that it was better for them to die, saying: "Do not
spare us." The judge condemned them all to death: those who went to the
east and south, to be burned; those from the north, to be beheaded; and
those from the west to be crucified. But he was affrighted and surprised
beyond expression to see with what joy and courage this brave army
marched out, and bowed their heads to death. They suffered on the 18th
of January, but in what year it is not mentioned in their acts.

ST. PRISCA, V.M.

SHE was a noble Roman lady, and after many torments finished her triumph
by the sword, about the year 275. Her relics are preserved in the
ancient church which bears her name in Rome, and gives title in a
cardinal. {177} She is mentioned in the sacramentary of St. Gregory, and
in almost all western Martyrologies. The acts of her martyrdom deserve
no regard: St. Paul, in the last chapter of his epistle to the Romans,
salutes Aquila, a person of Pontus, of Jewish extraction, and Priscilla,
whom he and all churches thanked, because they had exposed themselves
for his sake. He mentions the church which assembled in their house,
which he attributes to no other among the twenty-five Christians whom he
saluted, and were then at Rome. This agrees with the immemorial
tradition at Rome, that St. Peter consecrated an altar, and baptized
there in an urn of stone, which is now kept in the church of St. Prisca.
Aquila and Priscilla are still honored in this church, as titular
patrons with our saint, and a considerable part of their relics lies
under the altar. Aquila and Priscilla were tent-makers, and lived at
Corinth when they were banished from Rome under Claudius: she who is
called Priscilla in the Acts of the Apostles, and Epistles to the Roman,
and first to the Corinthians, is named Prisca in the second to Timothy.
See the Roman Martyrology on the 18th of January and the 8th of July;
also Chatelain, not. p. 333.

ST. DEICOLUS, ABBOT.

IN IRISH DICHUL, CALLED BY THE FRENCH, ST. DEEL, OR DIEY

HE quitted Ireland, his native country, with St. Columban, and lived
with him, first in the kingdom of the East Angles, and afterwards at
Luxeu; but when his master quitted France, he founded the abbey of
Lutra, or Lure, in the diocese of Besanzon, which was much enriched by
king Clothaire II.[1] Amidst his austerities, the joy and peace of his
soul appeared in his countenance. St. Columban once said to him in his
youth: "Deicolus, why are you always smi