July 10 Rufina and Secunda, Virgin Martyrs.

July 10 Rufina and Secunda, Virgin Martyrs.
Died 257.
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Asterius, a Roman senator, had two daughters, Rufina and Secunda. He found for them fiances, Armentarius and Verinus, and since all four betrothed were Christians, the matches seemed perfect.
Soon, however, the Emperor Valerian began to persecute the church and Armentarius and Verinus renounced Christianity. Neither girl would do this. Both decided to escape to Etruria, but on their way they were captured and brought before a prefect named Junius Donatus.
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Junius Donatus decided on a cruel torment: he would scourge Rufina while her sister watched. As the scourging began, Secunda shouted, "Why are you honoring my sister in this way and dishonoring me! Please scourge us both at the same time. We both declare that Jesus Christ is God." Realizing that neither girl would recant, Junius Donatus had them beheaded.
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A pagan lady named Plautilla buried their bodies outside Rome on the Via Aurelia in a spot known as the Black Forest. It was later renamed the White Forest because of their sacred bones, and the church of Sante Rufina e Secunda was built in their honor in Rome. While they were indeed two Roman maidens martyred under Valerian and buried at Santa Rufina on the Aurelian Way, the above acta are apocryphal (Bentley, Benedictines, Encyclopedia).
In art, Saints Rufina and Secunda are represented as two maidens floating in the Tiber River with weights attached to their necks (Roeder).
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Eternal Father, I wish to honor Saints Rufina and Secunda, and I give Thee thanks for all the graces Thou hast bestowed upon them. I ask Thee to please increase grace in my soul through the merits of this saint, and I commit the end of my life to them by this special prayer, so that by virtue of Thy goodness and promise, Saints Rufina and Secunda might be my advocate and provide whatever is needed at that hour. Amen.