Feast of Santa Eulàlia de Barcelona

Santa Eulàlia de Barcelona, ora pro nobis

February 12th is the Feast of St. Eulalia of Barcelona, third-century Virgin and Martyr. Born to a noble family in Barcelona, Spain, the thirteen-year-old firebrand berated and rebuked the city’s pagan rulers for trying to force Christians to make sacrifices to false gods. At first, amused by the impetuous child, the judge tried to convince her to apostatize, but she remained ever-defiant.

Losing patience and exasperated by her resistance to flattery and threats, he had her arrested and brutally tortured. Suffering thirteen different punishments, one for each year of her life, she was finally crucified on a decussate cross.

At her death, St. Eulalia’s soul departed in the form of a white dove, and a sudden snowstorm covered her naked and mutilated body like a shroud.

Co-patroness of Barcelona, St. Eulalia is the patron saint of sailors. She is also invoked against miscarriages, drought and storms.

Despite the similarities of their hagiographies, she is not to be confused with St. Eulalia of Mérida, who is celebrated on December 10th.

In celebration, we’re posting the Prayer of St. Eulalia in Her Agony. The accompanying photo of St. Eulalia with a saltire cross was taken in the rectory of St. Rita’s Church in Staten Island, New York. Evviva Santa Eulàlia!

Prayer of St. Eulalia in Her Agony

Lord Jesus Christ, hear my prayer and perfect Thy merciful goodness in me and grant me to be received among the number of Thine elect into the rest of life eternal, making of me a sign of righteousness that men, believing in Thee, may behold and praise Thy power. Amen.