200 B. COLUMBA saint was preserved for many years with great veneration in that fiEbmily, with an inscription signifying that she was one of them. An apparition of angels with a splendid chariot is said to have been seen by the women who attended her mother at the time of Columba's birth. She was baptised by the name of An- giola, but a white dove was seen to fly round and round the font, and finally to settle on the head of the newly chris- tened babe. This caused people to call her Colomba, and soon her real name was forgotten. She practised mortifica- tion from her tenderest infancy, strewed thorns in her bed at the age of three, and at four obtained the permission of her parents to fast on bread and water every Friday. A hair shirt which she made for herself at the age of five, out of an old sieve, is reverently preserved by the nuns of St. Agnes at Bieti. Her family arranged a marriage for her, and insisted on fulfilling the engagement without her consent She cut ofif her beautiful hair, after the example of St. Catherine of Siena, to show that she had consecrated herself, by a vow, to a religious life. She then fled to the con- vent of St. Scholastica, and her intended husband broke ofif the contract, fearing to commit sacrilege. She returned to her father's house, where she was con- soled by visions and ecstasies. Her mother chid her for neglecting her duties during her religious reveries. Once, for instance, she let her infant brother ML into the flre. In 1488, she went to Perugia, where she was received as a saint. She occupied herself teaching and training children, and it was for that purpose the Perugians first begged her to remain with them. The Dominicans, however, would not allow her to receive any children to teach, as they feared she might be tempted to pride, and they dis- liked the admiration and notoriety of which she was the object. The people built her a monastery, and kept her at the public expense. Rieti offered the same, but Perugia would not give her up. Columba made her profession there ^ in 1490. She nursed the people of Perugia during the plague. Eighteen years after her death the bell of St. Dominic at Perugia was repaired and consecrated in the name of St. Columba ; her image in the act of flying to heaven was impressed upon it, with the motto, Patrise liberationem. She worked many miracles before and after her death. She died May 20, 1501. In 1566 leave was obtained from Pius V. to make a com- memoration of St. Columba in the ofi&ce and in the Mass. On May 20, 1571, permission was given to bum lamps at her sepulchre, and for other public acts of veneration. In 1625 a decree of Urban VIII. forbade devotion to any saint unless solemnly canonized. Co- lumba's worship, however, was restored in 1627. She has not yet been canonized, but is always called saint, and honoured as such. A.R.M., 0,S.D. Papebroch, in AA.SS, Modern Saints. B. Columba (16), Colomba del Trocazani of Milan. 1517. 3rdO.S.D. She was very pious and strict, and, when young, avoided the company of girls; but their parents insisted on their coming to her for edification. The plague broke out, and attacked her and every member of her family; her mother and two brothers died. The police shut up the house ; she remained alone, in bed, with no human help. The Viboin Maby and saints came and fed her. At last she was taken to the Lazaretto. The doctor fell in love with her, and abused his privileges ; as she spurned his devotion, he threatened to leave her to die. She complained to the managers. They dis- missed the doctor. Columba recovered. She took the habit of the Third Order of St. Dominic, and became the first nun in the convent of St. Lazarus. By com- mand of the monks aftelr ton years, she joined the Second Order. Her &sts and austerities were veVy wonderful. Five rays came from the wounds of Christ on the cross and wounded her. She was crowned by Christ with a golden crown. When she was receiving the Communion a dove surrounded by glory was seen over her head. She felt the sufferings of Christ — the wounds, the scourging at the pillar. She was prioress three times. She opened her eyes when she was dead and being laid in the tomb. Pio. Ven. Columba (17) of Corea, V. M.
