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209 ST. SACRA 209 many tears, to flee with them, as they had no other protector and would be at the mercy of the infideLi if they were deprived of his care. "If we escape," said they, " we will all lead a holy Ufe ; and if we are taken, we will die martyrs together." So they fled but were over- taken at Avila, and after being put to many tortures, they were made to lay their heads on stones to be beaten with clubs until they died. Their bodies were thrown on the rocks outside the gate, to be devoured by vultures and wild beasts, and the murderers returned cheerfully to Dacian. It happened that a great serpent which was in the habit of eating people, lived in a defk in those rocks. It came out of its hole and looked at the dead bodies and mangled heads. A Jew who was passing by also looked with so much pleasure on the murdered Christians Uiat he did not observe the serpent until he suddenly found himself tightly clasped in its coils. In his terror he called upon the God of the Christians, resolving that if He would deliver him, he would be converted and build a church on that spot. The serpent instantly disappeared and never was seen again. The grateful Jew buried the three martyrs with his own hands and built over tiieir grave a church which was dedicated in the name of St. Vincent. The ]f>ck is still shown in the crypt below the eastern apse of the beautiful church of San Vicente, outside the gates of Avila, and whoever prays in faith on that rock is straightway delivered from his troubles. B,M. Flos Sanctorum. AA.SS. St. Sabina (4) or Savina of Lodi, Jan. 30, matron. Beginning of 4th century. Patron of Lodi and of Milan. She visited SS. Nabor and Felix, soldiers, in prison at Lodi Vecchio, and after their martyrdom took their bodies and buried them in her own house there. At night a bright light appeared over the place where she had laid the martyred soldiers, and she understood that they were worthy of a more honourable sepulchre ; so she took them in a cart to llOlan. At Leg- nanum. she was stopped by soldiers who asked her what she was carrying. She answered, " Honey." They did not be- voL. n. lieve her, and stuck their lances into the cart Honey ran out, and she, see- ing the miracle, confessed what the real load was. The soldiers were converted. The place is said to have been called Mellegnano, in honour of the miracle, which name was afterwards corrupted into Merignano. Sabina built a tomb for SS. Nabor and Felix, and died praying there. jB.ilt AA,SS. St. Sabina (5), Oct 28. Vargas makes St. Faith (2) (Santa F^) a native of Spain, and says that St Sabina, also a Spaniard of Merida, was martyred with her at Agen. The Bollandists say this is a mere invention, grounded on the fact that some relics of St. Sabina (3) were taken to Ager in Catalonia. AA.SS. SS. Sabina (6, 7, 8, 9), MM. at Bome, Smyrna, Alexandria and Africa respectively. AlA.S8. St. Sabina (10), Nov. 5, 6th or early 7th century. Grandmother of St. Cuth- bert. Ferrarius. Stadler. Ven. Sabina (li). (See Alfrida.) St. Sabina (12), April 30, V.,O.S.B. 12th century. Nun at Jouarre, in the diocese of Meaux. On April 29, 1109, she had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mart surrounded by a great number of saints, and saw that St. Hugh, abbot of Gluny, arrived amongst them. She told her vision to the other nuns and soon afterwards a messenger arrived to an- nounce the death of St. Hugh in his eighty-sixth year. Sabina soon followed him to heaven. Bucelinus. AA.SS., Prmter. « St. Hugh " April 29. St. Sabinella (1), Claudia (1). St. Sabinella (2 Sabbilina, Savi- NiLLA or Sibinella, Feb. 14, buried St. Valentine on the spot of his martyrdom at Bome, about 269, and is mentioned in his Life. AA.SS. St. Sabiniana (l) or Sabinianus, March 3, M. in Africa, with Gaiola and many others. AA.SS. St Sabiniana (2), a holy deaconess of advanced years who followed St. Chrysostom into exile and ministered to him. Smith and Wace. St. Sabitha, Natalia (3). St. Sacculina, Sigolbna. St. Sacra, March 8. Her body was p