FEBRUARY 12. Eulalia of barcelona, whose tortures equaled her years
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Patron saint of Barcelona, sailors, against drought, against dysentery, boatmen, mariners, pregnant women, for rain, safe sailing, safe seafaring, sailors, travellers, watermen. She is invoked against miscarriage and for or against rain and calm waters.
Lived 290 to 303 Born to a wealthy family, legend has it that Eulalia was a child prodigy. At thirteen, she walked alone to the center of town, and approached Judge Dacian saying "I am Eulalia, servant of my Lord Jesus Christ. I trust him and that is why I came here without fear to contest your conduct, which is the one of an ignorant." By other accounts, she did not approach him but was instead "brought before him." In Greek, Eulalia means "well-spoken." THIRTEEN TORTURES Eulalia endured 13 tortures ("one for each year of her life."). Suffering "only made her stronger." She said, "The wounds don't hurt because God is at my side." These tortures included: For refusing to recant her Christianity, the Romans subjected her to
THIRTEEN GEESE In an effort to honor the saint in an "ornithological fashion," 13 geese inhabit the cloisters where her remains are buried. DOUBLE EULALIAS There is some dispute over whether or not she is the same saint as Eulalia of Merida, who lived from 290 to 304 and withstood a similar bloodbath (both involving miraculous death doves). |