LUCILLA. – A very wealthy and highly partisan Carthaginian patrician, of Spanish origin, and jointly responsible for the Donatist schism. While Cecilianus was still a deacon of the Church of Carthage, L. reproached him on account of his superstitious devotion (it seems that she kept beside her a bone of a presumed martyr and kissed it before approaching the Eucharistic Table). Events provided an opportunity for revenge.
In 311, Bishop Mensurius died during his return journey from Rome, where Maxentius had summoned him. At Carthage it was decided to elect and consecrate his successor without waiting for the bishops of Numidia. But, contrary to the expectations of the two candidates, Botrus and Caelestius, Cecilianus was elected and consecrated by three neighboring bishops, including Felix of Abthugni. Cecilianus immediately found himself in conflict with a group of elders who had squandered a quantity of the Church’s precious vessels, entrusted to their keeping by his predecessor. The latter then joined forces with Botrus, Caelestius, and L. to challenge the validity of Cecilianus’ election; the unworthiness of the consecrating bishops and the absence of the bishops of Numidia were advanced as pretexts.
The protest was brought before Secundus, bishop of Tigisis and primate of Numidia, who hastened to reach Carthage together with seventy bishops of the region. L. used her temperament and her money to win the council of the dissenters over to her side, and succeeded. Cecilianus, after being denied the right of precedence, was deposed, although he had expressed in writing (he had refused to appear before the council as an accused party) his consent to a reordination.
In his place the lector Majorinus, L.’s favorite, was elected, and the matter was announced by a synodal letter to all the bishops of Africa (312). Majorinus hastened to elect new bishops of his faction; thus the sect rapidly extended its roots, and L. saw her immoderate ambition fulfilled. After 320, no further information about her is available (v. DONATISMO).