Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/330

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316 ST. FELICUbA night. Ferrarius says that after living as a hermit for some time, she entered the convent of SS. Cosmo and Damian, and ended her days there. A tradition, not very well supported, says she was abbess of that house. She is perhaps the saint Felicitas called by Bucelinus (March 24), a sister of the Emperor Otho II. AAJ3S. St. Felicula (l), June 13. 1st century. V. M. under Nero or Domitian. She was the servant or intimate friend of St. Pbtronilla, daughter of St. Peter. Count Flaccus, after Petronilla's death, said to Felicida, '* Choose one of two things: be my wife or sacrifice to the gods." She said, I will neither be thy wife, for I am consecrated to Christ ; nor will I sacrifice to thy gods, for they are devils." Flaccus betrayed her to the m'carto, who shut her up in a dark cell for seven days without food. Her gaoler then said to her, " Why wilt then die an evil death ? Take this husband, who is noble, rich, beautiful, young, and a friend of the emperor." Felicula only answered, " I am the virgin of Christ, and I accept no other than Him." She was then given in charge to the vestal virgins, and fasted seven days more, because she would receive no food from their hands. When placed on the equuleu8y she called out, "Now I begin to see my lover." Her torturers then said, "Deny thy Christianity, and we let lliee go." She answered, " I will not deny my Beloved, who for me was fed upon gall, drank vinegar, was crowned with thorns, and crucified." After this she was thrown into a sewer. St. Nicomedes, who was living in the catacombs, took her up secretly and buried her at his house, seven miles from the city, on the Via Ardeatina, which branches off from the Via Appia. Flaccus, hearing of it, seized Nicomedes, and ordered him to sacrifice to the gods, and on his refubal, had him thrown into the Tiber ; his clerk Justus buried him in his garden near the wall, on the Via Nomentana. Her story is taken from the Acts of SS. Nereus and Achilles, which are not genuine; but her worship is very ancient; and her name is in old martyrologies. R.M. Martyrum Ada. Flos Sanctorum. AA.SS. St. Felicula (2), Feb. 14, V. M. Mentioned in several old martyrologies. She is variously stated to have been martyred at Borne, Spoleto, Tusculimi, with Vitalis and Zeno. B.M, Hen- schenius, AA,SS, St. Felicula (3). Companion of St. Marcian. (^See Ibene.) St. Felicula (4), or Filocala, June 5. Matron. M. at Bome. AA.SS. St. Felicula (5), Oct. 5, V. Patron and supposed native of Glen. Lived pro- bably before the 10th century. Buried at Auxerre; removed to Oien. Belies dispersed by Calvinists. AA,SS. B. Felix, or Felixina, of Meda, Fbucia (11^. St. Femia. Daughter of St. Editna, or Dediva, by her third husband, Carill. Sister of St. Dagius and half-sister of five other holy men in Ireland. St Fenella, Fercinta. St. Feodora. A Bussian princess buried in the Cathedral Church of St. Sophia, at Novgorod. Neale, Holy Eattem Church. St. Fercinta, Nov. 13 (Fenblla, Feroincta, Febreola, Ferbogingta). a recluse at Toledo in or before the 6th century. Honoured in Limousin and Poitou. Oynecseum. Cahier. Guerin. St. Fermina, Firmika. St. Ferreola, Fercinta, St. Ferrocincta, Fercinta. St. Fertula, June 1, M. with St. AucEQA. AA.SS. St. Festina, June 14, M. in AMoa. AA.SS. St. Fethle. (See Ethnea and Fedsl- MIA.) St. Feue, Felicia. Cahier. Mas Latrie. Ste. Feyre. Honoured in Limousin. The name is said by Mas Latrie to be a corruption of St. Symphorien. St. Fides, Faith. St. Fifael, Barbea. St. Filagonia, or Filatagonia, March 6, M. with several other martyrs in Italy. AA.SS. St. Filippina, Philippina. St. Filocala, or Felicula, June 5. Matron. M. at Bome. AA.SS,