Ariadne: Name Day and Patron Saint

St Ariadne was a Christian slave in the town of Promissia in Phrygia, in Asia Minor, in the second century, in the reign of the emperor Hadrian. She served in the household of Tertullus, a leading official of the city. When her master’s son was born and Tertullus offered sacrifice to the pagan gods to celebrate, Ariadne would not take part in the idol feast, for she belonged to Christ. For this she was beaten, hung up, and her body was torn with sharp iron hooks. She was then shut in prison and kept a long time without food, in the hope that hunger would make her worship the idols. She went on confessing Christ, and at last she was let go. To escape further pressure she left the city, but Tertullus sent men after her. As they drew near, she ran and called on God to protect her, and through her prayer a cleft opened in the mountainside. She went into it and gave her soul to God, and her pursuers, confused and afraid, fell to striking one another. Some accounts say instead that she fell from a cliff and died. Little else is recorded of her life. The Church keeps her memory on 18 September (1 October on the Old Calendar) and honors her as a martyr, a humble servant who would rather suffer than share in idolatry, and whom God hid in the rock.

What the faithful pray for

• those who serve others and work under hard masters
• the strength to refuse what is against the faith
• those who are pursued or in danger
• patience in hunger and hardship
• refuge in God when there is nowhere to turn