LUCILLA. - A very wealthy and factious Carthaginian noblewoman, of Spanish origin, and jointly responsible for the Donatist schism. While Caecilian was still a deacon of the Church of Carthage, L. was reproached by him on account of her superstitious devotion (it seems she kept by her a bone of a supposed martyr and kissed it before approaching the Eucharistic Table). Events provided the occasion for a revenge.
In 311, during his return journey from Rome, where Maxentius had summoned him, Bishop Mensurius died. At Carthage it was decided to elect and consecrate his successor without waiting for the bishops of Numidia. But contrary to the expectation of the two candidates Botrus and Celestius, Caecilian was elected, and he was consecrated by three neighboring bishops, among them Felix of Aptunga. Immediately Caecilian found himself in conflict with a group of elders, who had squandered a supply of precious vessels of the Church, entrusted to them for safekeeping by his predecessor. The latter then made common cause with Botrus, Celestius and L., in order to challenge the validity of Caecilian's election; the unworthiness of the consecrating bishops and the absence of the bishops of Numidia were put forward as a pretext.
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. made use of her temperament and her money to win over to her side the council of the dissidents; and she succeeded. Caecilian, after being denied the right of precedence, was deposed, although he had declared in writing (he had refused to appear before the council as an accused man) his assent to a reordination.
In his place the lector Majorinus was elected, favored by L., and the matter was made known 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 herself satisfied in her immoderate ambition. After 320 there is no further news of her (v. DONATISM).
Bibliography2 works
Emanuele Romanelli