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St
Petronilla -
Virgin and Martyr
Died - unknown
Feastday
- 31 May
Mass on her feastday in St. Peter's is offered at her
altar for France and attended by French residents of Rome.
Statue
created - c.1666
The statue was placed in September
1666.
Sculptor
- Unknown
The statue like others in this area is not
attributable to any sculptor in the Bernini workshop.
Height
- 3.1 m. (10ft 4in) Travertine
She was
traditionally thought to be the
daughter of St Peter, though this appears only be a similarity
of names. In 757 her remains were transferred to a 4th
century mausoleum near St Peter's. This building became the
Chapel of St Petronilla and the burial place for French kings.
Michelangelo's Pieta was first placed in this chapel in 1500.
The
Roman Martyrology 2004 states she was Virgin and Martyr buried
at the catacomb of Domitilla on Via Ardeatina.
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