The Samaritan Woman at the Well: St. Photina

On Friday in the Third Week of Lent we read in the Gospel for the Mass in the Traditional Roman Rite the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. This woman, though few know it, is known as St. Photina, who eventually died as a martyr for the Faith.

Coincidentally, today is also the 20th day of March. And in the Roman Maryrology for today, we also happen to read her entry:

"The same day, the Saints Photina, a Samaritan, and her sons Joseph and Victor; also, Sebastian, military officer, Anatolius, and Photius; Photides, Parasceves and Cyriaca, sisters, who were all martyred for confessing Christ."

Catholic Online provides the following entry on St. Photina:

"According to Greek tradition, Photiona was the Samaritan woman with whom Jesus spoke at the well as was recounted in the Gospel of St. John, chapter four. Deeply moved by the experience, she took to preaching the Gospel, received imprisonment, and was finally martyred at Carthage. Another tradition states that Photina was put to death in Rome after converting the daughter of Emperor Nero and one hundred of her servants. She supposedly died in Rome with her sons Joseph and Victor, along with several other Christians, including Sebastian, Photius, Parasceve, Photis, Cyriaca, and Victor. They were perhaps included in the Roman Martyrology by Cardinal Cesare Baronius owing to the widely held view that the head of Photina was preserved in the church of St. Paul's Outside the Walls." 

May St. Photina and her sons pray for us to the Lord. Just as she saw our Lord and converted, may all those who are away from the Catholic Faith be touched by grace and enter the Holy Catholic Church through the saving waters of Baptism.