SS. FLORA AND MARY, VV. MM.

IN the reign of Abderramene II., king of the Saracens at Cordova in Spain, Flora, because she was of Mahometan extraction by her father, but had been secretly instructed in the faith by her mother, was impeached by her own brother before the cadi, or judge of the city. This magistrate caused her to be scourged, and beaten on the head till in some parts her skull was bare. Then he put her into the hands of her brother that he might overcome her resolution. After some time she made her escape over a high wall, and took shelter with a sister at Ossaria. Having lain concealed some time she ventured back to Cordova, and prayed publicly in the church of St. Aciclus the martyr. There she met with Mary, sister to the deacon Valabonsus, who had lately received the crown of martyrdom. The zealous virgins agreed to present themselves in the court of the cadi, by whose order they were apprehended, and confined to a close dungeon, where no one had access to them but certain impious lewd women. St. Eulogius, who was at that time detained in another prison, wrote and sent to them his Exhortation to Martyrdom. After a third examination the cadi commanded them both to be beheaded. The sentence was executed on the same day, the 24th of November, in 851. They are named in the Roman Martyrology. See St. Eulogius, Memor.1. 2, c. 8