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294 204 ST. VILLBETTA until dawn. Her £ftther objected so strongly to her becoming a nun, that when he discovered what she had been doing, he foond a suitable husband for her that very day. His name was Rosso Benintendi. As her parents had foreseen, she soon began to be like other young wives, amusing herself with worldly affairs and enjoying the plea- sures and luxuries of her station. Her body, accustomed to mortification, grew fat, and her neglected spiritual life began to fade away. One day as she was adorning herself for a festival she looked in the glass, and there, instead of herself she saw the devil. Horrified, she sent for other mirrors, but still she saw the same apparition. She went in great distress to the Dominican church, confessed her vanity and sin, and took the Third Order of St. Dominic. Vil- lana was beatified by Leo XII. in 1824. A.RM., O.8.D., Feb. 28 or 29. AA^S. Diario di Bama. Razzi, Predicatori, Cahier. Brocchi, 8S. e BB, Fiorentirii, Massini, Ba4Xolta, St. Villbetta, Einbetta. St Vincentia(i),Feb. l, Oct. 22, + c. 390. Wife of St. Severus, bishop of Ravenna, patron of weavers and drapers. He was a weaver, and lived at Ravenna, in holy poverty and humility, with his wife Vincentia and their daughter St. Innocentia (3). About the year 340, the see of lUvenna became vacant by the death of St. Marcellinus, or according to other authorities, St. Agapitus; the prince of that city ordered a three days^ fast, after which the clergy and nobles of the diocese and neighbourhood wore to pray for a sign from heaven by which they might bo guided in their choice of a bishop. Severus, the weaver, while he was sitting diligently at his work, said to his wife, " I should like to run to the cathedral and see whom they will elect." Vincentia answered, " Don't be idle. Stay at home and work, that you may have broad for your wife and daughter. What's the use of your going in your common working dress amongst all the nobles in purple ? I hope some- body will give you a good cuff and send you back again.'* " Never mind," said the weaver, " lot mo go." " Go then," answered his wife; '*for whether yon arrive soon or late, you will be chosen bishop. " In spite of her irony, he went, and although the church was full of people, he got a place near the prince. When the service was over and they had prayed for a sign from heaven to direct their choice of a bishop, a dove flew down and lighted on the head of Sevems. Everybody laughed at the poor worb man in his dirty dress, and some of them beat him and drove him out of the church, as his wife had wished. Next day he went again. But this time he hid behind a door. When they had again prayed for a sign, the dove flew about and settled, as before, on the head of the poor weaver. It was not imtil the same thing happened again the thiid day, that all the clergy and people understood that Severus was to be the bishop. Some one ran and told Yin- centia of his election, but she would not believe it until a second and a third mes- senger arrived and confirmed the intelli- gence. Then she said, '* He who hitherto used to walk through the streets spin- ning is not tm worthy to sit in the bishop's throne." One Sunday, when Sevems had finished celebrating mass, he stood entranced before the altar, with his arms extended. After a considerable time his clergy having spoken to him in vain, shook him and asked what he was think- ing of. He answered that he had been to Modena and had been present at the death of Geminian, bishop of Modena, that he had commended his soul to Grod, and laid him in his coffin. The people of Ravenna immediately sent messengers to Modena, and they brought back the news that St. Geminian had just died in the church, attended in his last moments by St. Severus, bishop of Ravenna, who, as soon as he had laid his brother bishop in the coffin, vanished from the eyes of the bystanders. Some years after this, when Vincentia had been dead and buried some time, Innocentia died, and it was determined that she should be buried beside her mother. When the tomb was opened there was no room for Innocentia, until Severus commanded his wife to move and make room for her daughter, which she did. Many yean