St. Honorina

Feastday: February 27
Patron: of boatmen
Death: 303

The most ancient, revered virgin martyr in Normandy, France.

 

For other uses, see Honorine.

Saint Honorina (French: Sainte Honorine) is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. She is the oldest, most revered virgin martyr in the Normandy area of France but little is known of her. According to a tradition that exists in the diocese of Rouen, Honorina, a member of the Calates, was martyred during the persecutions of Diocletian. The spot of her martyrdom is said to have been Mélamare between Lillebonne and Harfleur. Her body was thrown into the Seine and would have drifted to Graville-Sainte-Honorine, where it was collected by Christians and buried in a tomb.

Another tradition holds that she was martyred at Coulonces. Other traditions place Honorina's martyrdom in the Pays d'Auge, where several villages bear her name.

Relics

In 876, with the coast threatened by the Normans, the monks guarding her relics moved them closer to the interior, at the confluence of the Seine and the Oise, placing them in the chapel associated with a fortress. On 21 June 1082 the castle of Conflans was destroyed during a siege. The monks therefore decided to build a church outside of the town walls, dedicated to Honorina. Her relics were transported solemnly in the presence of the bishop of Paris. The town to this day is called Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

Veneration

The church of Sainte-Honorine. Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.

A confraternity was founded in her honor in later years, and special indulgences associated with her cult were also approved. Saint Honorina is the patron saint of boatmen, since Conflans-Sainte-Honorine became a port of arrival for the tugs that travel on the rivers and canals of northern France.

Prisoners who were liberated thanks to the divine intercession of Saint Honorina brought their chains as an ex-voto.

A regional pilgrimage, on Ascension Day, developed thanks to the monks of the priory of Conflans, who were associated with Bec Abbey.

There are several French towns that are named Sainte-Honorine.

Notes

1. ^ Borelli, 2002.