Patron saint of Corsica

In Corsica, it was only in the 17th century that the cult of Saint Devote became more important on the island where relics of the martyred woman were sent from the Principality: one was sent in 1637 and was exhibited in the church of Saint Ignace of Jesuits and the other was received in 1728.

1727 – 1751 : Three attempts were set about

A young Christian, Devote, was arrested, imprisoned and tortured. She died without denying her faith. After her death, the governor of the province ordered for her body to be burnt, but the Christians saved her body and placed it on a boat bound for Africa, where they believed she would receive a proper Christian burial.

Between 1727 and 1751, attempts were vainly made to receive from the Vatican official recognition of Devote (Santa Divota in Corsican language) as patron saint of Corsica.

In 1731, Devote was already chosen as the protectress of Corsica.

Patron saint of Corsica by the decree of the Congregation of Rites on March 14, 1820

In 1820, the first bishop of the diocese of Corsica gathered the six former dioceses of the island and proclaimed both Saint Devote and Saint Julia of Nonza to be principal patron saints of Corsica according to the decree of the Congregation of Rites on March 14.

Pietranera, the first church dedicated to Saint Devote

An oratory shows the place of the tomb. The faithful, who were Monegasque residents or sailors passing through Monaco, numerously went to meditate at the Saint?s grave and the first miracles happened. However, one night, a man stole the saint?s relics with the aim of negotiating their blessing. The sacrilege turned out badly because a group of fishermen impeded him from escaping with the relics. They pursued him and finally caught him by rowing hard. The thief?s boat was then burnt on the beach of Monaco as an expiatory sacrifice.

In 1893, for the first time, the church, which was rebuilt in Pietranera, was dedicated to Saint Devote. Until 1936, it would remain the only Corsican place of worship under the protection of the martyred young woman.
Today, if the feast of Saint Devote remains on January 27, the solemnity has been reported to the following Sunday, whereas the feast on Whit Monday gathers numerous brotherhoods of penitents who join in the procession from the cathedral of the Canonica. The official texts read during the religious service were approved on March 18, 1984 by the bishop of Ajaccio and by the Congregation for the divine cult on August 11 the same year.