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231 ST. DIGNA 231 St. Diateria, Oct. 2, V. Time un- certain. Worshipped at Milan. Some- times called Martyr. A virgin who, carrying the oil of good works with her ever-lighted lamp, went ont to meet the Bridegroom. AA.SS, St. Dibamona, June 4. Sister of St. Bistamona, and daughter of St. Sophia. All martyred in Egypt. AAJSS. St. Dicessa, May 19, M. in Africa. Mas Latrie. Gucrin. St. Dida (1), June 3, V. Mart of Tallaghi. St Dida (2), Jan. 25. 8th century. Abbess of St. Peter's at Lyons. Men- tioned in Life of St. Bonitus (Bishop of Auvergne), Jan. 15, and placed by Saus- saye in his supplement to the Gallican Martyrology. One of her nuns was cured of paralysis by touching the body of St. Bonitus, or Bon. Mas Latrie. St. Didara, June 23. Honoured in the Abyssinian Church, with her sons, Bisoe and Nor. The former was a soldier, and suffered martyrdom by being tied to a wild bull. Didara and Nor are also believed to have been martyred. AA.S8, St. Diemode, March 20. Nun, and afterwards recluse in Suabia. Gucrin. St. Diemutha, or Demuth (Humi- lity), March 17. Becluse. Lived several years hidden in a cave near the monas- tery of St. Gall. Died holy. Bucelinus, March 17. Burgener, Helvetia Sancta, Possibly a duplicate of Diemode. St. Dieppe, or Delpu. Commemo- rated at the village and church of Lan- dulph, Cornwall. (See Deppa.) Parker. SS. Dig^na (l), or Celestina, and Merita, or Emerita, Sept. 22, W. MM. 3rd century. Two Christian sisters living in Eome in the reign of Valerian (253-260). Gains, the judge, com- manded them to sacrifice, and, on their refusal, ordered them to be beaten. When the executioner raised his arm to strike them, it became immovable, and he screamed in terror. Accused of magic arts, the sisters cured him, that he and the judge might believe in the power of their God. As they persisted in their resolution not to sacrifice to the heathen gods, they were threatened with torture and death. They replied that they had always wished to suffer and die for their Lord. They died on the rack, and were buried in the cemetery of Commodilla, on the Ostian Eoad. The authenticity of their Acts is very doubtful. Their relics are kept in the church of St. Maroellus. B.M. Suysken, in AAJSS, St. Digna (2), or Dignus, May 15, M. AA.SS. St. Digna (3), Aug. 12, M. Servant of St. Afka of Augsburg. B.M. St. Digna (4, 5), or Pigba, Oct. 1, and another St. Diona, MM. at Tomis, in Lower Moesia, under Diocletian. One of these was the wife of a martyr named Nicander. AA.S8. St. Digna (6), Aug. 11, V. At Todi, in the reign of Diocletian and Maximian. A very holy woman, not a martyr. B.M. AA.SS. St. Digna (7), June HV.M. +853. A young nun in the convent of Tabana, near Cordova, under the venerable Elizabeth, wife of the martyr Jeremiah, its founder. Digna was remarkable for her humility, and begged her sister-nuns to call her Indigna, unworthy, instead of Digna. Mahomet, successor of Abderrahman, renewed the persecution begun by his father, and ordered the expulsion of Christians from his dominions ; but as his ministers represented to him that he was depopulating his kingdom, he limited the persecution to those who should openly oppose the religion of Mahomet. When Digna heard of the martyrdom of SS. Anastasius and Felix, encouraged by a vision of St. Agatha, she left her convent without asking leave or even informing the abbess of her intention, and went to Cordova, where she arrived just as the bodies of the martyrs were put upon stakes. This sight increased her zeal, and she went to the judge who had condemned them, and told him that if they were guilty, she was no less so, as she held the same opinions, and asked no better fate than to die for them. The judge replied that she might easily be gratified, and, without trial or more ado, she was beheaded. St. Benilda, a very old woman living in the world, i.e. not a nun, was martyred next day, and