Columba of Sens was a 3rd-century Christian virgin and nun born to a noble pagan family in Gallaecia. To avoid persecution, she traveled from the Iberian Peninsula to Gaul, where she was baptized and took the name Columba. While living in Sens, she drew the attention of the Roman emperor Aurelian, who attempted to force her into marriage with his son. Following her refusal, she was imprisoned and eventually executed by beheading in 273.
Life and death
After fleeing her homeland, Columba settled in Sens, north-central France. During the reign of Aurelian, she was detained in an amphitheater after rejecting the emperor's marriage proposal. Legend states she was shielded from a death by fire by a female bear and a sudden rain shower. Following her beheading, her remains were interred by a man named Aubertus, who had sought her intercession for his sight.
Veneration and legacy
She was widely honored throughout France, leading to the construction of a chapel and an abbey at her burial site. Columba is often depicted holding a book and a peacock feather, frequently accompanied by a she-bear. Her name is preserved in the Galician municipality of Santa Comba, and her story inspired an allegorical epic poem by Lucrezia Marinella in 1595.