Category:Saint Engratia and Her Eighteen Companions

Born: Braga, Portugal Died: ~303 AD in Zaragoza, Spain Honored in: Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church Major shrine: Zaragoza Feast: April 16 Attributes: palm, depicted as a richly-dressed girl

Excerpt based on Lives of the Saints, 1894
April 16—EIGHTEEN MARTYRS OF SARAGOSSA, and ST. ENCRATIS, or ENGRATIA, Virgin, Martyr.

ST. OPTATUS and seventeen other holy men received the crown of martyrdom on the same day, at Saragossa, under the cruel Governor Dacian, in the persecution of Diocletian, in 304. Two others, Caius and Crementius, died of their torments after a second conflict.

The Church also celebrates on this day the triumph of St. Encratis, or Engratia, Virgin. She was a native of Portugal. Her father had promised her in marriage to a man of quality in Rousillon; but fearing the dangers and despising the vanities of the world, and resolving to preserve her virginity, in order to appear more agreeable to her heavenly Spouse and serve Him without hindrance, she fled privately to Saragossa, where the persecution was hottest, under the eyes of Dacian. She even reproached him with his barbarities, upon which he ordered her to be long tormented in the most inhumane manner. In this condition she was sent back to prison, being still alive, and died from the festering of her wounds, in 304. The relics of all these martyrs were found at Saragossa in 1389.

Reflection.—Men do not pursue temporal goods in a haphazard manner, or by fits and starts. Let us be as punctual and orderly in the service of God, not searching around for new paths, but perfecting our ordinary devotions and persevering in these. Excerpt based on Lives of the Saints, 1894 by Alban Butler, Benziger Brothers edition, 1894