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154 154 ST. PIANCIA withdrew to her poor little house and prayed all night. Early in the morning the enemy arrived outside the town and there they became immovable. Under- standing the cause, they made peace with the terrified inhabitants, bidding them thank the holy virgin through whose prayers they had been prevented from injuring them. AA,SS, Palladius, Hiatoria Lausiaca, St. Piancia, Pikntia. St. Piatenka,PiATNioA,orPiATNiT8A, Parasgeve (5). St. Pica, April 14. According to a calendar of the Order of St. Francis, this was the name of his mother, and she was received by him into his Third Order and died holy. Luke Wadding tells the following anecdote of the birth of St. Francis. His mother had already had five or six children without more than the usual amount of suffering or inconvenience, but this time she was for three days in labour and suffering great agony, when a beggar came to the door and asked alms, for the love of God. Something was given to him and he was bidden to pray for the lady of the house, who could not be delivered and was expected to die imme- diately. Said the beggar, *< This child is to be a great servant of God and will serve Him in holy poverty, therefore he refuses to be born in a painted chamber or between silken curtains. Take the lady out of her bed and carry her into the stable ; lay hor down on the straw and she will be safely delivered." The family and servants hastened to try the newly suggested treatment, and pre- sently a beautiful boy was born and was christened John. This was the great St. Francis. Wadding, Annates. Ealendar of the 3rd Order of St. Francis. St. Picaria, M. with Pia. B. Piccarda Donati, Constance (5). St. Picinna, Peoinna. St. Pience or Pienche, Pientia. St. Pientia, Oct. ll (Piancia, in French Pienob and Pienche), Y. M. 1st, 3rd, or 5th century. She was baptized by St. Nicasius, who is some- times called a convert of St. Paul and companion of St. Denis, and sometimes eleventh or an earlier bishop of Bouen. He is perhaps St. Nicasius, bishop of Kheims, martyred with his sister, St. EuTROpiA (5), by the Vandals, in the fifth century. St. Clair, an aged heathen priest, was converted with Pientia. Together they buried St. Nicasius and his companion St. Quirinus, at Gany en Vexin in Normandy. Pientia's father beheaded her and St. Clair, and they were buried in the same place. B.M. AA.SS, Chastelain, Voc. Hag, St. Pierrette OrPlERRINB,PETRONILLA. St. Pigata, Pagata. St. Pigja, Digna (4). St. Pilentia, in French Pilknce, Aug. 1 8, M. at Amasa, in Pontus. AA,SS, St. Pilitrude, Plectrude. St. Pinna (l), Jan. 3. Possibly a misprint for Prima, M. at Tomis, with others, Jan. 3, mentioned by St. Jerome. AA.SS. SS. Pinna (2), Inna and Rinna, Jan. 20, MM. Orseco-Slav. Calendar. St. Pinnosa, Pinosa or Vinnosa, Oct. 22, one of the companions of St. Ursula. Said by some accounts to have been the commander under St. Ursula. St. Pirronne, Petronilla. St. Piscina, June 2. One of two hundred and twenty -seven Boman martyrs. AA,SS. St. Pistis, Sept. 17 and Aug. 1, M. One of the three daughters of St. Sophia (1). (See Faith, Hope and Charity.) Neale, Byzantine Calendar^ Sept 17. GuSrin, Aug. 1 and Sept. 17. St. Placida or Basilioa, V. Sister of St. Augustine, and died the same year as he did, 430. Compare Perpetua (7) and Felicitas (20). Torelli, Bistretto, an abridgement of lives of saints of the Order of St. Augustine. St. Placidia (i), Flaocilla. St. Placidia (2), Nov. 27, + 450. Queen of the Goths. Empress of Rome. Daughter of Theodosius the Great. Sister of the Emperors Arcadius and Honorius. Mother of Yalentinian III. Grandmother of the younger Empress St. Placidia (3). Aunt of the Empress St. Puloheria. Wife of (1) AtaOlf, king of the Goths ; (2) Constantius III., emperor.