Saint Irene of Tomar (Portuguese: Santa Iria) (c.635 – c.653) was a Christian who was martyred for her faith in VisigothicPortugal. Her parents, wishing to protect her, sent her to a convent school and a private tutor. The only times she left her house was to attend Mass or pray at the sanctuary of Saint Peter. The legend of her life is possibly little more than that.[1]
Legend says that Irene was born in Nabância, present-day Tomar, Portugal. She was born into an influential family, and her parents, wishing to protect her, sent her to a convent school and a private tutor. The only times she left her house was to attend Mass or pray at the sanctuary of Saint Peter. A young nobleman named Britald saw her once and fell in love with her. Every time she left to go to church, he would follow her. Eventually he came forward with his proposal to court her; however, Irene made it clear that she would never marry him. When Britald became depressed, Irene hastened to make it clear to him that the reason for her celibacy was that she had given herself to God as a nun.[1]
Meanwhile, her tutor, a monk named Remigius (or Remígio) made improper advances to her, and when she declined, quit and spread vicious rumors about her. When asked why he was no longer tutoring the girl, he replied that he had left upon having learned that she was pregnant. In addition, he managed to give her a drink that brought about her belly to inflate. All these news circulated around the town, and eventually Britald learned of her supposed infidelity. Enraged, he hired a mercenary soldier to kill her; as Irene was returning home from visiting an elderly disabled man, the assassin approached from behind and killed her with a single stroke of his sword.[1]
Venerationedit
Her body was thrown into the Nabão River, that flows into the Tagus. Later, it was recovered uncorrupted from this river by Benedictines near the town of Scalabis. Legend says that her uncle abbot Celius had received from Christ a revelation about the true story of her niece and the location of her body. The monks gave her a proper burial, and spread her cultus. Eventually, so great was the reverence paid to the virgin saint, that the name of the town of Scalabis was changed to Santarém ("Saint Irene").[1]
Irene is the patron saint of Tomar and namesake Santarém. Her feast day is celebrated on 20 October.
^ abcdEncyclopedia of Catholic Saints, Vol. 10, (1966) Chilton Books, pp. 99–100 [1]
Bibliographyedit
Oliveira, Miguel de, Santa Iria e Santarém. Lenda e História. Estudos hagiográficos, Lisboa, União Gráfica, 1964
Costa, Avelino de Jesus, Santa Iria e Santarém, revisão de um problema hagiográfico e toponímico, Coimbra, FLUC, 1972
External linksedit
(in Italian) Sant' Irene del Portogallo
October 29, 2023
irene, tomar, saint, portuguese, santa, iria, christian, martyred, faith, visigothic, portugal, parents, wishing, protect, sent, convent, school, private, tutor, only, times, left, house, attend, mass, pray, sanctuary, saint, peter, legend, life, possibly, lit. Saint Irene of Tomar Portuguese Santa Iria c 635 c 653 was a Christian who was martyred for her faith in Visigothic Portugal Her parents wishing to protect her sent her to a convent school and a private tutor The only times she left her house was to attend Mass or pray at the sanctuary of Saint Peter The legend of her life is possibly little more than that 1 Irene of TomarVirgin and martyrBornc 635Tomar PortugalDiedc 653Scalabis Santarem PortugalVenerated inRoman Catholic ChurchFeast20 OctoberAttributesas a nun with the palm of martyrdomPatronageTomar Portugal Santarem Santa Iria de Azoia pt Loures The murder of Irene lithography by Manuel Macedo and Alfredo Roque Gameiro 1904 Contents 1 Legend 2 Veneration 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksLegend editLegend says that Irene was born in Nabancia present day Tomar Portugal She was born into an influential family and her parents wishing to protect her sent her to a convent school and a private tutor The only times she left her house was to attend Mass or pray at the sanctuary of Saint Peter A young nobleman named Britald saw her once and fell in love with her Every time she left to go to church he would follow her Eventually he came forward with his proposal to court her however Irene made it clear that she would never marry him When Britald became depressed Irene hastened to make it clear to him that the reason for her celibacy was that she had given herself to God as a nun 1 Meanwhile her tutor a monk named Remigius or Remigio made improper advances to her and when she declined quit and spread vicious rumors about her When asked why he was no longer tutoring the girl he replied that he had left upon having learned that she was pregnant In addition he managed to give her a drink that brought about her belly to inflate All these news circulated around the town and eventually Britald learned of her supposed infidelity Enraged he hired a mercenary soldier to kill her as Irene was returning home from visiting an elderly disabled man the assassin approached from behind and killed her with a single stroke of his sword 1 Veneration editHer body was thrown into the Nabao River that flows into the Tagus Later it was recovered uncorrupted from this river by Benedictines near the town of Scalabis Legend says that her uncle abbot Celius had received from Christ a revelation about the true story of her niece and the location of her body The monks gave her a proper burial and spread her cultus Eventually so great was the reverence paid to the virgin saint that the name of the town of Scalabis was changed to Santarem Saint Irene 1 Irene is the patron saint of Tomar and namesake Santarem Her feast day is celebrated on 20 October See also edit St Irene article in Catalan Wikipedia Saint Irene of Tomar patron saint archiveReferences edit a b c d Encyclopedia of Catholic Saints Vol 10 1966 Chilton Books pp 99 100 1 Bibliography editOliveira Miguel de Santa Iria e Santarem Lenda e Historia Estudos hagiograficos Lisboa Uniao Grafica 1964 Costa Avelino de Jesus Santa Iria e Santarem revisao de um problema hagiografico e toponimico Coimbra FLUC 1972External links edit in Italian Sant Irene del Portogallo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Irene of Tomar amp oldid 1172565419, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
