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186 186 ST. RHIENGAR St Rhiengar. (See Almheda.) St. Rhipsime, Ripsima. St. Rhoda or Rosula, Nov. 2, M. at GagHari in Sardina, with many others who went there from Rome. AA.SS,i Prseter, St. Rhodana, one of the martyrs of Lyons, beheaded, being a Roman citizen. (^See Blandina.) St. Rhothild or Rhotild, Clotilda (1). St. Rhuddlad, Sept 4. Patron of Llanrhnddlad in Anglesey. Daughter of a king of Leinster. Rees, Welsh Sainta, St Richa (l), Rixa. Ven. Richa (2), July 2, V. 12th century. Nun of the Order of Cluny. St. Otto was bishop of Bamberg (1139) and apostle of Pomerania. On his jour- ney to Pomerania, he passed through the Bohemian forest and rested at Cladrim, a Cluniac religious house, where he was hospitably received and where he conse- crated a church by the name of St. Nicolas and gave the sacred veil to several nuns ; among them, one named Richa. During the ceremony she seemed to be overcome with grief, and he com- forted her, saying, ** Weep not, daughter; be sure that at the day of judgment I will give your soul into the hands of your God and Husband, Jesus Christ." After many years, on the anniversary of his burial, Richa died, depending on his promise. She is commemorated by Bucelinus and Menardus, but there is no authority for worshipping her. AA,8S., " St. Otto." St. Richarda, Righgabdis or Ri- OARDA, Sept. 18, 9th century. Empress. Represented undergoing trial by ordeal — not walking over the plough- shares like Cunegund, but handling them in the fire. She is said by Wion, Bucelinus, and others to be a daughter of Gregory, king of the Scots ; Stadler says her father was Erchangar, count of Alsace. She was wife of Charles the Fat, king of France and Italy, and emperor. They went to Rome in 880 and were crowned by the Pope. Richarda lived ten, twelve or, by other accounts, twenty-five years at Court, a virgin, and a pattern of every virtue. She founded the monastery of Andlau or Andelaha in Alsace, on her own estates in the Yosges, for twelTe canons and twelve canonesses, under the invocation of SS. Fabian and Felicitas. Charles suffered excruciating pains in his head, and attributed it to some sort of diabolic possession, for which he was exorcised, but the pain continued. Then he had incisions made in his head to get rid of the devil, but the pain only grew worse. Among other delusions, he sus- pected his wife of misconduct with Luit- ward, bishop of Vercelli. She demanded to clear her character, either by having a champion to fight for her or by some other ordeal. The trial consisted of the accused being wrapped in linen cloth soaked with inflammable liquid and set on fire at the four comers. It was burnt away to nothing, and the innocent queen remained unhurt. Thus was her inno- cence proved. Some say the emperor would have no trial. The empress was divorced, however, and retired to the monastery she had built. There she took the veil, and was soon elected abbess. Afterwards she went to the monastery of St. Felix and St. Regula at Tigurim, in Switzerland. Others say she was abbess of Landau and Seckingen. Very soon after the divorce, Charles was deposed and succeeded by Amulf. Richarda lived a few years longer. Cratepol says she rests in her monas- tery of Andlau, where also is preserved the body of St. Lazarus whom Christ raised. In 1049, Leo IX. ordered a solemn translation of her body, and she is honoured as a saint in France and Germany, especially in Alsace. AA.SS. Tritheim, Vina Wustrts. Cratepol, De Sanctis Oermania, Buce- linus. M^zeray, Hist, de France. Ott, Die Legende, Cahier. Encyclopedia Metropolitana. Leibnitz. Wion, Lignum Viise. Stadler. St. Richella, May 19. Mart, of Tamlaght, (See Cinna and Cinnknum.) St. Richense, Rixa. St. Richeye, Rixa. St. Richeza, Rixa. St. Richgardis, Rioharda. St. Richilda or Richildis, Aug. 23, -f 1100, a recluse. She belonged to