Saint Afra

Infobox Saint
name= Saint Afra
birth_date=unknown
death_date=c. 304
feast_day= August 5 (sometimes listed as August 6, August 7)
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church


imagesize= 200px
caption="Saint Afra", by the Master of Messkirch, ca. 1535-1540
birth_place=Augsburg
death_place=
titles=Martyr
beatified_date=
beatified_place=
beatified_by=
canonized_date=
canonized_place=
canonized_by=
attributes=depicted being burnt to death
patronage=Augsburg; converts; martyrs; penitent women
major_shrine=St. Ulrich's and St. Afra's Abbey, Augsburg
suppressed_date=
issues=

Saint Afra (died 304) was a Christian martyr.

Biography

Although many different accounts of her life exist, the most widely known is that of an unreliable Carolingian version, the "Acts of St Afra", set down many centuries later. According to this source, she was originally a courtesan in Augsburg, having come there from Cyprus, maybe even as the daughter of the King of Cyprus. She is reputed to either run a brothel in that town, or work as a prostitute in the Temple of Venus. As the persecution of Christians during the reign of Eastern Roman Emperor Diocletian began, Bishop Narcissus of Girona (in Spain) arrived there and lodged with Afra and her mother, Hilaria. The bishop did not know their profession, but soon converted them. She continued to hide the bishop from the authorities, but was arrested, and condemned to be burnt to death. Her mother and her maids Ligna, Eunonia and Eutropia later suffered the same fate, for interring her in a burial vault.

In an alternative, and earlier document, it is stated that she was beheaded, rather than burnt. The "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (a compilation of martyrs) mentions Afra as having "suffered in the city of Augsburg" and as being "buried there".

ainthood

The feast of Saint Afra occurs on 5 August (although according to some missals it is on 6 August or 7 August).To this day, her remains are kept in St. Ulrich's and St. Afra's Abbey, Augsburg, having first been displayed there in 1012.

Her cult was widespread in Bavaria, and the town of Täferrot takes its name from her. [ [http://www.ngw.nl/int/dld/t/taferrot.htm Wappen von TÄFERROT ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01180b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]
* [http://www.thesacredheart.com/sts/sa0113.htm Shorter Biography]
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta63.htm Short Fact List]