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August 5

 

Saint of the day:
Saint Afra


Patron Saint of converts; martyrs; penitent women

Saint Afra’s Story

Martyr and penitent, listed in some records as the daughter of the king of Cyprus. Afra was caught up in the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian in Roman Augsburg. She is listed in the Martyrology Hieronymianum. Afra possibly operated a brothel in Augsburg or served as a prostitute in the temple of Venus, living with her mother, Hilaria, and serving women Eunomia, Eutropia, and Digna. When the persecutions started in Augsburg, Bishop Narcissus of Gerona, Spain, arrived in the city and took lodging with Afra and Hilaria, not knowing their profession. His holiness attracted the women, who converted. When officials came looking for the bishop, Afra hid him under a pile of flax. Afra and her household were baptized, and her uncle Dionysius was ordained as a bishop. Arrested, Afra was burned to death, tied to a tree on the small island of Lech. She was buried in Augsburg and her mother erected a chapel for her tomb. Soon after, Hilaria and her serving women were burned alive in their house. Afra's remains were buried in a church named after her. Pilgrims visited her shrine as early as 565. In 1012, the Benedictine monastery of St. Ulrich and St. Afra displayed her sarcophagus. The Acts of Afra give an account of her martyrdom.

"Afra" redirects here. For other uses, see Afra (disambiguation).

 

Saint Afra (died 304) was martyred during the Diocletian persecution. Along with Saint Ulrich, she is a patron saint of Augsburg. Her feast day is August 5. Afra was dedicated to the service of the goddess, Venus, by her mother, Hilaria. Through his teachings, Bishop Narcissus converted Afra and her family to Christianity. When it was learned that Afra was a Christian, she was brought before Diocletian and ordered to sacrifice to the pagan gods. She refused, and was condemned to death by fire.

Although many different accounts of her life exist, the most widely known is The Acts of St. Afra, which dates from the Carolingian period (8th century AD). In the opinion of most critics this is compilation of two different accounts, the story of the conversion of St. Afra, and the story of her martyrdom. The former is of later origin, and is merely a legendary narrative of Carolingian times, drawn up with the intention of connecting with St. Afra the organization of the church of Augsburg.

In the late 3rd century, her pagan family journeyed from Cyprus to Augsburg. Afra was dedicated to the service of the goddess, Venus, by her mother, Hilaria. According to this source, she was originally a prostitute in Augsburg, having gone there from Cyprus, maybe even as the daughter of the King of Cyprus. She is reputed either to have run a brothel in that town or worked as a hierodule in the Temple of Venus. As the persecution of Christians during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian began, Bishop Narcissus of Girona (in Spain) sought refuge in Augsburg and lodged with Afra and her mother, Hilaria. Through his teachings, Bishop Narcissus converted Afra and her family to Christianity.

She continued to hide the bishop from the authorities. When it was learned that Afra was a Christian, she was brought before Diocletian and ordered to sacrifice to the pagan gods. She refused, and was condemned to death by fire on a small island in the Lech River, with her remains being buried at a distance from the place of her martyrdom. Her mother and her maids (viz., Ligna, Eunonia, and Eutropia) later suffered the same fate, for interring her in a burial vault.

According to an alternative account in an earlier document, Afra was beheaded, rather than having been burned. The Martyrologium Hieronymianum (a compilation of martyrs) mentions that Afra "suffered in the city of Augsburg" and was "buried there". Her feast day is August 5.

According to Carl Egger, it appears that the author of the passio blended the account of Afra with that of Venerea, a martyr of Antioch, who is mentioned on the same day in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum. Contrary to this, other ancient calendars portray Afra as a virgin.

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1151

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Afra

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Prayer:
 

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Visit:

Basilica of SS. Ulrich and Afra, Augsburg

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Recipe

 

 

German Peach Kuchen

Ingredients

Crust:

  • 1/2 cup/4oz/115g unsalted cold butter

  • 2 cups/8.8oz/250g sifted all purpose flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon/2g baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon/4g salt

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar ( from the filling )
     

Filling:

  • 12 peach halves

  • 1 cup/7oz/ 200g granulated sugar divided
    (remove 2 tablespoons for the crust)

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 2 egg yolks

  • 1 cup/8oz/226g full fat sour cream
     

Directions

  1. Preheat oven at 400F/200C.

  2. To make the crust:

  3. Work the butter, flour, baking powder, salt, and 2 tablespoons of sugar together until the mixture is like cornmeal. Place the dough into the middle of an 8-inch non-greased round or square pan and pat an even layer over the bottom and halfway up sides of the pan with your hands.

  4. Place the peach halves cut side up on top of the crust in a nice pattern. You can also use sliced pieces. Sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon and remaining sugar over peaches. Bake 15 minutes.

  5. Filling:

  6. Mix egg yolks and cream, pour over the peaches and bake 30 minutes longer.

  7. Serve hot with ice cream or cold.

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