Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology, Bede, some copies of that of S. Jerome, socalled, Usuardus, Ado, Ac. Authority Mention in the Acts of S. Dorn it ilia.] A I NT FELICULA was the foster-sister of S. Petronilla (May 31st). Petronilla was sought in iiKirriage by one Flaccus, a count; and she prayed to God, and in answer to her prayer, He called her spirit away. Felicula was with her at the time. Then Flaocus said to Felicula, “ Choose one of two things, be my wife or sacrifice to the gods.” Felicula answered, “I will not be thy wife, for I have dedicated myself to God; and I will not sacrifice to idols, for I am a Christian.”

Then Flaccus gave her to his under officer, who imprisoned her without food for seven days. The officer endeavoured to break her constancy by his words, “ Why die a wretched death? Surely Flaccus is noble, rich* young, elegant, a count, and a friend of the emperor.1 Felicula only answered, “I am a Christian maiden dedicated to Christ”

Jaw S. Aquilina. 177 Then she was taken to the vestal virgins, and left with them seven days, in hopes that they would be able to persuade her, but still in vain. So she was stretched on the rack. The executioner said, pitying her youth and beauty, “Say that thou art not a Christian, and I will cast thee off.”

But she cried out, “ I begin to see Him whom my soul loveth, who for me tasted gall, and wore the crown of thorns, and died upon the cross.” Then she was removed and thrown into one of the sewers of Rome, where she was suffocated. But Nicomede the priest, by night, penetrated to where the body was, and removed and buried it in a cemetery on the Via Ardeatina.

There is much uncertainty as to where her genuine relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor] repose, two churches in Rome dispute the possession of her body, S. Praxedes, and S. Lorenzo in Lucina, but so does also the church of S. Paul at Parma, to which it was translated in 1427. Also, a body at Pavia, and some portions of the relics at Fulda. The confusion has arisen probably from there having been several martyrs of the same name. Two others, Roman martyrs, are commemorated on Feb. 14th and June 5th.