Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/112

98 ST. BAICHE in Persia. Among them were Baliuta, widow, Thecla, Danacha, Tatona, Mama, Mazachia, and Anna, virgins of Beth-Selcucia ; Abiata, Hat^s, and Mamlacha, virgins of Beth-Germa. Petits BoUandistes, St. Baiche, Nov. 20. A Persian nnn. Neale, quoting the Armenio- Georgian Calendar, St. Balbina (l)i March 31, V. M. Patron against scrofula, "f 130. Repre- sented holding chains. Daughter of St. Quirinus, M., a Koman tribune, who was persuaded by St. Hermes, prefect of the city, and at that time a prisoner for the sake of his Christian faith, to visit St. Alexander, the Pope, who was also in prison. Quirinus said to Alexander, '< I have a grown-up daughter, and I wish to have her married. She is very pretty, but she is disfigured by lumps and sores on her neck. If you can cure her, I and all my household will believe in your God and be baptized." Alexander said, *^ If you will take the fetters off my neck and put them on hers, she will be cured." Quirinus did so, and Alexander blessed them both. A boy then appeared to Balbina, bearing a torch and telling her she was cured, and she was to have no earthly husband, but to be the bride of Christ. When he had said this, he disappeared, and Balbina was healed of her sores and was baptized with Quiri- nus, Exuperia her mother, and all their household. As Balbina often kissed the fetters that had cured her, Alexander said, " Do not kiss these bonds, but seek for the chains of my master, St. Peter, and kiss them." Then Balbina sought them with great diligence, and at last found them. St. Theodoua, sister of the Prefect Hermes, entreated Balbina to give her the chains, which she did. At that time Aurelian, being enraged against the Christians, sent soldiers to take all the prisoners who had been baptized, and put them in an old ship, in which they were sent out to sea, tied together by their hands, with stones round their necks, and the ship was sunk. St. Balbina was among them. Other accounts do not mention her martyrdom, but say she was buried with her father in the Via Appia, in the cemetery of Pretextatus, which is some- times called by her name on account of the church built there in her honour by St. Mark, Pope (336). B.M. AA,SS. B. Balbina (2), March 11. O.S.F. 13th century. Niece of St. Clara (2). Sister of B. Am at a, who was one of St. Clara's first nuns. Their father was Martini de Corano. Balbina joined the new community in its second year, and was eventually first abbess of the second convent of the Order of St Clara at Spello. Balbina and Amata are men- tioned in the Franciscan MarUjrology. Jacobilli, De Sanctis Umbrise, AA.SS.J Prseter. Mrs. Oliphant, Francis of Assist. St. Balda, Dec. 9, V. Third Abbess of Jouarre, in the diocese of Meaux. After having been a nun for some years under her nieces, St. Theodechild and St. Ailbebt, who were successively Abbesses of Jouarre, she succeeded Ail- bert in that o£&ce about 680, and died at a great age in the odour of sanctity. Ferrarius, CataJogus Sanctorum. Buce- linus. Lechner. St. Baldechild, Bathilde. St. Baldegund, Feb. 10 (Baude- GONDE, Waldeound). Between the middle of 6th and middle of 8th cen- turies. A Benedictine abbess in France, mentioned in several old martyrologies. AA.SS, Boll. Bucelinus, Mert. Ben. St. Balsamia, Oct. 25, Nov. 16 (Balzamie, Bausame, Bauzanne, Nou- uice). 5th century. Balsamia was the mother of St. Celsinus, or Soussin, whose festival is held on Oct. 25 at Eheims, Nov. 16 at Laon. She was the nurse of St. Eemigius, or Eomi, and is therefore generally called Sainte Norrice, and by this name the collegiate church at Bheims was dedicated in her honour. In the Breviary of Eheims her worship is prescribed for Nov. 10. AA.SS. Chastelain, Voc. Hag. Petits Bollandistcs. St. Baltilda, Bathilde. B. Baptista Varani, or Camilla (4), May 31. O.S.F. tl^'>27. Her family were princes of Camerino, in Umbria. Her father, Julius CaBsar Varano, or Verano, served with distinc- tion, first in the wars of Venice, and afterwards under Matthias Corvinus,