Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/297

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ST. VERENA 285 rotmd it by gratefnl pilgrims and devotees, that the chapel had to be cleared of them from time to time. Her worship is generally combined with that of St. Fiaker, an Irish saint who died in G70. She is sometimes said to be the same as St. Vbronica. AA.SS.y *' St. Veronica," Feb. 4. St. Venecta or VoNocTa, March 19, M. Stadler. St. Venefride, Winifbed. St. Venera, Venebanda. St. Veneranda, Nov. 14 (Veneba, Vbnebia, Yenebis, Venus, Pabasceve), V. M., one of the Auxiliary Saints. Patron of Acci Eeale, of Avola (the ancient Hybla), and of Lecce in Otranto. Many are the stories and divers the days, dates, and places assigned to this saint. The Martyrology of Salisbury, Nov. 14, says that by her preaching and martyr- dom she converted nearly a thousand persons. Papebroch says that Venera, claimed by Cajetano as a Sicilian saint killed by her brothers, was called Venera because she was born on a Friday, the day of Venus ; she was afterwards called Parasceve. One of the fabulous legends makes Veneranda the daughter of Agatho and Politia. She is said to have lived in the time of the Apostles, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius, of Antoninus, of Diocletian ; and the scene of her life and martyrdom is laid in France, Sicily, Rome, the Abruzzi, Calabria, and other places. BM, Nov. 14. AA,SS. St. Veneria or Venebis, Venbbanda. St. Venetia, Veneca. St. Veneuse, Bonosa. St Venice, Vbbonioa. St. Venisa, Veneca. St Venise, Vebonica. St. Venouse, Bonosa. St Ventura, April 24, honoured at Villeneuve de St. Andr6, near Avignon. Guerin. St. Venus, Venbbanda. St. Venusa, Bonosa. St Venusta (l), May 10, M. at Tar- sus *in Cilicia. AA,SS. Stadler. St. Venusta (2), June 2, M. One of two hundred and twenty -seven Boman martyrs commemorated together this day in the Marfyrnlogy of St Jerome, AA.88. Stadler. St. Venustina, Feb. 17, M. at Rome with many others. AA,SS. Stadler. St. Vera or Wjbba. (See Faith, Hope and Chabity.) St. Vera, Jan. 24. Her body and that of St. Sufpobina are at Clermont, in the church of St. Artemius, bishop of Auvergne. St. Veranderung, Wilgbfobtis. St. Verbetta or Vobbetta. (See EiNBETTA.) St. Verbourg, Webebubga. St Verca, M. with St. Bathusa. St. Verda, Vauda. St. Verdiana or Vbrdina,Vibidiana. St Verecunda, April 12, M. 303. AA.SS, St. Verelde, Phabailbis. St. Verena (l) or Vbeke, Sept. l. 4th century. Patron of Switzerland and of several churches and villages there and in Germany. Eepresented on her tomb at Zurzach, with a round water jug, called in some of the French provinces huire, and a comb. In other places she appears holding a bunch of corn and a comb. Sometimes she has a cat and sometimes a serpent, in memory of her having commanded a number of venomous creatures of all sorts to leave the neigh- bourhood, which they did in great haste and precipitated themselves into the Aar. She is said to have been a native of Thebes in Egypt, whence she went to Italy in search of martyrdom. She re- mained some time at Milan, visiting the prisons of the saints. Hearing of the massacre of the Theban legion at Agaunum (now St. Maurice), she crossed the Alps and went to the scene of their martyrdom. There she met a Christian from her own country and lived with him at Soleure, in great sanctity and asceticism, converting many of the heathen Ailemanni and supporting her- self by her labour. On account of her virtues and miracles, the people began to worship her. She therefore left Soleure and lived at a place after- wards called Clingow. Thence she removed to 'Zurzach on the Bhine and became housekeeper to the priest and tended the lepers and other poor persons, washing and combing, dressing and feed- ing them. The legend told of so many