(A.D. 303.)
[There are two saints of this name very celebrated in Spain, whereof
one is of Merida, the other, the subject of this notice, of
Barcelona. The former is commemorated on the 10th of December; the
latter on Feb. 12th. The former is said to have been aged twelve or
thirteen, the latter aged fourteen. There is also a striking
similarity in their acts and their legends; and it seems that
writers have often confounded the one with the other, that is,
supposing there were two saints, virgins and martyrs of this name.
But it seems not improbable, that the Eulalia of Barcelona and her
namesake of Merida are the same. Such a mistake as the making one
saint into two might easily arise, if a portion of the relics of
Eulalia of Barcelona had been transferred to Merida. Martyrologists
as generally name a saint as "of such a place" by the place where
his or her relics are, as by the scene of the martyrdom. The Roman
Martyrology says, on Feb. 12th, "At Barcelona, in Spain, S. Eulalia,
V., who endured the little-horse, hooks, and flames, in the reign of
Diocletian, the Emperor, and was finally fastened to a cross,[36]
and received the crown of Martyrdom." Usuardus says much the same.
The Martyrologies of Bede, Ado, and Notker enter into fuller
details. The feast of S. Eulalia is observed with an octave
according to ancient custom, sanctioned by a decree of the
Congregation of Rites, Dec. 6th, 1608, at Barcelona, even when it
falls in Lent. It is difficult to fix the date of the Acts, but it
is certain that we have not got them in their original form, though
there is no reason for doubting their substantial authority.]
Eulalia, the daughter of Christian parents, lived on a farm outside
the gates of Barcelona. Now, when she heard that persecution had
broken out, she cried, "Thanks do I render to Thee, Lord Jesu Christ,
and glory to Thy holy Name, for now I behold that which I have
desired, and I believe that with Thy help all my desire shall find
accomplishment." Then the young girl at night escaped from her home,
and, entering the city in the morning, presented herself before the
magistrate, and defied him and his gods. The magistrate ordered her to
be whipped, thinking that the lashes on her tender skin would subdue
her constancy. But he was mistaken. She accepted the sufferings with
joy, and was then stretched on the little-horse and her sides torn
with iron hooks and burnt with torches. And in her agony she looked up
to heaven and cried, "Lord Jesu Christ, hear my prayer, and perfect
Thy work in me, and bid me be numbered among Thine elect in the rest
of life eternal." And when she had so prayed, her soul sped from her,
and entered into the Paradise of God, as a dove flies to its nest.
Then the executioners cast her off from the rack upon the
blood-stained soil; but the magistrate ordered, "Let the body hang to
be devoured by the birds of the air." Then a light snow began to fall
out of heaven and softly cover the virgin's naked and mangled body
with a pure white pall. Then the executioners, astonished, withdrew,
and on the third day the Christians were allowed to bear away the
sacred relics.
Patroness of Barcelona and of sailors. Her relics are preserved at
Barcelona, in the Cathedral. She is represented in art, with her soul,
as a dove, issuing from her mouth, or lying covered with snow before a
rack. It seems to be an error to regard her as having been crucified.
In the Acts the command of the magistrate is, "Let her hang on the
cross"; but this refers to the rack on which she was stretched. She
is, however, sometimes represented with a cross.