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202 ST. RUFINA St. Rufina (10), April 24, M. at Alexandria. St. Rufina (H), Jnne 3, M. at Eome. B. Rufina (12) or Ruffina of Fabriano, in the March of Ancona, 3rd O.S.D. In 1607 her picture was to be seen in the church of the Order at Fabriano, in a Dominican dress, with rays of glory round her head. Her story and date are unknown, although she is belieyed to be less ancient than B. Anna (23) and B. Angela (5), who both belong to Anoona. Fio. St. Ruma, Rbuma, or Chbistiana (4), Oct. 24, M. 623. A rich and beautiful widow of Negran in Arabia Felix, put to death with her daughters, by Dedaan or Dhu Nowas, a Jewish king or chief, who was tributary to St. Elesbaan, the Christian king of Ethiopia ; Nowas rebelled and was beaten, but took advantage of the winter when Elesbaan could not come against him, to plunder and massacre the Christians. He took the town of Negran, put to death Arethas, the ruler of the town, Buma, — whom some accounts make to be his wife or daughter-in-law — and about four thou- sand others of both sexes and all ages ; some of the women had little children with them; one boy of fiye was con- spicuous by his courage and devotion to his Church and party. Ten of the women were canonesses ; they demanded the honour of dying first, but the matrons said, *' No, we will die first that we may not see the sufferings of our husbands and children." Dhu Nowas was defeated and put to death by Elesbaan in 525. Thus ended the kingdom called in the Bible, Saba, and by the Greeks and Romans, Homeritis. It was at that time the oldest in the world, having been founded by Saba, the son of Chus, the son of Ham, the son of Noah. Elesbaan became a monk and attained to great sanctity. AA.SS, St. Rumetina, April 30, M. AA,SS, St. Rusina, July 19, sometimes erroneously called Eobina. Once on a time, there was a king of Borne, named Auster, who had for his wife, Busina, a beautiful and clever woman ; but childless. They were both idolaters and cruelly perseouted the Christians, thinking by such means to propitiate their gods, that they might bless them with children. The queen in particular was unceasing in her prayers, but as they were of no avail, she bethought herself of a holy Christian Father, for whom she secretly sent She told him that if his God proved more powerful than her gods, she would love and serve Him always. The reverend Father gave her a book with an account of the miracles wrought by Christ on earth, and begged her to read and study it, while he meanwhile would go and pray that she might be enlightened to see the true Gk>d. The prayers of the holy man were answered, and the queen accepted Christianity and was privately baptized. By-and-bye, to the great joy of the king, Queen Busina said she hoped in some months to be a mother, at the same time she confessed to her husband that she had become a Christian, and related all that the holy man had told her. The king read some of the books which had been given to Busina, sent for the priest and received baptism at his hands. Soon after this, the queen expressed a strong desire to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, in order to see the holy places where Christ had suffered and died ; and to see the house where the Virgin Mary had lived. The king was ready to comply with her request, but said that die enterprise would be attended with great danger, as they would have to pass through the country of CaBsarea, whose king was an enemy to Bome; however, he thought that by taking a large armed escort with them, they might accomplish their purpose safely. He summoned his Parliament and told the lords and barons that he ^d his wife had become Christians, and Busina standing up in their midst spoke so eloquently to them, that with one accord they were all con- verted and received holy baptism. Shortly after this, attended by a great company of horse and foot, the king and queen started for the Holy Land. When they got to CsBsarea, the king of that country sent 500 horsemen, and footmen without number, to attack the Bomans