February 12 + Saint Eulalia

Born in 289 AD, Eulalia was the 13-year-old daughter of a noble Christian family that lived near the city of Barcelona, Spain.

Amid the persecutions of Christians under Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian, governor Dacian arrived in the city intending to carry out the persecutions. Eulalia left her home, entered the city, and publicly confronted the governor for the persecution of Christians. In response, Dacian ordered Eulalia to be subjected to 13 tortures — 13 for all of the years she had been alive. The tortures were: Imprisonment in a tiny prison; Being whipped; Tearing her skin in strips; Making her walk barefoot on burning embers; The cutting off of her breasts; Rubbing her wounds with rough stones; Branding her with a cast iron; Throwing boiling oil and molten lead over her; Submerging her in burning lime; Locking her in a flea box; Rolling her down a hill, naked, in a barrel full of knives, swords and glass; and finally, Crucifixion on an X-shaped cross.

After all that, she was decapitated and a dove flew forth from her neck following her decapitation.

Her body rests in a crypt in the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia. She is honored with The Festival of Saint Eulalia held in Barcelona for a week around her feast day on February 12 and she is the co-patron saint of Barcelona.

Eulalia reminds us of all the saints who suffered such horrific physical persecutions. Sadly, times have not changed much, except now, the persecutions are a little less public. Babies in the womb are suffering the same tortures and Christians are suffering from spiritual persecutions ... from abortion to attacks on our beliefs and the Holy Church. But Eulalia's story gives us courage to stand firm in our Faith and God will give us the strength and courage to endure any and all torments satan tries to throw at us. God chose Eulalia to be a public pillar of Faith and He has chosen you as well. Be brave and stand firm friends. God knows who His true warriors are.