ST. SPOXSA 231 B. Speciosa (2), April 30, motlier of B. Tbanquilla. Bucelinns. Menardns. St. Speciosa (3), July ll. {See Prodocia.) St Speciosa (4), June 18, V. Sister of St. Epiphanius, bishop of Pavia, and of SS. LuMiNosA, Liberate (3) and HoNOBATA (5). From her cliildhood she dedicated herself to Christ and resolved on a celibate and ascetic life. Her parents arranged a marriage for her. She tried to persuade her betrothed that her plan of life was the best ; but as he was not converted by her arguments, he died a short time before the day fixed for the marriage. Epiphanius wondered to see his sister so cheerful and not mourning at all and soon he observed that her beauty did not diminish, not- withstanding her excessive fsAi% and other austerities. She used to minister to the sick and poor and serve them with her own hands. Epiphanius often con- sulted her, and once when he had to go to Constantinople, he commended himself and his church to her prayers during his absence. She lived to be eighty, and was buried in the church of St. Vincent the Martyr, and was afterwards laid be- side her sisters Luminosa and Liberata, in the church of St. Epiphanius. St, Sperandea or Sperandia, Sept. 11, V. Abbess, O.S.B. 1216-1276. Pa- tron of Cingoli, in the March of Ancona. Born of respectable parents at Gubbio, she was related to B. Sperandio. About 1265, she built in Cingoli, the monastery of St. Michael, of the Institution of BB. Sperandio and Santugoia, and there she presided with wonderful piety until her death. She was illustrious for her mortifications and visions, and for her admonitions to persons whose faults could only be known to her through miraculous revelation. She shares with B. Sperandio and his wife B. Gbnnaia the patronage of the town of Cingoli. AA.SS. Jacobilli, Santi delV TJnSnia. Cahier. St. Speranza, Hope. {See Faith (1), Hope, and Chabity.) St. Spere, Speria. St. Speria, Spire or Exuperia ; in French, Sp^rb, Oct. 1 2, + c. 760. Patron of Turenne and of the town of St. S^re. Daughter of St. Sere or Serenus, a power- ful lord in Upper Aquitaine. She early devoted herself to a strictly religious life, but after the death of her parents her brother Clair had a feud with a neighbouring proprietor, and to put a stop to the evils which this war entailed on the territory, Speria agreed to marry his adversary ; but when the appointed time drew near, her courage failed her and she fled to the forest and hid in a large hollow tree, where a confidential maid secretly brought her food. At last her brother and Elidius, her fianc^, dis- covered her retreat and tried by every means to induce her to leave it and fulfil her engagement; and finally being en- raged by her answers, Elidius cut off her head. She carried it in her hands to the bank of the river Bave, and there a church was built, and a town grew up around it, called St. S^re from the name of her father, and under the joint pa- tronage of the father and daughter. Elidius and Clair both went mad. Cor- nelius Bye, in the AA,SS.^ gives her life, with many curious details, and says that although this story is not true, it is probable that Speria was a martyr of virginity, killed by the lord of Cahors or Quercy (Cadurcis) in Guienne. St. Spes. {See Faith, Hope, and Charity.) St. Spes or Spens, Oct. 1, M. at Tomis. AA.SS. St. Spesina, Spina, or Spisinna, June 8, M. in Africa. Spesina is a Carthagenian name. Smith and Wace. AA,SS. St. Spina, Spesika. B. Spinela, Nov. 1, V. of a noble family, a Cistercian nun at Arouca in Portugal, celebrated for her piety. Those who stood round her death-bed heard the angels singing to receive her soul. Bucelinus. Henriquez. Oynecseum. St. Spinella, June 27, M. at Eome, with Felix and seven brothers. AA.SS, St. Spinica, April 30, M. at Alex- andria. AA.SS. St. Spire or Exuperia, Speria. St. Spisina, June 7, M. in Africa. AA.SS. St. Spisinna, Spesina. St. Sponsa, Sponcb, or Spontia, July
