Viola

Holy Martyr Viola (also known as Yolaine of Pleine-⁠Selve or Pleincerf) died at Pleine-⁠Selve in Aisne on 17 January 363, a martyr in the Roman Empire. She came from a well-⁠known Roman patrician family. Learning, together with Saint Benedicta (Benoîte of Origny-⁠sur-⁠Oise), that their kinsman Saint Quintinus had died a martyr during his evangelizing work in the Vermandois, they decided, with ten companions, to go there to continue the Christianization. Barefoot they crossed the Alps and then continued along the Roman highways. Benedicta went to Origny and Viola to Pleine-⁠Selve; they succeeded in converting many rough Gauls.

The emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363), wishing to restore the worship of the Roman gods, had ordered persecution of the Christians. The local governor, Matroclus, had Benedicta imprisoned, tortured and finally beheaded in 362. Viola's fingers were cut off at Pleine-⁠Selve, then she was flogged, tied to horses and finally burned alive. Her commemoration is on 17 January (new style).