Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/244

232 SS. SPONSARIA 1 2, 1 3, companion of St. Uit8xn.A. Martin. Baillet. SS. Sponsaria. (See Elenara (i).) St. Spontia, Sponba. St. Stadiola, Eustadiola. St. Stephana (i), Stephania, Ste- PHANEDE, Nov. 11. Late in 3rd century. Eepresented suspended by her wrists from the branches of two palm trees, which, when they flew up again, tore the body of the saint in two. (Gu6nebault, Iconographie.) She was put to death in this manner because on witnessing the death of St Victor, she exclaimed, How happy are the Martyrs ! " The place of her martyrdom is sometimes said to be Egypt; sometimes, Damascus; some- times, Italy. A church is dedicated in her name at Scala, near Amalfi, where she is honoured with St Victor, May 14. Perhaps same as St. Corona (1). Menohgy of Basil. AA,SS. May 14, Sept 18. B. Stephana (2) Quinzani, Jan. 16, O.S.D. 1457-1530. The daughter of Lorenzo Quinzani, a good religious man, and a member of the Third Order of St. Dominic, she was bom at Soncino in the diocese of Cremona. She took re- ligious vows at the age of seven. At fifteen St. Catherine dressed her by night in the habit of the Third Order, and the next day she was publicly en- rolled by the monks. She wore a cili- cium for six years and when she took it off, her skin came with it ; she wore also a cord with thirty-three knots, in honour of the years of our Saviour's life ; each knot made a wound in her flesh. Not- withstanding incredible fasting and hard work, which included threshing com, she was fat and jolly. She was ugly, but had magnificent hair, and gmdging herself this one beauty, she pulled it out by the roots. She was married to Christ with a ring. She prayed that it might not be visible to every one, but only to those whom He accounted worthy to see it. She was vexed with doubts about the Holy Eucharist, but they were set at rest when she saw the Child Jesus in the host She gave aU her good clothes and money to the poor, and they were miraculously restored and increased. She had the stigmata. She was for some years superior of & voluntary community of the Third Order ; they were not locked up bat lived devoutly together, visiting the siok and frequenting the churches. Their prmyeis were much valued by the people. She brought up a girl named Priscilla or PidSGA, whom ^e appointed to snoceed her as head of the house. The ring which the Lord had given her was pre- served in her convent; it contained a gem of wonderful colour, having several facets. Some people saw in it a crown of thorns ; some, three keys ; some, the scourging of the Saviour. Stephana was beatified by Pope Benedict X. AMM^ O.S.D, Pi5, Vominij etc. Eazzi, Ftf- dicatori, Bagatta, Admiranda, Stadler. St. Stercia, Stercita, St. Stercita or Stercia, May 8, M. at Constantinople, with St. Acacias. (See Agatha (2).) St. Stercola, Feb. 28, M. with many others. AA.SS. St. Sterg^a, Stertia, or Sturia, June 21, M. AA.SS, St. Stertia, Stergia, St. Stiala, Aiala. St. (or B.) Stilla, July 10. 12th century. Much worshipped in olden times at Marienburg, in the diocese of Eystadt. Said to be descended itom Babo, count of Abensberg in Bavaria. Her father's name was Zelch. Her brothers, Conrad and Eatbod, in con- junction with St. Otto of Bamberg, in 1132, built the great Cistercian monas- tery of Heilsbronn. She intended to build a church and convent near her father's castle: she built the church, but died before she had accomplished the rest of her design. Great numbers of persons used to resort to her tomb and the efficacy of her intercession was attested by votive tablets and similar offerings. AA.SS. St. Stisberga, Idabero (3). . St. Stria, May 24, M. in Syria. AA.SS. Strzezislawa if a Saint, is the same as Przbislawa or Przipislawa. St. Sturia, Stergia. St. Suabseg, Suibhsech. Sainte Suaire, the holy handker- chief. (See Veronica.)