Liberata and Faustina of Como were sisters who lived as holy virgins in

Como Como (, ; , or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Nestled at the southwestern branch of the picturesque Lake Como, the city is a renowned tourist destination, ce ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, during the 6th century. They founded the Convent of Santa Margarita in the town, and both died around 580 AD.

Traditional account

Liberata and Faustina were the daughters of one Giovannato, who lived in the fortress of Olgisio in Pianello Val Tidone, in the province of Piacenza, where there are prehistoric caves known as the caves of the "Saints". Although promised in marriage, after a vision of a woman mourning the death of her husband, the sisters fled the castle and lived as hermits.Troletti, Federico. "The continuity between pagan and Christian cult", Scandinavian Society
/ref> They later moved to Como and joined the

Benedictines The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly Christian mysticism, contemplative Christian monasticism, monastic Religious order (Catholic), order of the Catholic Church for men and f ...

. According to Federico Troletti, the cult of Saint Faustina and Liberata is an isolated phenomenon in the Camonica Valley, where it is believed a flood was averted through their intercession. Liberata and Faustina were invoked as patronesses of women in labour. Their feast day is 18 January.

References

6th-century Christian saints Italian Roman Catholic saints Medieval Italian saints Female saints of medieval Italy 6th-century Italian women 6th-century Italo-Roman people {{Italy-saint-stub