Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Marfyrol ogy. Authority The Dialogues of S. Gregory the Great, a contemporary, who gives the story on the authority of a friend, a priest, Speciosus.] Romula and another maiden lived in the house of an aged virgin, Redempta, who had learned to serve God in the religious life from a virgin named Herundina, a solitary in one of the deserts of Palestine. Romula was struck with paralysis, but remained in her long illness perfectly gentle and resigned, praying to God, and singing his praises.

One night she called out to Redempta, “Mother, Mother come !” Redempta hurried into the room, and found it filled with a dazzling, unearthly light, and a sweet fragrance. There were sounds as of many people entering the house, and the door burst open. '“My mother, fear nothing,” said Romula, as Redempta fell down quaking with terror. “ I shall not die just now.” Gradually the light faded, but the frag^rance remained.

On the fourth day afterwards Romula felt she was dying, and she besought Redempta to give her the Sacred Viaticum, which she had received in the church, therewith to communicate the dying woman. As Romula received the heavenly gift, suddenly there bursi forth strains of vocal music in the street without, men chanting and women singing in response. It was perhaps some procession passing, some litany that was being sung. When the sweet song had died away in the distance, the spirit of the poor paralyzed womar was fled.

■S'. Romula. Her body was laid in the church of S. Maria Maggiore, and afterwards, when Redempta died, she was laid beside her spiritual daughter.