Saint Beata of Sens

Beata of Sens (died 273; some sources state 277) was a Christian martyr during the reign of Aurelian (died 275) and is a saint in the Catholic Church. Beata was born in Spain. During the persecution of Christians, she left her home country and traveled to Sens in Gaul (modern-day Yonne department), which was also hostile to Christians. There, she soon suffered martyrdom for her faith alongside Sanctian and Augustine. Their history, recorded in the Archdiocese of Sens-Auxerre in the late 8th or early 9th century, states that the three were companions of Saint Columba, who also hailed from Spain. Other Spaniards from this period, Felix and Aubert, are also mentioned in the history of the diocese. Beata was buried outside the city, and a funerary chapel was erected at her burial site, which was destroyed by the Saracens in 731. A new chapel—or, according to some sources, a church—was built in its place, only to be destroyed by the Normans. In 877, Bishop Anségise of Sens translated her relics into the city. The Passio, which contains local traditions mixed with hagiographic invention, dates from this period. Her relics were placed in the church of St-Pierre-le-Vif. Her liturgical feast day is celebrated on September 6. She should not be confused with another Saint Beata, listed in the Roman Martyrology since 1584 as Benedicta (Yonne department) and commemorated on June 29, who was likely the mother of Sydronius, a martyr of Sens (though the martyrdom of Sydronius is considered doubtful). She was buried in Avrolles.