Saint Potenciana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Potenciana
Born	15th century
Died	16th century Villanueva de la Reina
Major shrine	Villanueva de la Reina
Feast	15 April

Saint Potenciana was a Spanish woman who lived a very simple, religious life. She was known as an anchoress, which means she lived alone in a small home, often attached to a church. She probably died in the 1500s. People in her local area honored her as a saint. However, she was never officially made a saint by the Catholic Church. Her name is not in the official list of saints.

Her Life and Story

Even though many people wrote about Saint Potenciana, especially in the 1600s, we don't know many exact details about her life.

Here are some things we know for sure:

A Simple Weaver

In a church called All Saints, near the Guadalquivir river, there was a tomb. An inscription on the tomb said it belonged to Saint Potenciana. Local people remembered her as a woman who lived a simple life. She lived in a small home connected to the church. She worked as a weaver, making cloth.

Why People Honored Her

People saw her as a very holy person. When she died, she was buried inside the church. Many believed that soil from her tomb could help cure illnesses. This was especially true for malaria, which was common then.

In 1628, her tomb was opened. Her remains were moved to Villanueva de la Reina. Some of her remains were also taken to Andújar and to the main church in Jaén. In 1636, a church leader named Bishop Moscoso de Sandoval officially approved her local worship.

On April 15, 1640, her remains were moved again to a newly built small church. But they were later brought back to Villanueva because of flood fears from the river. Sadly, during a time of conflict in 1936, the church in Villanueva was damaged. Her remains were lost at that time.

Living a Hermit's Life

Some people thought Saint Potenciana lived in the 1100s. But it seems she lived much later, probably in the 1400s or 1500s. This was a time when women weavers often lived a quiet, religious life. They sometimes lived alone in small homes attached to churches. Some even chose to live "walled in" to focus completely on their faith. This meant they lived in a very small space, often with a window to the church.

It's important to know that Saint Potenciana was not forced to live this way. She was not punished or hurt for her beliefs. Instead, she was an ordinary woman who chose to live a simple, religious life as a weaver. She was respected by the people around her. They looked to her for comfort and help when they had problems or were sick.

A Similar Name

There is another saint named Pudentiana. Her name is also sometimes called Potentiana, or Potenciana in Spanish.

Patron Saint

Saint Potenciana is the special protector, or patron saint, of Villanueva de la Reina. She was also the patron saint of Andújar until 1909.

See also

In Spanish: Potenciana de Villanueva para niños