persecution under Diocletian, happened to come to Angsburg, and asked for hospitality at the house of Afra, not knowing that she was a courtesan. She and her three maids prepared supper for them, supposing them to be the sort of guests they were accustomed to entertain. Narcissus said a prayer and sang a psalm before beginning to eat. Afra asked what he meant by it, and hearing that her visitors were Christians, she said, "You have made a mistake in coming here, for we are sinners." Narcissus told her Christ came to save sinners, and exhorted her at once to break with her wicked life, and repent and become a Christian. The four women were converted by his persuasion, and when the persecutors came to look for the two Christians, she hid them under heaps of flax, first in her own and then in her mother's house, until she could send them away in disguise. Her mother's name was Hilaria; she was already a Christian, and had tried in vain to convert Afra. Very soon Afra was accused of being a Christian, and of having aided the escape of persons resisting the laws. She was brought before a judge, who said, "How is it that a courtesan can be a Christian? "Where is the purity of life which the followers of Christ profess?" She answered, "I am indeed unworthy of the name of Christian, but Christ came to save sinners. He will accept my martyrdom, and wash me from my sins." She was condemned to be burned on an island in the river Lech. Her maids stood on the bank and watched her martyrdom. A boy went and told Hilaria that her daughter had been burnt to death, not accepting deliverance. A few days afterwards Hilaria and the three maids wore taken and put to death, and are honoured as saints and martyrs. The names of the maids were Digna, Eunnomia, and Eutropia. The skeleton of Afra is shown at Augsburg, in the church dedicated in her name and that of St. Ulrich; the bones appear through the most exquisite lace, and the skull and fingers are resplendent with jewels. R.M. Baillet, Vies. Butler, Lives. Dr. J. M. Neale. Mrs. Jameson, Sacred and Legendany Art. One of the Saints Valeria is said to be identical with St. Afra of Augsburg.
St. Afra (5) of Poitiers, Dec. 13 (Abba, Apia, Apra), V. 4th century. Daughter of St. Hilary, bishop of Poitiers. He was of an illustrious family in Gaul; was converted about 350, and became bishop about 353. On account of his opposition to Arianism, he was banished by the Emperor Constantius to Phrygia, 35f, and remained in exile three years. He left his wife at Poitiers with their only child, a girl of 13 or thereabouts. From the time of his conversion, the bishop had wished and prayed that his daughter should never be a worldly woman, but live and die a virgin consecrated to Christ; so when, during his banishment, his wife wrote to him on the subject of a marriage that seemed to promise well for her happiness, he wrote to Afra, giving her leave to decide the matter for herself. The man whom her mother was inclined to accept for her was young, beautiful, of good character, very rich, and in every way a fit mate for a Christian maiden of good family; but Hilary told her that if she would refuse him she might have a Husband more noble, more beautiful, more powerful, kinder, richer; if she would renounce all jewels and gay clothes, her Bridegroom would give her robes of dazzling whiteness, and jewels of unimaginable splendour; a life above all petty vexations and ambitions; treasures that rust and moth could not injure; possessions that death itself could not take away. Afra followed her father's advice, and on his return he prayed that the Lord would take her to Himself. She died happily about 360, without pain or disease. Her mother then entreated Hilary to obtain of God the same favour for her. In the words of the Golden Legend, "He sent tofore his wyf and doughter." Hilary died about 368. His letter to Afra is still extant, and so is one of two hymns which he wrote and sent her at the same time. It begins, "Lucis Largitor splendide." Tillemont. Butler. AA.SS.
St. Agaieta or Gaiana, Sept. 30. See Ripsina.
