Natalia of Cordoba

Description

Natalia, Santa. Sabigoto Córdoba, p. m. s. IX – 27.VII.852. Martyr and saint.

Saint Natalia, also known as Sabigoto, is part of a group of five martyrs – two married couples – Aurelio and Natalia, Felix and Liliosa and a monk named Jorge, whose story Saint Eulogius tells in chapter X of book II of his Memoriale Sanctorum and who died during the reign of ‘Abd-al Ramān II, on July 27, 852.

Natalia or Sabigoto was the daughter of Muslims; Orphaned by her father, her mother married a Christian, which helped mother and daughter embrace the faith of Christ. Natalia married Aurelio, a young man from a good family who practiced Christianity in a hidden way, until one day, having witnessed the public torment of Juan, riding a donkey and carrying chains throughout the city, he decided to change his life, live as brothers with his wife and dedicate himself to helping imprisoned Christians. Advised by the future Saint Eulogius, whom they visited in prison, they sold their property, placed their daughters in the Tabanense Monastery and, after several miraculous events and visions, rushed to seek martyrdom in the company of the couple and the monk before cited. Together they were arrested and taken before the cadi, who first tried to make them apostatize with promises and then with prison, where they also had apparitions of angels and miraculous events occurred, according to Saint Eulogius. Given their firmness, the five were beheaded and their bodies, collected by the Christians, buried in various places; Natalia’s, in the Basilica of the Three Saints. The fact that at the end of Eulogius’ life two monks from Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Usuardo and Odilardo, took relics of Natalia, Jorge and Aurelio to their monastery, contributed to introducing the cult of these martyrs of Córdoba into the European level.

Iconographically she is usually represented with her husband, both wearing tunics; As attributes they carry the palm and the crown of martyrdom and the curved cutlass of the Muslims with which they were beheaded. His party is celebrated on July 27.