Expert: Michael Clark, Ph.D. - 5/30/2006

Question
Dear Michael:
I was born in a small town in Southern Peru. The name of the town is Moquegua. In the main church the body of St. Fortunata is venerated. According to the local church this body was brought from Europe and its final destination was probably a more important city (Santiago de Chile?, Buenos Aires?) but for some reason the body stayed in this town. The local church is unable to provide evidence that in fact this body belongs to St Fortunata.
In the other hand there is a town in Baucina, Italy that "also" has the body of Saint Fortunata. They have a papal document attesting that in fact that is the body of the saint.
I was told by a catholic that in times of Christian prosecution many bodies were buried anonimously and when unburied they will be called either "Felix" for male or "Fortunata" for female, meaning that they were "fortunate" for dying in the name of God.
Is that a reasonable explanation for the existence of at least two St. Fortunatas. If so do you have a reference for this fact.
Thank you very much

Miguel

Answer
Miguel, Catholicism is a blend of myth, legend, historical fact and genuine spirituality. Even if it is not her body, is it possible that the people gain some benefit by believing it is? If their devotion is pure, then maybe we could say that there's some theological truth to the legend (if it is just a legend).

Let's face it. The four Gospels themselves differ in some of the details. Some believe the Gospel writers exaggerated here and there to make a point--to express or amplify theological truths. So maybe, just maybe, the same kind of thing is going on in Peru. I don't know.

As for there being more than one St. Fortunata, again, on this I'm not 100% sure but I suspect that your Catholic friend was referring to Fortunatus, a name which from the Latin means "favored by fortune." Here's a web page listing different Fortunatus':

http://www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php?lst=F

I hope this helps. In closing I’ll add that there are some relics in my home town that I don’t really believe come from the saints named on the name plate. But I respect the people as they touch the plexi-glass covering, thinking that it’s a fragment of the actual cross, or a bone or tooth from a particular saint. If it helps them feel closer to Christ, then so be it in my view. Sometimes legends contain or point to theological truth.