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103 B. NERA 103 Noni[l:zE, Noumoize), a sbeplierdess of Poitiers. Gnerin. Chastelain. St Neomaie (i), Namadia. St. Neomaie {2), Neomadia. St. Neomina, Nonna, mother of St. David. St. Neomisia or Neonissa, Sept. 25, Dec. 7, v., honoured with St. Aukklia at Anagni. B.M, Ferrarius. St. Neonila, Neonilla, or Neovilla. (^See Bela.) St. Neonissa, Neomisia. St Neophyta (l), sister of Isidora (1). St Neophyta (2), Jan, 4. 6th, 6th, or 7th century. Neopiste is perhaps a variant. The legend, which receives no confirmation from history, is that Neo- phyta's father was a Jew, her mother a sister of St. Oswald, king and martyr in England. The king of Spain attempted to carry her off from a convent in France, where her parents had placed her, and being unable to capture her alive, mas- sacred her with all her maids. AA,S8. St Neovilla, Neonila. (See Bela.) St Nephalia, bom at Gnesne or Gnossus, was a penitent and recluse on Mount Ida, in the i)th century. Guone- bault. Guerin. Mas Latrie. B. Neptalina. One of nine sisters of St. Bainfkede. B. Nera or Nerea de' Tolomei, Dec. 25, 1230-1287, V. 3rd O.8.D., belonged to one of the most powerful fJEunilies of Siena, whore she was born. Her parents, Jacopo Tolomei and Ales- sandra Malevolti, were as eminent for their virtues as for their rank. Accord- ing to the custom of the country, at seven years old, Nera was placed in the convent of San Prospero. As she grew up, she was disposed to remain there and take the veil ; nothing would induce her to leave its shelter until a pretence was made that her mother was so ill as to want a daughter*s care. Nera, how- ever, found on arriving at home that her mother was perfectly well, and perceived that a ruse had been practised to defeat her earnest desire. The poor girl was discontented, she grew thin and pale from mental unrest, and from severe asceticism practised in secret. At this tim^, the Blessed Ambrose Sansedoni, a Dominican preacher, at- tracted much attention in Siena, and made many converts by his sermons. So popular was this friar, that not only married women but young girls went to hear him. These discourses made a great impression on the young Nera. With the fear of eternal destruction ever present to her mind, the convent had hitherto seemed the only harbour where it was possible to find refuge from the snares of the devil; the nun's life the only path to heaven. But the teaching of Father Ambrose revealed to her that God could be served faithfully in her own home and in a secular dress; that her soul could be saved without dis- obedience to the parents who disapproved of her return to the convent. So Nera resolved to live in the world as the spouse of Christ and made a vow of celibacy. Soon afterwards, her parents announced that they had found a husband for her. Her answer was, *' You should have found him sooner, for I have found one for myself; I am the betrothed wife of Jesus Christ ; if He should die, I will then accept a husband of your choosing.*' As remonstrance proved inefectnal, Nera was imprisoned in a dark room ; starved and scolded to induce her to accede to the wishes of her parents. She grew fat on bread and water and raw vegetables, as Daniel did on pulse. During this time of punishment, the holy maiden was consoled by visits from an angel. The servant who guarded the chamber heard her talking to this celes- tial visitor, and told her parents that she received a man in her apartments. Her father would not believe it, but her mother bitterly reproached the poor girl for making religion a cloak for impro- priety of which her more worldly com- panions would have been incapable, saying, " The reason why you would not marry the husband we chose for you is plain : you had already permitted your- self to love without our consent, and you dared to use the name of the Savionr to conceal your disgraceful attachment." Nera bore her mother's anger with perfect patience. A few days after- wards, the woman who had accused her before, again heard voices in the room ;