brilliant star darted from heaven to her breast, and disappeared there, but illuminated her whole person as long as the ecstasy lasted. From that time she was a changed creature, and began to despise earthly objects and interests. (Stadler n. Heim, Heiligen Lexikon.)
St, Athea, Atea.
St Athela, Adela.
St. Athelburga, Ethelburga, July 7.
St Athora, Feb. 23, M. in Africa. AA.SS.
St Athy, Atea.
St Attala, or Athala, Dec. 3. † c. 741. Represented having a well near her, or as a corpse with one hand cut off. St. Attala was first abbess of the first monastery in Strasburg. She was the daughter of Adelbert, Duke of Alsace, by his first wife Gerlinda. He had her carefully trained for the duties of an abbess, by his sister St. Odila, and in 717, when he built the monastery of St. Stephen, he set her over it. She won the love and reverence of her own convent and of all the inhabitants of Strasburg. So highly was she venerated, that, after death, her body was exposed for five weeks, and the faithful came from all parts to honour her. Werentrude, Abbess of Hohenburg, and a particular friend of St. Attala, desiring a relic, employed a priest, who cut off the right hand of the saint. He was discovered. The hand was enclosed in a crystal box, and is preserved in the church of St. Stephen, where it is exhibited on Dec. 3. Her black woollen mantle was also preserved, and was placed on the shoulders of each succeeding abbess at her installation. A well in the crypt was credited with healing powers in her time and for centuries afterwards. French and German Martyrologies. Cahier. Guérin, Petite Bollandistes, xiv.
St Attica, Feb. 13, V. 4th century. Converted by St. Constance Augusta AA.SS. Stadler.
St Attracta, Feb. 9, Aug. H (Taracta, Tarahatta, Tarnutha, Tharatta). 5th or 6th century. An Irish virgin, daughter of Saran, or Talan, or Tigernach, of royal descent in Ulster.
The legend is that she made a vow of celibacy at a very early age. To avoid marrying in obedience to her parents, she left her home, accompanied only by her maid Mitain and her man-servant Mochain, and came to Connaught. She decided that her house must be where seven roads met, that she might entertain travellers from all directions. Mochain eventually discovered such a site for her, and there she built a church and monastery. In her wanderings she came to a beautiful place where St. Conallus, her brother or near relation, had his church. She sent to ask if she might build herself a house in the neighbourhood. It happened to be Lent, and St. Conallus was spending the holy season, according to his custom, saying his prayers in cold water. He called to mind certain prophecies concerning the wonderful works of Attracta, and the fame she was destined to attain, and decided not to have her within his territory. He sent Daohonna (probably the same as St. Machonna) to give her his blessing, and to beg her, in the name of Ood, not to erect any building in that place. She was very angry. Besides other fierce and cruel things, she said, "Since you ask me in the name of God, I cannot refuse. And since you order me to leave your lands, I obey your decree. But that Conallus may feel how bitter is my sentence, I pray that no corn may ever grow on his estate, and that no father and son together may ever serve there. I foretell that a sound of bells will come into your dwelling, which will diminish the offerings you receive from the people, or deprive you of them altogether." This soon hap- pened: a monastery was built in the place, and took all the tribute which formerly went to St. Conallus' church.
Bec, King of Lugna, sent for Attracta to kill a monster which devastated his country. As a reward, he gave to her and her successors for ever, the land which had been rendered uninhabitable. In course of time, the King of Connaught went to war against the men of Lugna, and hemmed them in by lake Techot. St. Attracta led them through the midst of the lake, on condition that no one should look behind him. A boy.
