"Nine miles from Rome along the via Tiburtina, commemoration of Saints Symphorosa and her seven companions (tradition affirms that they were her sons). Crescentius, Julian, Nemesius, Primitivus, Justin, Statius and Eugenius, martyrs, who were martyred in various ways, faithful to their brotherhood with Christ." Thus says the Roman Martyrology about saint Symphorosa and her seven saintly childrenThe saints and blessed, who are commemorated on July 18, together with other saints and blessed, are also commemorated on July 18.
Saint Symphorosa was a Roman matron, mother of martyrs. Her husband, saint Getulio, who was a military tribune, died a martyr in the time of Adriano. This marriage had seven sons whose names we have just mentioned and which tradition preserves. They were a Christian family.
Family of martyrs
Hadrian sent to prison Getulius and his brother Amantius, also a military man, who were beheaded in the Tiber.
Sinforosa spoke to her children about the threat and loyalty to God, the attitude of her father. She had to hide for seven months with her children, hiding in the persecution, and told them about martyrdom. They all said they were willing to die rather than worship idols. The family was arrested. Sinforosa was thrown into the river Teverone, near Tivoli, with a stone tied around her neck. Her children were martyred, and blessed God in the midst of the torment.
"The seven brothers" and other saints
When Hadrian calmed down, the Christians were able to give burial to those they called "the seven brothers", and they built a small church to Symphorosa. Subsequently, her relics were transferred to Rome and placed next to those of her husband St. Getulius.
On the same day, the liturgy commemorates other saints such as Arnulf of Metz, Simon of Lipnica, Bruno of Segni, Dominic Nicholas Dinh Dat, Frederick of Utrecht, Emilianus of Dorostoro, Philastrius of Brescia, Maternus of Milan, Rufilo, St. Theodosia of Constantinople, and the Ukrainian nun Blessed Tarcisia (Olga) Mackiv, murdered in Poland in 1944.
