Devota
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Devota (; ; died ca. 303 AD) is the
patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, fa ...
of
Corsica Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...
and
Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...
. She was killed during the persecutions of the Roman Emperors
Diocletian Diocletian ( ; ; ; 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed Jovius, was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Diocles to a family of low status in the Roman province of Dalmatia (Roman province), Dalmatia. As with other Illyri ...
and
Maximian Maximian (; ), nicknamed Herculius, was Roman emperor from 286 to 305. He was ''Caesar (title), Caesar'' from 285 to 286, then ''Augustus (title), Augustus'' from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocleti ...
. She is sometimes identified with another Corsican saint named Julia, who was described in
Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
as ''Deo devota'' ("devoted to God"). The description was misinterpreted as a
proper name A proper noun is a noun that identifies a single entity and is used to refer to that entity (''Africa''; ''Jupiter''; ''Sarah''; ''Walmart'') as distinguished from a common noun, which is a noun that refers to a class of entities (''continent, pl ...
. The legend connected with her is similar to those told of other saints of the region, such as Reparata and Torpes of Pisa.


Legend

Tradition holds that she was a Corsican woman born around 283 AD at Mariana in northeastern Corsica. A young virgin, she had decided to devote herself fully to the service of God. Devota was part of the household of senator Eutychius. During the Diocletian persecution, the prefect Barbarus arrived in Corsica with a fleet and when he learned that the senator was harboring a Christian in his house, demanded that she be given up and compelled to perform the requisite sacrifice to the imperial cult. Eutychius refused, and not wishing to confront him directly, Barbarus arranged to have him poisoned. Devota was imprisoned and tortured for her faith. She was martyred at Mariana by being racked or stoned to death.Arduino, Fabio. "Santa Devota", Santa e Beati
/ref> After her death, the governor of the province ordered for her body to be burnt to prevent its veneration. However, it was saved from the flames by Christians. Her body was placed on a boat bound for
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
. Gratianus (Graziano), the boat's
pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...
; Benedict (Benenato), a priest; and Apollinaris, his deacon; believed it would receive proper Christian burial there. However, a storm overtook the boat. A dove appeared and guided the boat to present-day Les Gaumates, today part of the Principality of
Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...
, where a chapel dedicated to
Saint George Saint George (;Geʽez: ጊዮርጊስ, , ka, გიორგი, , , died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was an early Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to holy tradition, he was a soldier in the ...
stood. In her honor a chapel was built, which stands in Monaco still. Traditionally, flowers are said to bloom before their season on January 27, the saint's feast day.


Sainte-Dévote Chapel

The Sainte-Dévote Chapel is first mentioned about 1070, belonging to the abbey of Saint Pons. The chapel was rebuilt and expanded several times. It became a priory in the 13th century and in 1536 was acquired by
Honoré I, Lord of Monaco Honoré I or Onorato I (16 December 1522 – 7 October 1581) was Monaco, Lord of Monaco from 22 August 1523 to 7 October 1581. Life Honoré was the youngest child of Lucien, Lord of Monaco, Lucien Grimaldi (1487–1523) and Jeanne de Pontevès-C ...
. The chapel became the parish church in 1887.


Veneration in Monaco

The "Legend of Saint Devota" is one of the Principality of Monaco's oldest traditions – it has influenced national culture in fields as diverse as religion, folklore and popular beliefs, history, literature, the arts, painting, music, coins and stamps. This legend, passed on through a medieval document, holds a special place in the heart of Monaco's people and over the centuries has been awarded a permanent place in the city's history."Saint Devota's Feast", Palais Princier de Monaco, January 27, 2013
/ref> Reports of miracles soon sprung in connection with the tomb. During incursions by
Moors The term Moor is an Endonym and exonym, exonym used in European languages to designate the Muslims, Muslim populations of North Africa (the Maghreb) and the Iberian Peninsula (particularly al-Andalus) during the Middle Ages. Moors are not a s ...
, Devota's relics were translated to safety at the monastery of Cimiez. They were returned to Monaco, to a church restored much later by Antonio I, prince of Monaco. In 1070, Antinope, the captain of a Florentine ship, attempted to steal the reliquary containing Devota's relics. The legend states that a violent wind impeded him from escaping with the relics. Arrested, Ugo Grimaldi ordered his ears and nose to be cut off. Antinope's boat was then burnt on the beach of Monaco. In the 16th century, Devota was invoked for protection against the Genoese and the
Pisa Pisa ( ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Tuscany, Central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for the Leaning Tow ...
ns. Their ultimate failure to take away the independence of Monaco was attributed to the divine protection of Devota. An end to the outbreak of the plague in 1631 was attributed to Devota, as well as the expulsion of the Spanish on the night of 17 November 1641 a
galley A galley is a type of ship optimised for propulsion by oars. Galleys were historically used for naval warfare, warfare, Maritime transport, trade, and piracy mostly in the seas surrounding Europe. It developed in the Mediterranean world during ...
taken from the Spanish was rebaptized "Devota." Monégasque
coin A coin is a small object, usually round and flat, used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to facilitate trade. They are most often issued by ...
s bearing the effigy of Devota were issued in the 16th century, beginning in the reign of
Honoré II, Prince of Monaco Honoré II (24 December 1597 – 10 January 1662) was Prince of Monaco from 1604 to 1662. He was the first to be called Prince (in 1612), but started his reign as Lord of Monaco. Early life Honoré II was born on 24 December 1597. He was the so ...
. During his reign, Devota became the patroness of Monaco. A series of postage stamps bearing Devota's likeness were issued in 1944 as well as 1992. However, as the Sainte-Dévote Chapel lends its name to the first corner of the
Circuit de Monaco Circuit de Monaco is a street circuit laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the Principality of Monaco. It is commonly, and even officially, referred to as "Monte Carlo" because it is largely inside ...
, one source has commented that "Saint Devota's name is unfortunately heard on the radio waves solely for the Monaco's Grand Prix Formula 1 for the famous bend of Saint Devota." Joseph Méry put the legend of Saint Devota into verse. The first book written in Monegasque language by the Monegasque poet, Louis Notari, is entitled ''A legenda de Santa Devota'' (The Legend of Saint Devota). It was composed in 1927 and is important because until then the Monégasque language, had been utilized for speech.Saint Devote, patron saint of Monaco
/ref>


Feast day

Her cult became important to Monaco and the Grimaldis. Since 1874 it has been the custom that on the evening before her feast day a symbolic fishing boat is brought in procession into Port-Hercule and set alight outside the Église Sainte Dévote. This is followed by a fireworks display that lights up Port-Hercule. On January 27, Mass is celebrated in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception attended by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene. It is followed by a Solemn Procession of the Relics, to request protection for the Royal Family and the Principality. Receptions in the Monte Carlo Opera House also take place. In 2014 the Monegasque Rugby Federation, in association with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, organized the Saint Devota Rugby Challenge. Including teams from Spain and Italy, the free program includes educational workshops and circuits for disabled children, to introduce them to the game.


Diffusion of cult in Corsica

In the 1687, some of Devota's relics were transported from Monaco to the
Jesuit The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order (Catholic), religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rom ...
church of Sant'Ignazio on the island. Between 1727 and 1751, attempts were made to receive from the
Vatican Vatican may refer to: Geography * Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy * Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City * Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome * Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...
official recognition of Devota as special patroness of Corsica. These were refused because there was scant evidence of her existence. However, the diffusion of her cult continued and
Pasquale Paoli Filippo Antonio Pasquale de' Paoli (; or ; ; 6 April 1725 – 5 February 1807) was a Corsican patriot, statesman, and military leader who was at the forefront of resistance movements against the Republic of Genoa, Genoese and later Kingd ...
created a short-lived "Order of Saint Devota" in 1757 during the movement for Corsican independence. In 1820, the first bishop of the diocese of Corsica proclaimed both Saint Devota and Saint Julia to be the principal patron saints of Corsica. In 1893, a church was dedicated to Saint Devota on the island. Her cult was officially approved in 1984 by the bishop of Ajaccio. The new ''
Roman Martyrology The ''Roman Martyrology'' () is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved appendices to it. It provid ...
'' commemorates her on January 27, with the description, "At Mariana, on the island of Corsica, in memory of Saint Devota, virgin and martyr."


Legacy

Saint Devota was recently selected as the main motif of a high value collector's coin; the €5 silver 1700th anniversary of Saint Devota's death commemorative coin, minted in 2004. On the reverse of the coin, a statue of the saint can be seen. Next to it is a representation of the dove guiding the boat to the coast of Monaco, as recorded in the legend.


Notes


Sources


Prince's Palace of MonacoBaring-Gould, Sabine. ''The Lives of the Saints'', J. Hodges., 1877


External links


Monaco Revue video of Saint Devote celebrations 2008Monaco and the legend or passion of Saint Devote (11th century), by Claude Passet



Santa DevotaChurch Sainte Devote
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devota 3rd-century births 303 deaths People from Haute-Corse 4th-century Roman women 4th-century Romans Culture of Monaco 4th-century Christian martyrs Gallo-Roman saints Corsican saints Virgin martyrs