EMILIANA, saint. — Aunt of St. Gregorio Magno, she lived in sixth-century Rome and consecrated her virginity to God, together with her sisters Tarsilla and Gordiana.
While Gordiana, despite the examples and exhortations of her sisters, soon began to lose her fervor and to abandon herself to worldly pursuits, E. remained faithful to her resolutions, even after the death of her sister Tarsilla. Indeed, the latter appeared to her one night and said: “Come; if I have spent Christmas without you, I shall not spend Epiphany without you.” And since E. showed herself concerned about the salvation of her sister Gordiana, Tarsilla said: “Come all the same; Gordiana will return to the world.” As had been foretold to her, E. died shortly before Epiphany. The year is unknown. Her feast is celebrated on 5 January.