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Christianity. Some time after her death, while her parents were praying by her grave, she appeared to them with a glorified aspect and a white lamb by her side, and bade them dry their tears, for she was united for ever to her Saviour in heaven. A Church dedicated in her name was built over the spot of her martyrdom at Rome, and in it is blessed the wool from which Archiepiscopal palls are made; it also gives the title to a Cardinal. The Church of S. Perran, Cornwall, and one in London, (conjointly with S. Anne,) are named in her honour in England. The village of Papworth S. Agnes, in Cambridgeshire, is named after her, but the Church has now the dedication of S. John Baptist. She is almost always represented with a lamb, either by her side, in her hand, or on a book; there is an evident connection between this symbol and her name, which may have been originally given her for her spotless purity. As a martyr, she frequently has a palm-branch, and in the other hand a sword, or more rarely a book; the sword is sometimes pierced through her throat: she generally has long flowing hair, and is sometimes (as in Le Clerc) represented naked, veiled with her hair; occasionally a funeral pile is near her, or she is kneeling on one.

JAN. 22. S. Vincent, Martyr, A.D. 304, was born at Sarragossa, in Arragon, and suffered martyrdom during the time Dacian was governor in Spain, being quite a young man and a Deacon; he underwent

many horrible tortures; among others he was half roasted on a sort of gridiron full of sharp iron spikes, but his wounds were all miraculously and suddenly healed in his cell; he was then laid on a bed to strengthen him for future torments, but the moment he touched the bed he calmly expired, and the designs of his tormentors were frustrated. They then threw his body into the fields to be devoured by wild beasts, but a raven protected it. In accordance with these legends he is represented in the dress of a Deacon, with a gridiron full of spikes, and a raven near him. The Churches of Newnham, Hertfordshire; Littlebourne, Kent; Caythorpe, Lincolnshire; and Ashington, Somerset; are dedicated in his name.

JAN. 25. Conversion of S. Paul, c. A.D. 65. S. Paul is not commemorated in the Church of England as the other Apostles are, by his death or martyrdom, but by his conversion, because as it was wonderful in itself so it was highly beneficial to the Church of Christ. It is mentioned as a solemn Festival in the council

of Oxford, held in the reign of Henry III. in 1222. We are so well acquainted with the leading events of his wonderful life as narrated by S. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, that it is unnecessary to detail them here. After energetically labouring for many years in f Wheatley, section xxviii.

the cause of Christianity he suffered martyrdom on the same day as S. Peter, June 29th, and probably within sight of his fellow-labourer, S. Paul suffering about three miles from Rome, and S. Peter on the Vatican Hill; this was in the reign of Nero, c. 65. S. Paul was allowed the privilege due to him as a citizen, and beheaded; S. Peter was treated with less respect, and was crucified. The legend relates that after decapitation, S. Paul's head bounded three times upon the earth, and that a fountain gushed out at each place it touched; these are still shewn in the Church of the Three Fountains near Rome, which is erected on the traditional site of his execution. He is represented with a sword, and sometimes a book, or drawing a sword across the knee; very rarely he has two swords; sometimes he carries a book open, and in the other hand a staff. On the Clog Almanacks his emblem is a hatchet. In early dedications, though S. Peter was frequently honoured alone in the dedication of Churches, S. Paul was almost invariably associated with S. Peter; this was most probably in commemoration of their having suffered together, or from their relics reposing in the same sepulchre, though some think it has equal reference to S. Peter having like S. Paul received a special call for the conversion of the Gentiles; but however this may be, the general custom of all Christendom prevailed extensively in England, for while there are only seventy-two Churches named

in honour of S. Paul alone, many of which are modern, there are two hundred and thirty dedicated in the joint names of SS. Peter and Paul; Hawksworth, Notts, named in honour of the Blessed Virgin and S. Paul, is the only instance in which his name appears in connection with any other saint. The tradition of S. Paul having visited England has been hotly contested by various learned divines, but whether he did visit England or not, there seems little doubt that he was regarded by the citizens of London especially with much honour, and looked upon as their patron saint. Not only is the Metropolitical Cathedral dedicated in his sole honour, but the sword in the dexter quarter of the arms of the city is generally thought to be derived from its connection with S. Paul, while the red cross alludes to S. George, the patron of England, thus combining the two.

JAN. 30. King Charles the Martyr. It is obviously unnecessary here to enter into the particulars attending the martyrdom of this sovereign. He forms the solitary instance of a post-reformation dedication, six Churches being named in his honour; these are, one at Falmouth, one at Tonbridge Wells, two at Plymouth, the Church of Peak Forest, Derbyshire, and Newtown in Wem, Salop.

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FEB. 2. Purification of the Virgin Mary, or the presentation of Christ in the Temple. This Festival is principally observed in the memory of our Lord's being made manifest in the flesh when He was presented in the Temple, the Church of England having carefully prevented too much thought being bestowed on the Blessed Virgin, by equally associating some point of our Saviour's life with the two feasts held in her honour, the Lord's presentation being this day commemorated, and His mysterious Incarnation on the Feast of the Annunciation. The Virgin at her purification is represented with a pair of turtle-doves. Lev. xii. 8. In the Clog Almanacks, the five commemorations of the Virgin are each distin

guished by a heart, the Purification and Annunciation being much larger than the three minor Festivals. The common name of Candlemas-day is derived

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