[2] The daughter of an ex-consul and orphaned at an early age, she was described as a noble and beautiful virgin.

[3] Arrested and commanded to return to idolatry, she refused, whereupon she was subjected to various tortures and was finally beheaded.

[4] Ostia, at the mouth of the Tiber, was the scene of her martyrdom; but her body was transported to Rome,[5] where a church near the Mamertine Prison, Santi Luca e Martina, was later dedicated in her honour.

[6] On October 25, 1634, during restoration of the crypt, as was common at this time in Rome, buried remains were found by the painter Pietro da Cortona, president of the Accademia di San Luca, and were attributed to the martyred Saint Martina.

[7] Pope Urban VIII, who occupied the Holy See at that time, had the church repaired and, it would seem, composed the hymns which are sung at her office.