(A.D. 1310.)
[Her life, from an ancient MS., in the Convent of S. Clara, at
Florence, was published by Silvanus Razzi, and reprinted in the
Acta Sanctorum.]
The Blessed Oringa was born at Sancta Croce, on the Arno, in the year
1237, of poor parents, who died whilst she was young. She kept the
cattle on the farm occupied by her two brothers. The cows were taken by
her into the woods to pasture, and they became so docile that they
obeyed her voice in all things. When she grew to a marriageable age, her
brothers determined that she should become the wife of a small farmer in
the parish; but she ran away, and escaping across the river, made her
way to Lucca. The way was long, and night falling, the young girl lost
the road, and wandered in a forest. At the same time her fancy conjured
up horrible forms to frighten her. She would had died of terror, but for
the companionship of a little hare which played about her skirts, as
tamely as if it had been a favourite kitten, and rested on her lap all
night, when she cast herself down in weariness. Next morning, the hare
gambolled before her, and led her into the road, after which it ran
away. At Lucca she entered the service of a pious family. As she was
annoyed on account of her beauty, she stained her skin with walnut
juice. Having gone on a pilgrimage to Mount Gargano, on which the
archangel Michael had once appeared, for she held the angels in great
reverence; on her return, some men with whom she fell in on the road,
towards dusk, misled her with evil purpose; but S. Michael himself
flashing out of the darkness at her side, protected her, and led her in
the right road. Later in life she visited Rome, and took service in the
house of a pious widow, named Margaret, who treated her as a daughter
rather than as a domestic. At Rome she was called Christiana, instead of
her baptismal name of Oringa. She occasionally fell into ecstasies as
she prayed, and saw into futurity. When aged seventy she was struck with
paralysis, in which she lay three years. As she died, her face is said
to have shone with a celestial light.
[Illustration: Decoration]
January 11.
S. BALTHAZAR, _K., one of the Magi, circ._ A.D. 54.
S. HYGINUS, _Pope_, A.D. 156.
S. LEUCIUS, _B. of Brindisi, in Italy_.
S. PALAEMON, _H., 4th cent._
S. THEODOSIUS, _of Antioch, circ._ A.D. 412.
S. THEODOSIUS THE COENOBIARCH, A.D. 529.
S. VITALIS, _Monk of Gaza, 7th cent._
S. SALVIUS, _B. of Amiens, circ._ A.D. 615.
S. EGWIN, _B. of Worcester, circ._ A.D. 720.
S. PAULINUS, _Patr. of Aquileia_, A.D. 803. (See Jan. 28.)