Saint Lena or Natalena

It was here that God caused her virtue to shine forth. Alydanus, lieutenant-general to Frédélas, having seen her several times in this house, admired her beauty and became enamored of her; from then on he employed all his efforts to make her fall into crime, but the Saint thwarted all his plans. Irritated, he denounced her to the governor as a zealous Christian; she was immediately thrown into a dungeon and dragged like a criminal through the streets of the city before being led bef tribunal de Frédélas Governor of the city and father of Saint Natalena. ore the tribunal of Frédélas. When she appeared before him, the governor addressed this question to her: "From what family are you?" — "I am the daughter of the governor," she replied; "you are my father." Frédélas was as if struck by lightning at this answer. Natalène then told him her whole story from the day her father had vowed her to death. At this unexpected revelation, Frédélas, stifling the voice of nature within him, accused her of lying and said to her: "You wish to be my daughter, you say; you shall be so on the condition that you renounce your religion." — "That is what I will never do," replied Natalène, "for I wish to remain a Christian." She was immediately condemned to death, and t he executioners le rivage de l'Ariège River where the saint was to be drowned and near which she was martyred. d her to the banks of the Ariège, where they cut off her head. God glorified her martyrdom with a great miracle: scarcely had her head rolled to the ground than she took it in her hands, to the great astonishment of the spectators, descended along the shore, re-entered the city by the Sainte-Bélène gate, and walked to the Place du Camp, where she rendered her soul to God. It is believed that the fountain of Sainte-Natalène, which still flows near the Saint-Jean cemetery, gushed forth miraculously at the contact of her head. The Saint was buried in the very place she seemed to have chosen for her sepulcher; a modest oratory was later raised to her, whi église de Notre-Dame du Camp Religious building incorporating the saint's original oratory. ch today forms part of the church of Notre-Dame du Camp.

Her relics were later transferred to Blesle (today Blesle Place of the saint's relic translation. in the diocese of Saint-Flour). Her feast was celebrated there on November 5, and that of the invention of her relics on the 19th of the same month. In the diocese of Pamiers, her feast was formerly celebrated on November 10; today it is observed on the 12th of that month.

Pamiers Pamiers City and diocese of which the saint is the patroness. possesses two bones of the Saint, while Blesle lost everything during the Revolution. It is to Saint Natalena in large part that Pamiers owes the beautiful title of holy city, which was once given to it. Saint Natalena and Sai nt Antoninus saint Antonin Co-patron of Pamiers, considered by the people to be the brother of Natalena. (September 2) are the two great protectors of Pamiers; this is why, no doubt, it was believed among the people that they were siblings.

We owe this notice to the extreme kindness of Father Antoine Ricard of Marseille.

We owe this notice to the extreme kindness of Abbé Antoine Ricard of Marseille.