(DATE UNKNOWN.)
[Three saints of this name are commemorated on this day. At Barcelona
one called Virgin and Martyr, another of Thessalonica, in the Roman
Martyrology, called Martyr, but it is not said that she was a Virgin;
another at Capua, in Campania, where she is said to be a Virgin and
a native of Portugal. They were three distinct persons living at
different dates, as their histories testify, but on account of the
names of the Barcelonese and Capuan Saints being identical with that
of S. Matrona in the Roman Martyrology, their festivals are kept on
the same day. Matrona of Thessalonica is commemorated by the Greeks on
March 27th.]
S. Matrona of Barcelona was early left an orphan and was adopted by her
aunt, who went with her to Italy, and settled in the Campagna. The girl
was given a crucifix, which she ever carried about with her. Having
been denounced as a Christian, she was thrown into prison and starved
to death.
S. Matrona of Thessalonica was the slave of a Jewess, who having
discovered that her servant was a Christian, beat her to death with a
stick.