Liberata and Faustina of Como were sisters who lived as holy virgins in

Como Como (, ; lmo, Còmm, label=Comasco dialect, Comasco , or ; lat, Novum Comum; rm, Com; french: Côme) is a city and ''comune'' in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Its proximity to Lake Como and ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

, during the 6th century. They founded the Convent of Santa Margarita in the town and both died around 580 AD.

Traditional account

Liberata and Faustina were the daughters of one Giovannato, who lived in the fortress of Olgisio in Pianello Val Tidone, in the province of Piacenza, where there are prehistoric caves known as the caves of the "Saints". Although promised in marriage, after a vision of a woman mourning the death of her husband, the sisters fled the castle and lived as hermits.Troletti, Federico. "The continuity between pagan and Christian cult", Scandinavian Society
/ref> They later moved to Como and joined the

Benedictines , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

. According to Federico Troletti, the cult of Saint Faustina and Liberata is an isolated phenomenon in the Camonica Valley, where it is believed a flood was averted through their intercession. Liberata and Faustina were invoked as patronesses of women in labour. Their feast day is 18 January.Catholic Online. http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4277

References

6th-century Christian saints Italian Roman Catholic saints Medieval Italian saints Female saints of medieval Italy 6th-century Italian women 6th-century Italo-Roman people {{Italy-saint-stub