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287 ST. EULALIA 287 acknowledged the inferiority of his faith by ref osing to enter the fire. Ellen would not snffer any woman to come near him. Eugenia was admitted under the impres- sion that she was a man, but her sex was revealed to the abbot in a yision. When her father and mother saw her chair come home empty, they sought her everywhere in great distress, and de- manded of the soothsayers what had lK)come of her. They answered that she was carried up to heaven by the gods. They therefore made an image of her, and commanded that all the people should worship her. All this time Eugenia feared God, and lived among the holy brethren, and when the provost of the church was dead, she was ap- pointed his successor. In those days there was in Alexandria a noble and rich lady, named Melaneye, whom Eugenia cured of a quartan ague by anointing her with oil, and who therefore sent her many gifts. These, however, were always declined, as Eu- genia said, " We have plenty of every- thing ; we cure in the name of God, and seek no reward from man." This lady behaved like Potiphar's wife, and made her servants swear to what she said. The prefect ordered Eugenia and all the monks to be given to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre on a certain day, but first they were brought into his presence. Eugenia discovered herself to her father and mother, who clothed her in gold, and restored her to their house with great joy. Fire came down from heaven and destroyed Melaneye. Philip and Claudia, with their two sons and all their dependents, became Christians; Philip was made a bishop, and was slain by the heathen while saying his prayers. After his death, his widow and children returned to Bome, and converted many to the faith of Christ. By order of the emperor, Eugenia was thrown into the Tiber with a stone tied round her neck ; but the stone broke, and she was un- injured. She was next put in a burning furnace, which immediately became cold. Then she was put in a dark prison, which was miraculously illumined ; and having been there ten days without food, she received a white loaf from Jesus Christ, who told her that on Christmas Day she should be admitted into heaven. Accordingly, on Christmas Day the executioner was sent to cut off her head in the prison. After this, she appeared to her mother, and told her she should follow her on the next Sunday. Claudia on Sunday " put herself to prayer, and gave her spirit to God." Prothus and Jacynthus were dragged to the temple to sacrifice, but by their prayers they broke the idols, and were therefore beheaded. In the B.M,, Dec. 25, she is said to have been killed by having her throat pierced with a sword. Odden Legend. Leggendario. Flos Sanctorum, Cahior. li.Jtf. " PhiUp," Sept. 13. This legend of Eugenia is said by Guerin to be put together from some very ancient mosaics, etc., in which she appears ; it is the subject of Calderon's martyr-play, The Joseph of Women, Butler says she is mentioned in the lives of SS. Protus and Hyacinthus, MM. Sept. 11, also by St. Avitus; but except that she was martyred at Eome about the year 257, in the reign of Valerian and Grallienus, nothing is known of her, no authentic acts being preserved and the legends being of no au&ority. St. Eugenia (2), March 26, M. in Nicomedia. SS. Eugenia (3), Jan. 22, and Bagan, VV. Neale. St. Eugenia (4), Sept. 16. 8th century. Daughter of Adelard, brother of Odilia (3), whom she succeeded as second abbess of Hohenburg, or Alti- tona, or St. Odilia's Mount, where she ruled for fifteen years. Sister to SS. Attala and Gundelinda. Pinius, in AA.SS. Lechner. St. Eugenne, Eugenia (1). St. Eugra, Aug. 24. Supposed same as Enobatia. AA,SS. St. Eugratia, Enoratia (l). St. Eulalia (l), or Olalla, Dec. 10, V. of Merida, M. 304. Patron of Merida and of Oviedo, where her relics are kept. A young Spanish lady of good family. Born at Merida, in Estre- madura, then capital of Lusitania. She was twelve years old when the tenth great persecution of tiie Church began,