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82 82 ST. AQUILINA ancient city of Phoenicia and a chief seat of the licentious worship of Adonis. The Yotories of this horrible religion and the priests who profited by it were bitterly opposed to Christianity, and although there was at this time no general per- secation of the Church, there were al- ways laws and customs that could be brought into play by malice or greed. The priests were incensed to find that AquiUna, an orphan, scarcely twelve years old, was converting many of her companions and the women with whom she came in contact in her daily work, and was constantly speaking against the religion of the place. So when Yolusian, the proconsul, came to Byblus, they ac- cused her of impiety. He had her ar- rested. When she was brought into his presence he was touched with compassion at the sight of her youth and beauty and her fragile appearance, and besought her io renounce her dangerous opinions, as the least of the tortures to which she might be subjected would certainly de- stroy her life at once. She answered that she did not want his pity, atid would gladly suffer tortures and death for the sake of her Master. Ho then ordered the executioners to beat her with their hands, and asked her how she liked this first and least of the torments. "As little," said she, "as you spare the Christians, will the God of the Christians spare you." Then ho caused her to be stripped of her clothes, and held by two •of the executioners, while a third beat her with a scourge ; at the same time Volusian said to her, " Whore is this God of yours, who will not spare me ? " Other tortures and insults were heaped upon the brave little girl, and at last red- hot awls were driven into her ears to bum the brain, the smoke came out at her nostrils, and the pain was so great that she fell lifeless to tho ground. Volusian commanded that she should not be buried, but cast out to be eaten by dogs and unclean beasts ; so her body was thrown into the road outside the gate of the town. But she was not dead, and as she lay an angel touched her and bade her arise and go back to the city and address a final remonstrance to her tyrant. She arose, gave thanks to God for her recovery, and then kneeled down and prayed, " Lord, I hoped yesterday that I was counted among Thy martyrs. Thou knowest that I suffered pain and shame for Thee, and was willing to suffer even unto death. Lord, let mo not lose my crown." Then she was comforted; and, in obedience to the angel, returned to the town. She went through the gates, passed the guards unnoticed, and walked into the room where Volusian lay asleep. He awoke and saw a small white ghostly creature in the room. In his fright he called to his servants to bring a light, and asked who had disturbed him. They said, ." It is the Christian maiden that you killed yesterday, and cast out for the dogs to eat." Then Aquilina said, " Volusian, my God sends me back to warn you again that you cease from per- secuting His servants. If you will still repent, you may be as one of us ; but if not, know that our God will punish you with everlasting torments greater than those you inflict upon us." " Take her away," said Volusian ; " keep her safely until it is day." In the morning he tried again to persuade her to apostatize. Finding his efforts vain, he condemned her to be beheaded. She kneeled down and died praying, untouched by the executioner, and the Christians took her away and buried her. B,M, and AA,SS., from ancient Acts given in Greek and Latin by Henschenius. St. Aquilina (3), March :)o, V. M. AA.SS. St. Aquilina (4), July 20, M. Be- headed in Lycia. Disciple of St. Chris- topher. See NicETA. E.M. St. Aquilina (5). See Akchangela DE Preonachis. St. Arabia, March 13. Burnt at Nicea, with St. Theuseta and others. B,M. Henschenius, AA,SS. St. Ariaba is possibly the same. St. Araclea, or Heraclea, Sept. 2i». The first name in a list of martyrs in Thrace. It is uncertain whether Araclea is a place or a person. AA.SS. St. Aradegundis, Badegund. St. Aragond, Radegund. St. Aragone, Radegund. B. Archangela (i) de Pregna- chis, M. Said to have been a martyr at