Massa Candida

Massa Candida the name given to 300 Christians who. during the persecution of Valerian, and in the time of bishop Cyprian, were put to death by being burned in a lime-kiln. 'The name Massa, says Augustine, was given them "ob numeri multitudinemn," and that of candida "ob causae fulgorem." Baronins remarks: "Dicti sunt hi Massa candida, eo quod in formae calcaria martvrium consumarint." Vincentius Bellovacensis, on the other hand, designates the Massa candida as "locus apud Carthaginem, in quo sub Imperatoribus gentilibus et in Christianos suevientibus fovea erat calce plena, in quam Christiani gentilium Diis sacriticare renulentes paecipitabantur." Augustine also uses the expression, "Uticensis Massa candida," which Baronius explains: "Uticau prcecipue agebatur horum solemnitas, atque ea de causa S. Augustinus Massam candidam Uticensem dictam esse refert." Aurelius Prudentius Clemens refers to the Massa candida in his hymn on St. Cyprian (Lib. Persistephanon, Hymn 13) in the following glowing description:

"Fama refert foveam campi in medio patere jussam, Calce vaporifera Summos prope margines refertam Saxa recocta vomunt ignem niveusque pulvis ardet, Urere tacta potens; et mortifer ex odore flatus. Appositam memnorant aram, fovea stetisse summa, Lege sub hac salis aut micalm, jecur ant suis litarent Christicolae, ant niediae sponte irruerent in ima fossue. Prosiluere alacres cursu rapido simul trecenti. Gurgite pulvereo mersos liquor aridus voravit, Praecipitemque globum fundo tenns implicavit imo. Corpora candor habet, candor vehit ad superna mentes. Caedida Massa dehinlc dici meruit per omne seclumn." The festival is commemorated Aug. 24. — Herzog, Real-Encyklopädie, 9:142.