Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/121

109 ST. NONNITA 109 abont thirty when he was christened. In 371 Nouna had a severe illness and appeared to be at the point of death. Gregory was on his way to pay a visit to his friend Basil, but hurried to his mother, who, meantime, began to mend and had a vision, in which he gave her cakes marked with the sign of the cross, and blessed by hinu Nonna and her husband lived to be very old. St. Gregory Nazianzen became bishop of Constantinople and a doctor of the Church. What we know of his parents is chiefly derived from his epistles and orations, in which he speaks of them with great reverence and affec- tion. B,M. Tillemout Baillet. Smith and Wace. St. Nonna (8), March 1, 2 (Melabi, Nan.vita, Nemata, Nembta, Neohina, NiEMYNE, Nlvnie, Non, Nonnet, Nonnita, NOUMITA, NOVITA, NuN, NuNN, NynNINA), a native of Pembroke in the second half of the 5th century. She is called by Bees, Welsh SaintSj NoN, daughter of Gynyr of Caregawch and wife of Sandde ab Ceredig ab, etc., by whom she was mother of St. David, patron of Wales. The common legend is that she was not married but, although a good and pious girl, she fell a victim to the lawlessness of the age and the violence of Sandde (Latin, Xanthus). Shortly before the birth of the great Saint, Nonna went to church to make an offering and to pray for her safe delivery and for the welfare of her child. A certain learned man was preaching; when Nonna entered the church he sud- denly found himself unable to proceed. After he had been silent a few minutes, the congregation asked what was the matter and why he did not go on. He was much embari*assod, and confessed that, although he had not lost the power of speech, that of preaching was sud- denly taken from him. He desired all the people to go out of the church that he might try to preach when left alone. As the difficulty remained, he cried out, " Some one is hiding in the church I I implore him to show himself that I may know who it is, whose presence afflicts me in this manner." St. Nun crept from behind a pillar and confessed that she had hidden herself there to escape the observation of the congregation, as she was, although unmarried, about to be- come a mother. At the request of the preacher, she wont out of the church and the people returned, leaving her outside the door. The doctor finished his sermon and afterwards questioned Nonna, who told him her story, from which he fore- told that her son should be more eloqnent than any one else in Britain, and should be a famous servant of God. Certain magi told the Prince of Pom- broke that a child would be born at that time in his territory, who should have power over the whole land, and be greater than the descendants of the said prince. The tyrant accordingly ascer- tained the time and place where this child should come into the world, and resolved that if any woman was found even sitting down to rest there, she should immediately be put to death. When the time came, however, a fright- ful storm prevented the prince or any of his men from going out of the houses in which they happened to be ; but perfect calm and sunshine reigned in the spot where Nonna gave birth to David. In her pain, she grasped a stone that was near her, and the marks of her fingers remained impressed in it, as if it had been wax. A well, named after Nonna, in the parish of Pelynt in East Cornwall, where she is also ^ed St. Ninnie, is visited for superstitious purposes, and pins are thrown in as gifts by the visitors. This well is commonly known as the Piskies or Pixies' Well, an older dedica- tion probably than the Christian one. (Bright's Ancient Crosses.) Nonna's well at St. David's is resorted to for the cure of madness. Butler says that St. Nun lived and died the spiritual mother of many re- ligious women. Capgrave says she was second daughter of Bragan, king of Brecknock (see Almheda). St. Nonnica, June 28, M. in 202, with St. PotamioBua, at Alexandria. AA.SS. St. Nonnina or Nunnina, July 20, M. in Africa. AA.SS, St. Nonnita, Nonna, mother of St. David.