LUCILLA. — A very wealthy and very partisan Carthaginian patrician of Spanish origin, co-responsible for the Donatist schism. While CECILIAN was still a deacon of the Church of Carthage, LUCILLA was reproached by him for her superstitious devotion (it seems she kept a bone said to be that of a martyr at home and kissed it before approaching the Eucharistic Mass). Events provided the occasion for revenge.
In 311, Mensurius, bishop of Carthage, died during his return journey from Rome, where MAXENTIUS had summoned him. It was decided in Carthage to elect and consecrate a successor without waiting for the bishops of Numidia. But contrary to the expectations of the two candidates, Botrus and Celestius, Cecilian was elected, and he was consecrated by three neighboring bishops, among whom was Felix of Abunzi. Cecilian immediately found himself in conflict with a group of elders who had squandered a consignment of precious church vessels entrusted to their care by his predecessor. The latter then joined forces with Botrus, Celestius, and LUCILLA to challenge the validity of Cecilian’s election; the unworthiness of the consecrating bishops and the absence of the Numidian bishops were cited as pretexts.
The protest was brought before Secundus, bishop of Tigisi and primate of Numidia, who hastened to Carthage with seventy bishops from the region. LUCILLA used her influence and wealth to sway the council of dissidents to her side, and she succeeded. Cecilian, after being denied the right of precedence, was deposed, although he had given written consent (he had refused to appear before the council as an accused party) to a reordination.
In his place, the lector Majorinus was elected, favored by LUCILLA, and this was announced in a synodal letter to all the bishops of Africa (312). Majorinus quickly consecrated new bishops of his faction, so that the sect rapidly took root, and LUCILLA saw her immoderate ambition satisfied. No further news of her is recorded after 320 (v. DONATISM).