ST. BENEDICTA 118 • Benedetta, Ben edict a. St. Benedicta (l), July 8. Ist cen- tury. Wife of Count Sigebert of Bor- deaux, who was paralyzed for years. When he lieard of the miracles of St. Martial, he sent Benedicta, with offerings of gold and silver, to ask that saint to restore her husband to health. Seeing lier faith, he promised what she asked, gave her his staff, and bade her lay it on her husband ; he would not receive the gold and silver, but baptized her and all her companions. Meantime the people of Bordeaux were worshipping their idols, and while the priest was burning incense, the devil declared he would de- part from there at the command of a Hebrew named Martial. As Benedicta re-entered the town, the old men of the place met her and told her all that was going on. She sent for the high priest and told him to destroy every temple in the place, except that to the unknown God. Then, assisted by the prayers of her Christian brethren and companions, she went to her husband's bed, and laid the holy bishop's staff upon him. Sige- bert was instantaneously cured. His first act was to go to St. Martial, and ask for baptism. The town of Bordeaux was once on the point of being destroyed by fire; but the pious Benedicta took the staff of St. Martial to meet the flames, and they immediately disappeared. When St. Martial was preaching at Mortagne, Sigebert and his soldiers went to take provisions to him and his people. He sent a number of men to procure a quantity of fish. While they were at sea, a great storm came on. Benedicta saw that they were about to perish. She raised her hands towards heaven and prayed, and they all came safe to land, with their boats, their nets, and their fish. This story is told by Ordericus Yitalis, in his History of the Normans, i. S6o, Saussaye and Ferrarius merely say Benedicta was baptized by St. Martial. St Benedicta (2), July ii, V. M. at Saragossa in the time of Nero. She was carried naked through the city, but no one could see her. After various tortures, she was put to death. AA,SS.j Prseter,, from Tamayo Salazar. St Benedicta (3), Nov. 12, V. M. at Eome. She endured many tortures and insults, was miraculously encouraged and healed by an angel, and finally be- headed. Viola Sanctorum, St Benedicta (4), April 1 7, M. 23G. Mother of SS. Alphius, Pbiladelpbius, and Cyrinus. AA,SS., May 10. St Benedicta (5), June 29, Sept. 6, 7 (Beata, locally Beatte, Benoite db Sens), V. M. c. 273. She went from Spain, with her brother St. Sanctian and St. Augustine, to Sens, in France, where the Emperor Aurelian tried, by threats and promises, to make them renounce the Christian faith, offering them the highest honours in his court as the reward of apostasy, and the death of criminals in case they remained firm. They, on the other hand, told him how much greater were the honours and pleasures their Master prepared for them in the other world, and warned the Emperor where he would go, and whom he would associ- ate with eventually, unless he were con- verted. Finally they were beheaded. B.M., June 29. AA.SS., June 26 and Sept. 6. Martin, French Mart., Sept. 7. St Benedicta (0), Jan. 4, V. M. at Home, 362, with SS. Priscus and Pre- scillian, in the persecution under Julian the Apostate. B.M. AA.SS. St. Benedicta (7), Oct. 8, more commonly called Sainte Benoite, Y. M. 362, under Julian the Apostate. Patron of Origny (Auriniacum). The Boman Martyrology mentions four holy virgins of this name, on Jan. 4, May 6, June 29, Oct. 8. The one best known in France was the daughter of a Boman senator. Despising the pleasures of the world, she took twelve young girls to lead a religious life in her house. Hear- ing of the martyrdom of St. Quentin and his companions in Picardy, she set off with her twelve friends to seek martyr- dom in Gaul. They stayed some time at the capital of Yermandois, now called St. Quentin ; then they dispersed, to ex- tend the knowledge of Christianity in different directions. Benedicta and her foster-sister, Leoberia, went to Origny- sur-Oise, in the diocese of Laon, and made many converts. Their cell is be- lieved to have been at Mont d'Origny, a village near the town of Origny. I
