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253 ST. THEODORA 253 involved in tbo error of beatbenistn, plundered all the property of the churches. But the king, being influenced by the queen's healthful intercession, both held the Catholic faith, and be- stowed many possessions on the Church of Christ, and restored the bishops, who were in a depressed and abject condition, to the honour of their wonted dignity." (Hodgkin, Italy and her Invaders^ In 602 Theodolind gave birth to a son and heir to the throne of Lombardy, Adaloald. He was baptized in the fol- lowing year by a Catholic priest. St. Gregory's last letter to Theodolind, written in the year of his death, was to congratulate her on this auspicious event for Lombardy. He sent with the letter presents for the young prince — a cross containing a fragment of the veritable cross of Christ, and a piece of the gosflel to wear round his nock in an embroidered case, and to the princesses, his sisters, rings of jacinth and onyx. To the queen herself, either then or earlier, he sent a copy of his own Dialogues, Still more instrumental in the con- version of the Lombards, even than Theodolind^s personal influence, was the help she extended to the Celtic missionary St. Columban. By her advice Agilulf gave him four miles of ground at Bobbio, which became the nucleus of the great and famous monastery of Bobbio and a prevailing centre of Catholic influence. In 616 Agilulf died. He had secured the succession to his son Adaloald by causing him to be crowned in his own lifetime. Theodolind acted as regent for her son; but in 624 or 625 the unfortunate young prince became in- sane and the Lombards set him aside and chose Arioald, the husband of Theodolind's daughter Gundeburga. Theodolind was buried at Monza, which had been her favourite residence. Her palace there was adorned with paintings illustrating the history of the Lombards, and it is from historians who saw these that we know something of their dress, arms and appearance. St Gregory sent to her relics of St. John the Baptist for the church which she built there ; the catalogue which accom- panied them, written on papyrus, is still preserved at Milan. Besides her many pious works in her husband's country, Theodolind built churches in her native land and is com- memorated there as a saint. Ferrarius and Arturus call her "Blessed," but her worship seems never to have been sanctioned by the universal practice of the Church or the authority of the Popes. Muratori, Annali d! Italia. Warne- fred (otherwise Paulus Diaconus), De Gestia Langohardum, St. Gregory's Epistles, IV. 2, IX. 38, 43, XIV. 2. Raderus, Bavaria Sancta and Bavaria Pia. Hare, Cities of Italy. Gibbon, Decline and FaU. St. Theodora (l), April 1, M. 2nd century. Patron of Caen. When the Emperor Hadrian succeeded Trajan, he sent for Hermes — prefect of Eome and brother of Theodora — and thinking the Christian religion disloyalty to the empire, he ordered the Tribune Quiri- nus to imprison him. Theodora was present at the trial and martyrdom of her brother, and she and Siv Balbina buried him. (See Balbina (1),) Theo- dora was seized and asked what had become of her own and her brother's wealth. She said it had all been given to the poor. The officers who hoped to have received money from her were very angry and threatened her with death, unless she gave them a good bribe. She said she had nothing left to give to her Master but herself. So they beheaded her. She was buried beside her brother on the Via Salaria. B,M, Acts of St. Quirinus March 29, St. Hermes Aug. 28, St. Balbina March 31. AA.SS. Mart of Salisbury, St. Theodora (2), May 7, V. M. at Terracina, with Domitilla (2). B,M, St Theodora (3), March 13, M. E.M. AA.SS. (See Thbuskta.) St. Theodora (4), April 16, M. 3rd century, with St. Chariessa. St. Theodora (5, 6, 7, 8), MM. different days and places. St. Theodora (9), Sept. 17, matron, M. under Diocletian. She ^ligently served the holy martyrs at Bome. B,M, St. Theodora (10), Theodosia, or Thbodotb, May 29, Sept. 27, Nov. 1,