Feast of Santa Candida Martire

Santa Candida Martire, ora pro nobis

September 20th is the Feast of Santa Candida, Virgin and Martyr. Patroness of fishermen and farmers, she is also the Patron Saint of Ventotene, an island in the Gulf of Gaeta. According to tradition, in the fourth century young Candida and a group of Christian captives were deported from Carthage to the Isle of Ponza, where they were tortured and put to death. Cast into the sea, her lifeless body was discovered on September 20th at the Cala Pozzillo in neighboring Ventotene. 

With the ascension of Charles of Bourbon to the Neapolitan throne, the Pontine Archipelago (Ponza, Ventotene, etc.) was entrusted to him on June 15, 1734 by his mother Elisabetta Farnese. The islands were subsequently colonized with citizens from Campania and in 1774 the Bourbons completed construction of a church dedicated to Santa Candida. In celebration, we're posting a Prayer to Santa Candida. The accompanying photo was taken at Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary and Saint Stephen's Church in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Evviva Santa Candida!

Prayer to Santa Candida

O Glorious Santa Candida, Virgin, Martyr and our merciful Patron, I implore your intercession with confidence. Watch with equally pitiful eye my spiritual and physical infirmities. Do not forsake me, listen to the voice of my heart, and give me your help and your protection. Amen