Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/92

80 80 ST. MAURA all the comforts of this world. Her example and influence converted her father from a worldy and careless life; after his death she remained with her mother, spending her time in prayer and deeds of charity, and in work of dirers kinds for the churches. She made an alb for St. Prudentius, after having bleached and spun the flax with her own hands. She had a brother Eutropins, whom she led to a holy life. Maura used to spend whole days in church and walk barefooted to other churches some miles from Troyes. She was remark- able for her gift of tears ; she had only to throw herself on her knees and they streamed from her eyes in torrents. She died at the age of twenty-three, saying that SS. Peter, Paul, Gervasius, and Protasius were standing at the four comers of her bed, keeping off the demons who desired to have her soul. AA.SS,^ from a sermon by Prudentius, bishop of Tours, who had heard from eye-witnesses all that he had not himself seen. Butler. Baillet. M6senguy. St. Maura (7) or Maure, Nov. 2, V. + 890. " In Scotland quhomfra kilmaures in cuninghame is callit, vnder k donald." She used to visit St. Vey in the island of Cumbrad and receive in- struction from her, which she afterwards imparted to the nuns under her care. She died at Eilmavoris or Kilmaur. After her death her sanctity was attested by miracles. Canisius. Adam King, ^n« catechiam, Forbes, Scottish Kalendars. SS. Maurella and Nirilla, May 21, MM. with others, in Africa. AA,SS, St. Maxellenda, Nov. i;j, V. M. 670. In the time and diocese of St. Yindi- cianus, bishop of Cambray, lived a beautiful girl and nobly born, who had a vow of virginity. A young nobleman, named Hard win, tried in vain to persuade her to marry him. He got together a band of his companions, and choosing a time when her parents were gone to a feast, carried her off. Enraged at hor determined resistance, he murdered her at the spot where now stands the Basilica of All Saints. As soon as he saw her blood he was struck blind. She was buried in the church of SS. Peter, Paul and Sulpicius, in a neighbouring village of Pomeriolas. Three years afterwards a noble matron, Amaltrude, by Divine direction went to St. Vindicianus and had the holy virgin translated to the spot of her martyrdom, which was al- ready distinguished by miraclea Hard- win, who had repented during his blindness, went to meet the procession, and throwing himself before the bier, confessed and lamented his crime, where- upon the departed saint forgave him and restored his sight. Le Mire, Fasti. Chroniques Beiges, St. Maxentia (i) or Massnza, April ao, + c. 400. Patron of Trent. A noble Roman lady who went from Bome with her three sons, SS. Vigilius, Clandian, and Majorian, when they went to preach Christianity at Trent, in the Alps. Vigilius became bishop of that place, and Maxentia was buried there. AA.SS. St. Maxentia (2), Oct. 24, Nov. 2, 20, April 16 (Masexza, Maixbnce, Mesbence and Mess^ne;, V. M. Her legend is that she went from Scotland or Ireland to France and, after crossing the river Oise dry-shod, settled at a place on its bank, now called Pont Ste. Maixence, where she led an ascetic life and was favoured with visions. Here she even- tually suffered martyrdom at the hands of a Spanish Moor or of a prince who had fol- lowed her from her own country to compel her to be his wife. She is said to have been the daughter of a King of the Scots who is variously called Malcolm, Solnathius and Mordacus. She had a maid St. BosEBiE, and a man-servant St. Bar ban or Brabantius, who shared her flight. Her date varies from the time of St. Patrick to that of Charles Martel. She was honoured in the diocese of Beauvais in very early times, and the ford of St. Maxtintia is said by Baillet to be men- tioned by Frodegarius in describing the wars of Ebroin, 037. Bishop Forbes says the name of the place called Pont Ste. Maixence is derived from that of the Irish bishop Maximus or Mo-Easconn. Maxellenda is perhaps the same as Maxentia. Brit. Sancta. Adam King. Camerarius. Butler. Baillet. St. Maxima (l), Sep. 2, M. in the time of Diocletian. Godmother of St. Ansanus, Dec. 1, who was instructed and