Saint Eulalia of Merida

Also known as

• Aulaire of Merida
• Aulazie of Merida
• Olalla of Merida

Memorial

• 10 December

Profile

A consecrated virgin who, from her early youth, wanted to be a martyr. During the Diocletian persecutions, when she was around 12 to 14 years old (sources vary), she went to the tribunal, and confessed her faith on her own initiative. Tortured and martyred with Saint Julia of Merida. Legend says that when she was thrown naked into the street, snow fell to cover her; later when her ashes were dumped in a field, snow fell on them to create a burial pall. Often confused with Saint Eulalia of Barcelona.

Born

• c.290 in Spain

Died

• tortured and burned alive c.304 Merida, Spain

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Name Meaning

• victory (gaelic)
• fair shout (greek)

Patronage

• Merida, Spain
• Oviedo, Spain
• runaways
• torture victims
• widows

Representation

• young woman with a cross, stake, and dove
• naked young woman lying in the snow

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Online
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Saint Eulalia of Merida“. Saints.SQPN.com. 20 January 2013. Web. 20 May 2013. <>