Faustina (Fausta)
Young Roman baby, daughter of Valeria, healed by Jesus.
"Jesus takes the baby, whose very pale tiny hands with nails already blue are shaken by fits, and lifts her up. Her little head hangs down motionless. The mother, no longer a proud Roman in front of a Jew, has fallen at Jesus’ feet, in the dust, sobbing, her face raised, her hair dishevelled, pulling at Jesus’ tunic and mantle with her outstretched arms. Behind and around her there are Romans of the household and Jewish women of the town, looking at her.Nearly two years later, the little girl meets Jesus again. She accompanies her mother who comes to entrust her marital difficulties to Jesus:Jesus wets His right hand forefinger with saliva, puts it into the little panting mouth, pressing it down the throat.
The child writhes and becomes darker in the face. The mother cries: «Don’t! Don’t!» and she writhes as if she were pierced by a blade. The people are holding their breath.
Jesus pulls His finger out with a mass of putrid membranes. The child writhes no longer, cries for a few seconds, then calms down and smiles innocently, shaking her hands and moving her lips like a little bird, that chirps flapping its little wings while waiting to be fed.
«Take her, woman. Feed her. She is cured.»"[1]
"The little girl, a baby because she must be at the most three years old, is wearing a white woollen dress and a mantle with hood, which is also white. But her little hood has slipped a good deal back on to her little curls of a delicate light chestnut colour, because the little girl is looking up at her mother raising her head that emerges from the flowers she is holding in her arms. Wonderful flowers, as can be found only in these countries in the cold month of December: flesh-coloured roses mixed with delicate white flowers, which I do not know what they are; I am not skilled in floriculture. As soon as Jesus sets foot on the terrace, He is greeted by the little voice of the girl, who runs to meet Him, urged by her mother saying: «Ave, Domine Jesu!»"[2]
Apostolic Journey
Following the example of her mother, she will become "wise" in the Christian faith.[3]
Her Name
Name of Latin origin: favorable.
Where is she mentioned in the work?
GRM 155 GRM 158 GRM 167 GRM 193 GRM 531 GRM 583
Learn more about this character
Saint Anastasia, martyred under Nero in 68, would be the daughter of Fausta (Faustina), a Christian and a Roman pagan. The chronology would allow extrapolation on the prediction of Jesus to Valeria: "You and your daughter will become wise in the faith that will bear my Name," but this is only conjecture absent interference with Saint Anastasia, martyred under Diocletian (3rd century).