2nd century
Saint Sophia and her daughters Faith, Hope and Love
A mother and her three daughters martyred in Rome in the second century.
Biography
Sophia, a devout widow, came from Rome with her three daughters, Faith, Hope and Love, names inspired by the verse of 1 Corinthians 13:13. According to tradition, the four women were denounced as Christians to Emperor Hadrian, who ordered their arrest.
The three daughters, aged between nine and twelve, were questioned separately from their mother and refused to renounce their faith despite promises and torture; each was beheaded in turn.
Sophia buried her daughters with honor and remained at their graves for three days in prayer, until she too gave up her spirit beside them.