Saint Florentina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Florentina of Cartagena
Statue from the church of Santa María de Gracia in Cartagena, Spain.
Born	Cartagena, Hispania
Died	ca. 612
Venerated in	Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Feast	20 June

Florentina of Cartagena (died around 612 AD) is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in the middle of the 500s in Cartagena, which is now part of Spain. Florentina and her family were very active in supporting Christianity.

A Family of Saints

Florentina grew up with three brothers who all became important bishops. Her brothers were Leander, Isidore of Seville, and Fulgentius. Leander later became the Archbishop of Seville. Isidore followed him in that role. All four of them are recognized as saints by the Catholic Church.

Becoming a Nun

Florentina lost her parents when she was young. Her older brother Leander, who had already become a monk, took care of her. Because of his influence, Florentina decided to live a special religious life. She gathered other young women who also wanted to dedicate their lives to God. Together, they formed a religious community. Some historical writings say they lived in a convent near a city called Ecija. Her brother Fulgentius was the bishop of that city. Florentina later became the leader, or abbess, of this community.

Guidance from Her Brother

Before the year 600, her brother Leander wrote a book just for her. This book was a guide for nuns, teaching them how to live their lives. It also talked about not being too focused on worldly things. In his book, Leander gave rules for how nuns should live in their convents.

He advised them to avoid spending too much time with people outside the convent. He also told them to be careful around men, especially young men. Leander suggested eating and drinking in moderation. He also gave advice on reading and thinking about the Bible. He encouraged his sister to love everyone in her community equally. Most importantly, he urged her to stay true to her holy promises.

Her Legacy

Florentina followed her brother's advice closely. She lived her religious life with great passion and devotion. After she died, she was honored as a saint. She passed away sometime in the early 600s.

Where She is Honored

Saint Florentina is seen as a special protector of the diocese of Plasencia in Spain. Her feast day, which is a day to celebrate her, is on June 20.

A part of her bones are kept and honored in the cathedral of Murcia, Spain. However, most of her remains are preserved in a place called Berzocana, Spain. In Berzocana, both she and her brother Fulgentius are highly respected.