garment. They not only refused this, but set her on the highest spot in the market-place, to be seen by everybody, and there they beat her till the blood ran in streams on the ground.
In Callot's Images she is represented with her son, who is being scourged by a soldier. R.M. Baillet. Ruinart.
B. Diorchild, Oct. 20, V. Benedictine near Meaux. The Bollandists and Stadler mention her on the authority of Arturus only.
St. Dirce, M., praised by St. Clement. Mas Latrie.
St. Disca, Aug. 17, M. with Mammes, at Alexandria. AA.SS.
St. Disciola, May 13, V. + about 582. A nun of the convent of the Holy Cross at Poitiers, under St. Agnes, its first abbess, and commemorated with her. Disciola was niece of B. Salvius, bishop of Albi in Languedoc, who died Sept. 10, 585. She is mentioned in the Lives of St. Radegund, founder, and St. Agnes, abbess of Ste. Croix. AA.SS. Mas Latrie, March 10.
St. Dista, or Misa, June 28, M. + 202, with St. Potamiœna, at Alexandria. AA.SS.
St. Distaff's Day, Jan. 7. So called because the Christmas holidays end on Twelfth day (Jan. 6), and on the following day women return to their distaffs, or daily occupations. "Distaff" stands for a woman, as in old times women span from morning till night. Dr. Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.
St. Divota, Devota.
St. Divue, honoured at Monaco. Devota, of Corsica.
St. Doba, Nymphadoba.
St. Dobrotiva, companion of St. Ursula. Mas Latrie. Migne.
St. Doda (1), April 24, V. Abbess. Niece of St. Bova, and brought up by her in the convent of St. Peter at Rheims. She was promised, by her parents, in marriage to a young nobleman of Austrasia, who, hearing that she wished to become a nun, resolved to carry her off by force from the convent, but when he attempted to touch her, his arm and hand withered, and he was only restored to health by the prayers of Doda on repenting of his contemplated sacrilege. Baillet says that before he arrived at Rheims, as he was riding from Metz with the intention of carrying off the holy nun, he was thrown from his horse and so seriously injured that he died soon afterwards. AA.SS. Baillet. Butler.
St. Doda (2), ancestor of Charlemagne. Wife of St. Arnulf of Metz, a great patron saint of the French. She was a woman of noble birth, and great wealth and piety. She was married in 609 to Arnulf, who held positions of the highest importance and trust under Theodebert II. and Clothaire. Amulf and Doda had two sons, Clodulfus (one of the many SS. Cloud), bishop of Metz, and Ansigisilus, who married St. Begga, daughter of Pepin of Landen. Soon after the birth of her second son, Doda became a nun at Trèves. Arnulf wished to join St. Romaric and became a monk, but the king and the people could not dispense with his services. About 612 the bishopric of Metz was forced upon him, although he was a layman, but he was still retained as the king's chief adviser and minister. He died a monk about 640. Many years after their separation, Arnulf and Doda had to meet to settle some of their affairs. She was so afraid that her presence might revive his mundane affections that she shaved her head; her precaution was successful,—he was horrified at the sight of her.
At July 18, Bosch the Bollandist gives two lives of St. Arnulf, the earliest of which is by a contemporary author. He also gives an inscription in which she is called "St. Doda Herezogin von Schbbeina St. Arnulphen Gemachel." But he does not seem to attach much credit to this last. Doda is commemorated with her son St. Cloud, in Greven and Usuard. Clarus, Die Heilige Mathilde. Butler. Baillet. Smith and Wace.
St. Doda (3), Dole, or Dolla, Sept. 28, V. Perhaps M. Sister of St. Quiteria. The village of Dole in tho ancient diocese of Auch, where her relics are venerated, is called after her. Stilting, in AA.SS.
St. Doga, Toga, or Tosa, June 3. M. at Rome with many others. AA.SS.
