Plautina
Patrician (aristocrat) Roman, friend and probably relative of Claudia Procula.
Character and Appearance[edit | edit source]
"Tall, stately, with beautiful dark, rather authoritative eyes, under a smooth very white forehead, a perfect straight nose, a well shaped rather tumid mouth, a roundish well defined chin, she reminds me of some beautiful statues of Roman empresses. Heavy rings shine on her beautiful hands and large golden bracelets round her statuesque arms, on her wrists and above her elbows which appear pinkish white, smooth and perfect under her short draped sleeves."[1]
Apostolic Journey[edit | edit source]
From the beginning of the Public Life, she is among the Roman women sympathizers of Jesus. Their faith evolves: they are found on the Via Dolorosa where they pity the sufferings of the Christ.[2]
They openly convert on Easter morning: they speak among themselves of Jesus when a light appears and transforms into the smiling face of Christ.
Without waiting, they come to the Cenacle to greet Mary, the "Mother of the Savior."
Plautina, the most respected of all, takes the floor
"If previously we admired the Wisdom, now we want to be daughters of the Christ. And we are telling You. You alone can overcome the Jewish distrust towards us. We will come to You to be taught until they (and they point at the apostles standing still in a group near the door) allow us to say that we are of Jesus."[3]
Plautina then withdraws, with Claudia, to Caesarea on the Sea.[4]
Where is she mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
GRM 158 GRM 167 GRM 193
GRM 204
GRM 370 GRM 371 GRM 378 GRM 393
GRM 401 GRM 425 GRM 426 GRM 448
GRM 582 GRM 583
GRM 626 GRM 630
Learn more about this character[edit | edit source]
History of this era knows Aulus Plautius or Plautinus, one of the first personalities of the Empire. His family was of plebeian origin.
His wife, whom History names Plautiana, Plautina or Plautilla, was born Pomponia Graecina. Her family belonged to the imperial Julio-Claudian dynasty. She was the daughter of a suffect consul, an honorary title.
Her uncle, Lucius Pomponius Flaccus, was governor of Syria in 35.
From 43 onwards, she led an austere life in Rome that she officially attributed to the mourning for her cousin Julia, granddaughter of Emperor Tiberius.
In 57, she was accused of "foreign superstition" and "unauthorized religious activities", which at that time was practically synonymous with conversion to Christianity. According to Roman law, her husband had to decide her fate: she was acquitted (Dion Cassius, LX 19-21, 30; Suetonius: Claudius 24, Vespasian 4; Tacitus Agr 14; Annals 13, 32).
Some authors identify Pomponia Graecina with Saint Lucina (Paul Allard, Battista de Rossi). This would be a baptismal name. She visited imprisoned Christians and opened in Rome one of the first Christian burial sites on the Via Aurelia. (Catholic Encyclopedia).
In a vision, Maria Valtorta describes a visit of a Plautina in the Mamertine prison. She meets there Paul carrying the Eucharist to the condemned (Notebooks 1944 - February 29).
She is said to have buried the body of the apostle after his decapitation.
According to information given by Tacitus (Annals 13, 32), she died around year 77.
Saint Lucina is celebrated on June 30. The Greek Orthodox Church has not canonized her but considers her one of the first Roman nobles converted to Christianity.
Her relics are said to be at Saint Cecilia in Trastevere.