Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/48

 NOTES AND QUERIES. [is s.m. JAN. 20, 1917.

day of my martyrdom, Lord, remember not his

iniquities, for Thou knowest, Lord, that we are

flesh."

Then came the voice of the Lord to her

saying :

" Come, my fairest and choicest. Best on the couch of thy Father who is in heaven. This request of thine is granted to thee by Me." She was beheaded by her father with St. Juviana, who had just confessed her faith in Christ. Then 1 bodies were claimed by Valentine, a venerable man, who laid them in loco solis, meaning Nicomedia, capital of Bithynia, where many miraculous cures were wrought. As her father descended the mountain, fire came down from heaven and burnt him up, so that not even his ashes were found. She suffered on December 4.

So much for St. Barbara's Passion. To- wards the end of the same work, we find her " Translation." This record fixes the date of the martyrdom, December 4, A.r>. 227,* when Barbara was 15 years old. Her soul was transported to heaven by exulting angels with immense praise and glory. Valentine, a priest, prepared a mausoleum, and laid the virgin body and the head in it, preserved with sweet spices. The pagan inhabitants of the city, seeing the frequent prodigies and miracles wrought by the merits and prayers of the holy virgin, pro- cured a casket of wonderful workmanship, constructed of gold and precious stones, and, placing the virgin's body in it, suspended it by four golden chains in a certain temple of the same city (Nicomedia), and kept a circle of lamps burning round it. A body of Christian soldiers, having taken arms to bring to the Faith rebels and infidels, after a battle in which they suffered heavy losses themselves, took this city, through which running as soldiers do in search of gain, as well wounded as whole, they entered the temple with no intention of praying, but hoping to find treasure. A wonderful thing then happened. All the Christians who were wounded or injured were, at once healed. Wondering at the cause of this blessing, they noticed the suspended shrine, and seeing an old man, a heathen priest, sitting near, who was expecting nothing but his own death, heard from him of the virgin's miraculous powers. Thereupon they brought in the bodies of all Christians who had been slain in the battle, and they were at once restored to life. Forgetting their victory, they were overwhelmed with joy at this spiiitual treasure, and, carrying it to

of Maximianus I.
 * This is nearer the date of "Maximinus I. than

Rome, laid the body in the Cemetery of" ^alixtus, where many bodies of saints repose. Afterwards Charles the Great, Emperor of" ated the holy body to Piacenza, and on February 12 laid it in the Monastery of St. Sixtus, which Charles's sister Angilberta lad founded, but the Pope retained the head for himself. Many others, however, claim
 * he Romans, with the Pope's consent trans-
 * hat they have the sacred body or the head,

Derhaps taking per sinodechen (read synec- dochen) a part for the whole.

After this follow the particulars of various miracles wrought by St. Barbara. A few will suffice. A certain painter was at work on her history, but when he came to the place where sheep were turned into locusts, hie forgot the appearance and shape of such little beasts Ibestiolarum), and it was at a time when none could be found. So he knelt down devoutly, and asked St. Barbara to enlighten him, and while he was still praying a locust came hopping before him. When he had thoroughly noted its shape, he went on with his picture, and shut up the model in a box. Any one looking at the picture might think the locusts were alive, but, when the painter went to look at the locust again, though the box was shut, it had disappeared.

In the Acts of St. Barbara are several miracles concerning soldiers, and deliver- ances of those in peril by land and water. A soldier, who was so devoted to this saint that he used to fast upon her eve and keep her day as Sunday, fell into the hands of his enemies, who cut off his head. His horse ran back home, sprinkled with blood. The horrified family called a priest, furnished with the Eucharist, and after searching awhile came to the spot where the- head lay severed from the body. The head, addressing the priest, begged him to join it to the body, for " by the merits of the blessed Barbara it shall be made whole." This was done. The soldier made his confession, re- ceived the" Sacrament, and when peace had been made rested happily in the Lord. This and many like miracles, continues the narra- tor, the Lord wrought through the merits of St. Barbara ; for many, as one reads, having been condemned to death by a secular trial, being hanged, broken on the wheel, beheaded or killed by robbers, who had been devoted to her in life, could not die without true contrition, pure confession, holy Communion, and Extreme Unction. There are many stories, also, of her devotees being delivered from death, as a Premonstratensian monk,, who riding near Louvain got out of his