Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/308

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296 ST. VIRTUNIA come back as soon as she cotdd. When she returned they hailed her with jo3^fiil acclamations and built her a cell, looking into the chnrch of St. Antony, that, ac- cording to her wish, she might liye as a recluse with the privilege of hearing mass and sermons. While it was being built, she made a pilgrimage to Borne. She was walled up in 1188, and lived thirty-four years in her cell, sleeping in summer on the bare ground and in winter on a plank with a block of wood for a pillow. She had been there about four years when, on the feast of St. Antony, she heard the preacher tell what that patriarch of Hermits and re- cluses endured from the presence of devils which took the forms of wild beasts. She prayed that she might share the sufferings of that ancient saint, and a few days afterwards, two huge serpents came in at her little window and re- mained with her for the rest of her life, eating out of her bowl and lashing her with their tails when she had nothing to give them. The Bishop of Florence paid her a visit and wished to have the serpents killed but she begged him to leave them as an exercise of her patience. They had been with her thirty years when the people of Castel Fiorentino destroyed them, to her great regret. In 1222 she received a visit from St. Francis of Assisi, who made her a member of his newly founded third order. She was honoured with miracles both before and after her death. Migne. Stadler. St. Virtunia, May 6, M. at Milan. AA.SS. St. Vissia, April 12, V. M. under Decius. Patron of Firmo in the March of Ancona, three miles from the Adriatic sea, where she was martyred. B.M. AA,SS. UghelK. St. Vitalena, Vitalina. St Vitalica (l), June 2, M. at Borne. AA S8 SS. Vitalica (2, 3), Aug. 31, MM. at Ancyra in Galatia. AA.SS, St. Vitalica (4), Sept. 4, M. at Ancyra in Galatia. AA.SS. St. Vitalina or Vitalena, Feb. 21, Aug. 13, Dec. 13, V. -|- c. 31M). A holy recluse at Artona in Auverp^e. St. Martin of Tours, on his way to Clermont, came to the place where she was buried, and asked her to say if she was already admitted to the bliss of heaven. She answered, ** One little thing still hinders me : once on the sixth feria afler the death of Christ, which is 'Parasceve,' I washed my head with water." Si Martin said to his followers, *' Alas, if this holy virgin is not yet admitted into paradise because she washed her head on ' Parasceve,' what will become of us who break Gk)d's commandments every day?" He told Vitalina that in throe days she should be in heaven. Afler this she wrought many miracles. Bollan- dus, from St Gregory of Tours. St Vitburg, WiTHBUBOA. St Vittoria. (See Sila.) St. Viuvine, Wivin. St ViVentia, March 17, V. Wor- shipped with St. Gebtbude of Nivklli. There are three martyrs of the name recorded in sepulchral monuments and ecclesiastical books : this may be one of them, or may be a younger sister of Gertrude who is said to have helped her to build the monastery of Nivelle. She lies in the cathedral of Cologne, in a small tomb separate from the companions of St. Ursula. AA.SS. Baillet St Viviana, Bibiana. St. Vivina, Wivin. St^ Vivreda, Vibobada. St Vjera, or Wjeba, Bnasian for Faith. (See SS. Faith, Hope and Chabity. ) B. Volende, Yoland. St. Vonocta, or Yenecta, March 19, M. Stadler. St. Vorbetta. (See Einbetta.) St. Voult, Vebonica (1). B. Voyslava, Woyslawa. St. Vreken, " Sim Vreke " or « Vromv Vreke " represents sensual love, and is the same as *' Fru Frene^'^ a German idea of Venus. Eckenstein. (See Ysrena.) St.Vr61ie, EuRiELLA. Cahier. Some- times called sister of Eubiella. St. Vulfedrude, Wulpetrude. St. Vulfetrudis, sometimes Wul- FKiDA, and sometimes Wulfetrude. St. Vulfia, Ulphia. CanisiuB. St. Vulfide, Wui.Fn.DA. St Vulfridis, Wulfkipa.