Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/89

77 ST. MATRONA 77 [atilda (5 and 6) who lived more a century earlier. She is not in Roman Martyrology, hut in many lan and other calendars. Compare SS. Gbrtrude (12, 13). . Matriana, July 24, a nnn at mentioned in the history of St. .SNA in the AA,SS, . Matricia, Patricia (2), Mother . MODBSTA. . Matrona (l), May 8 (Matronica, toNiDA), M. with Acacias. (See HA (2). ) . Matrona (2), March 15th, h 17, M. Servant to a Jewess of Balonica, named Plautilla or Pan- Matrona went daily hy stealth to th, until at last she was found out ir mistress and heaten to death with ibL B.M, AA.SS. . Matrona (3), May 20, V. M. Thbcusa. B.M. . Matrona (4) or Patrona, March L with Alexandra ^3). B.M. . Matrona (5), Feb. 22, M., sup- l to be mother of Peregrina ; both rred with Antioa. !. Matrona (G-15). Besides all of whom something is known, ten rrs named Matrona occur in the dars, many of them in long lists of rrs who suffered at one time and . Matrona (16), March 15, V. M!. n of Barcelona. An orphan girl roelona, brought up by a rich uncle ook her to Italy and settled in the bonrhood of Eome. A persecution krose, and she could not be restrained visiting her fellow Christians and enting their assemblies. She was seized by the governor of the place, )d for several days in prison and subjected to cruel tortures under L she died. This legend is given by cihenius and Papebroch from a col- n of the Saints of Catalonia, printed e dialect of that province in 1549. e 17th century her relics were kept Wpuchin convent near Barcelona, but ng was known there with any cer- r about her date or history. AA.SS, lONA (17) of Capua and Matrona (2) oooolonica are commemorated on the day. St Matrona (17), V. of Capua, March 15, supposed in the 5th century. Princess of Portugal. Patron against dysentery. This is perhaps the Matrona or Madrona who is patron of Badajos. Called daughter of a king of Portugal, but it was not a kingdom in those days. For twelve years she was afflicted with dysentery. Her father tried every pos- sible treatment for her, but in vain. At last it was said to her in a vision, "Matrona, go to Italy and stop in the Via Aquaria near Capua, and there you will meet two young unbroken horses ; doubt not the will of God, but take a rope with which to catch the colts, who every day separate themselves from the flock and go without fail to a certain spot. Dig carefully in the spot and you will find the body of St. Prisons, bishop and martyr, a disciple of Christ in an- cient times. When you have taken out the relics and touched them, you shall be cured of your infirmity." Matrona related her dream to her parents who, delighted, chose twelve maidens and some very trustworthy men to accom- pany her. They arrived at Capua, found the colts and the relics, and Matrona was cured. She then went to Bome to obtain leave from the Pope to build a church in honour of St. Prisons. She lived at Capua with her companions until she died. She was buried in a magnificent tomb of polished marble, out of which, through a little hole in the shrine, manna flowed from the body of St. Matrona. This story was not written by any contemporary writer, nor is the place or date of her birth known. The legend was represented in a series of pictures on the walls of the church she built and was well known around Capua, but being very much resorted to, the church was enlarged and the pictures destroyed. AA.SS. St Matrona (18), of Perga in Pam- phylia, is also called Osbia, Nov. 8, 5th century. She was bom at Perga, married a nobleman named Domitian, and had a daughter Theodota, whom she dedicated to God from her birth, and who was still a little child when they removed to Con- stantinople. Here Matrona associated herself with St. Eugenia and spent her