(ABOUT 303.)
[Mentioned in the Roman and German Martyrologies. The account of
her martyrdom is from the Martyrologies, and from her Acts,
published by the Bollandists.]
During the savage persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian, emperors,
one Rictiovarus was governor at Soissons, in Gaul, who laboured to put
down Christianity. The virgin Macra was treated by him with inhuman
barbarity; she was exposed to fire, her breasts were cut off, and she
was rolled on potsherds and coals; then, spreading out her hands, she
prayed, "O Lord Jesu Christ, who madest me triumph over the chains in
my dungeon, and madest the fire to which I was exposed as sweet as dew,
I pray Thee, receive my soul, for now is the time come for Thee to set
my spirit free!" So saying, she entered into her rest.
She is regarded as the patroness of Fimes, near Rheims.
In art, she is represented with her breasts on a book which she carries.