St. Gabinus

St. Gabinus (c. 250 - 296)

St. Gabinus was born into a noble family in Rome. His brother St. Caius became the 28th (29th) Bishop of Rome, serving as Pope for 12 years.

St. Gabinus was a priest and the father of St. Susanna whose original feast day was celebrated on August 11. Due to lack of information the feast day was removed. Her story is considered a legend, however her death is recorded in Roman Martyrology. She is believed to have been beheaded in her father’s house in the year 295 after refusing to marry [Maximilian], the son in law of the pagan Emperor Diocletian. She was believed to have converted the court officers sent to convince her to marry, however, she had taken a vow of virginity.

One year later St. Gabinus was also beheaded, making him a martyr, in the year 296. He is believed to have been a missionary priest. His feast day is celebrated on Feb. 19. The Basilica San Gavino was built to honor him and local martyrs in Porte Torres, Italy.

St. Gabinus. February 19th

St. Gabinus was the father of St. Susanna. In the Spring of 293 AD, Diocletian announced the engagement of [Maxentius Galerius] to Susanna. Susanna refused the marriage proposal. Her father Gabinus and her uncle Caius supported this decision and encouraged her to keep her commitment to Christ. Her non-Christian uncles, Claudius and Maximus tried to persuade Susanna to marry [Maxentius], after all this would make her Empress one day. In a conversation between the four brothers, Claudius and Maximus were converted to Christianity. The [General Maxentius] then came to the house, believing he could persuade Susanna to marry him. Susanna’s refusal soon led to the suspicion that she and other members of her family might be Christians. The Roman Consul [Macedonius] then called Susanna to Roman Forum and asked her to prove her loyalty to the state by performing an act of worship before the God Jupiter. She refused, confirming the fact that both she and other members of her family might well be Christian, There was no attempt to arrest her however, as she was a member of the Emperor’s family.

Susanna refused the marriage proposal, not only because she was a Christian but in addition, she had taken a vow of virginity. When Diocletian on the eastern frontier learned of his cousin’s refusal and the reasons why, he was deeply angered, and ordered her execution. A cohort of soldiers arrived at the house and beheaded her. Her father Gabinus was arrested and starved to death in prison. Maximus and Claudius, together with Claudius’s wife Prepedigna and their children, Alexander and Cuzia are all martyred. Ironically the only survivor was Pope Caius, who had escaped and hid in the catacombs. These murders within Diocletian’s own family would foreshadow the last great persecution against the Christian church which the Emperor began in 303 AD. Diocletian’s daughter Valeria was divorced, and in June 293 AD married [Maxentius] who would succeed Diocletian in 305 AD.

In the year 330 AD, a basilica was built over the site of the house of Susanna. It was first named San Caius in honor of the pope who had lived here. The bodies of Susanna and Gabinus were brought back from the catacombs and buried in the church.

Excerpted from The Church of Santa Susanna.

Sources:

• Gabinus, wikipedia
• Gabinus, wikiwand
• Saint Gabinus, catholicism.org
• Prayers, Quips and Quotes; St Gabinus, Feast Day Feb. 19, January 19, 2022, author Vicki Scheenstra, The Mystery of Faith - Discovering the Spirituality of Catholism
• St. Gabinus, His life - Basilica di San Gavino
• Image

References:

• "Sts. Gabinus and Crispulus". CatholicSaints.Info.
• Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001 ISBN 88-209-7210-7)

External links:

• Santi Gavino, Proto e Gianuario Martiri di Porto Torres (in Italian)
• Saint Gabin of Porto Torres (in French)
• Saint Gabin de Rome (in French)
• Gabino (in Spanish)