Saint Quiteria

Soon invited by her father, who was undecided about entering into the bonds of marriage, she conceived fears for her faith, as well as for her vow, and, leaving the paternal home, she withdrew into a solitary valley named Aufragie Aufragie Solitary valley where the saint retreated. . Her father, learning of her flight, sent armed men with the order to put his daughter to death if she did not consent to abjure her religion and contract the union he proposed to her.

Quitteria remained firmly attached to her faith as well as to her resolution to keep her virginity, and the satellites executing the order of their cruel master, cut off her head. Her body was buried by the Christians near the city of Aire Aire City where the saint is buried and of which she is the patroness. , which prides itself on having her as its patroness. She is ordinarily invoked against rabies: this is why she is represented holding a dog on a leash that is panting . In Ale Alenquer Town in Portugal where a specific rite against rabies is practiced. nquer, Portugal, rabid dogs are given bread soaked in oil from the lamp that burns before her image.

Although her relics were scattered to the wind by heretics, her sepulcher is still honored. Her cult is very popular in Spain and in the south of France; she is the patron saint of several parishes and the titular saint of a very large number of churches. In Périgueux, she was the titular saint of the Dominican church, and on her feast day, a great procession was held around the city. In Moissac, she was the secondary patron of the abbey and the city because of her miraculous intervention against the enemies who were driven away on May 22, the day of her feast. Most of the dioceses of the South celebrate her office . The bishop of A Aire, de Gascogne City where the saint is buried and of which she is the patroness. ire, in Gascony, where the Saint was martyred, was called the bishop of Saint Quitterie.

Saint Gemma, Sainte Gemme Virgin and martyr of Portuguese origin from the 2nd century. sister of Saint Quiteria, is honored in the diocese of Auch on June 20. She is the patron of several churches.

Proper of Bordeaux and local notes provided by the Very Reve rend Father Carles Carles du Calvaire Religious of Toulouse who provided local notes on the saint. of the Calvary of Toulouse.