February 12, 2024 / 12:01 AM
Every February 12, the Church remembers Saint Eulalia of Barcelona, virgin and martyr, (ca. 290 – 304), patron saint of the city of Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain).
Saint Eulalia was born in Barcino, Hispania (Roman Empire), at the end of the 3rd century, and was martyred when she was 12 or 13 years old for refusing to abandon her faith. She was included in the Roman martyrology until 2004 when it was removed to join the list of ‘traditional saints’. This does not mean that Santa Eulalia did not exist, but rather that its historicity is difficult to establish.
However, despite this difficulty, Saint Eulalia, like many other saints and martyrs, has enjoyed great popular roots throughout centuries and centuries, a characteristic that says a lot: it is precisely the Catholic tradition that preserves the memory of its saints. . Therefore, also, the veneration of her is completely permitted.