Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/100

88 88 ST. MEXEHOULD St. M6nehould, MAGExnn.D, Maxk- CHILD, Manehild, Mankhould, Matilda, Melechild^, Menehild, Menehou, or Menou, Oct. 14. 5th or 6th century. M^D^hould is patron of Orgonne or Argonne, and of a little town called by lier name. She was the youngest of the seven sainted daughters of Sigmar. Ca- hier. Baillet. Collin de Plancy. Com- pare with SS. LUTRUDE, HOYLDA, ctc. Menehould may signify Menna and HOULD. St. Menifride, Minver. St. Menna or Manna is mentioned in a Litany used in England in the 7th century. Mabillon, VeU^ra Analccta. SS. Menodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora, Sept. 10, VV. MM. They were very beautiful sisters who lived as recluses in a tumulus at Pythiis, where there are hot springs. Many persons resorted to the saints, to be cured of diseases and evil spirits and to be edified by their conversation. Fronto, the assessor of Maximian, sent for them, and after the usual threats and bribes, finding they were devoted to each other and willing to sufifer martyrdom together, he had the two youngest led away and had Menodora beaten to death by four lictors, who from time to time advised her to give way and accept the clemency of the assessor. She neither winced nor uttered a cry, until finding her life de- parting, she called out to her Saviour to receive her, and so died. After four days Metrodora and Nymphodora were brought again before Fronto. He or- dered the naked and disfigured corpse of their sister to be laid at their feet. In- stead of being frightened or grieved, they rejoiced as if they had come to their sister's bridal, knowing that she was a martyr and that they would soon share that honour with her. Nevertheless, Fronto still hoped to persuade them to abjure their religion, telling them that if they would sacrifice, he would instantly write to the Emperor, who would endow them with riches and find them husbands worthy of their beauty. As they re- mained firm, Metrodora and Nympho- dora were tortured for some hours and finally broken and crushed with iron bars. A Greek hymn, addressed to these holy martyrs for the day of their f§te, says, " Therefore, Martyrs, you were admitted with the five virgins into the nuptial chamber in heaven, and you remain constantly before the King of kings with the angels." B.M. Fitzipios, J^glise otientale. Men. Basilii. AA.SS. Metaphrastes. St. Menou, Menj^hould. St. Mera, July 20, V. said to have suffered martyrdom at Auscios in Spain. A church at Lectora in Aquitaine is named after her. She is not mentioned in the older Martyrologies, but in the Breviary of the Auscitanian Church, printed 1533. AA,SS. Probably same as Mayra. St. Meraele or Embaila, Jan. 9, M. in Ethiopia. Cahier. GuSrin. St. Mercuria. (See Ammonaria.) Ste. M^re. lu Guienne the name of a man St. Eni^re is corrupted into Ste, Mere, Chastelain, Voe, Hag. Com- pare with Mera. St. Merence, Emerentiana. Guerin. St. Meretia, Megetia. St. Merewenna, Mkrwin. St. Merita (l) or Embrita. (See Dion A and Merita.) St. Merita (2), Aug. 26 (Mareta or Martha), eldest daughter of Brigid (19) of Sweden and sister of Catherine (4) of Sweden. Married and had children and died in Norway. Vastovius. St. Mermina, Oct. 29, Abbess. Guerin. St. Merofleta, Jan 16, V. AAJSS., Prseter, SS. Merona, Sodepha, Rodofia (Rod API A, RoDOLiA, Rodosia, Rodasia), July 5, MM. at Tomis in Scythia. AA.SS. The B.M. calls the Martyrs of Tomis in Scythia, Marinus, Theodotus, and Sedopha. St. Merpwyn, Feb. 10, V. "in the territory of Rone." Marl, of Salis- bury. Perhaps same as Merwin (2). St. Merryn, Merwin (1). St. Meruvina, Merwin. St. Merwin (l) or Merryn. Same as, or sister of Morwenna. St. Merwin (2), April 27, May 13, Oct. 29 (Marewynna, Meruvina, Mer- wiNNA, perhaps Merpwyn), V. Abbess