St. Fina or Seraphina, Virgin A.D. 1253 The old town of San Geminiano in 
Tuscany treasures with special veneration the memory of Santa Fina, a young 
girl whose claim to be recognized as a saint lay in the perfect resignation 
with which she accepted bodily suffering. She was born of parents who had 
seen better days but had fallen into poverty. The child was pretty and 
attractive. Poor as she was she always kept half her food to give to those 
who were worse off than herself. As far as possible she lived the life of a 
recluse at home, sewing indeed and spinning during the day, ;but spending 
much of the night in prayer. Her father seems to have died when she was 
still young and about the same time Fina was attacked by a sudden 
complication of diseases. Her head, hands, eyes, feet and internal organs 
were affected and paralysis supervened. She lost her good looks and became a 
miserable object. Desiring to be like our Lord on the cross, for six years 
she lay on a plank in one position, unable to turn or to move. Her mother 
had to leave her for hours while she went to work or beg, but Fina never 
complained. Although in terrible pain she always maintained serenity and 
with her eyes fixed upon the crucifix she kept on repeating,"It is not my 
wounds but thine, O Christ, that hurt me".

Fresh trouble befell her. Her mother died suddenly and Fina was left utterly 
destitute. Except for one devoted friend Beldia she was now so neglected 
that it was clear she could not live long, dependent on the casual 
attentions of poor neighbors who shrank from contact with her loathsome 
sores. Someone had told her about St. Gregory the Great and his sufferings, 
and she had conceived a special veneration for him. She used to pray that 
he, who was so much tried by disease would intercede with God that she might 
have patience in her affliction. Eight days before her death as she lay 
alone and untended, Gregory appeared to her and said, "Dear child on my 
festival God will give you rest". And it came to pass when her body was 
removed from the board on which it had rested, the rotten wood was found to 
be covered with white violets. All the city attended the funeral and many 
miracles were reported as having been wrought through her intercession. In 
particular she is said as she lay dead, to have raised her hand and to have 
clasped and healed the injured arm of her friend Beldia. The peasants of San 
Geminiano still give the name of Santa Fina's flowers to the white violets 
which bloom about the season of her feast day of March 12th."

http://www.abcgallery.com/G/ghirlandao/ghirlandaio16.html
Domenico Ghirlandaio. The Funeral of St. Fina. 1475. Fresco.


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