Martyr St Afra Healing Oil

Description

The history of Martyr St Afra is related by most respectable authors, such as Fleury, Orsi, and Massini. Penitent sinners may receive great encouragement from the consideration of the fortitude communicated to this penitent by the Lord. Which enabled her to suffer the martyrdom of fire. And also from the consideration of the wisdom given to her. By which she answered the insidious arguments that were intended to pervert her.

St Afra was a citizen of Augsburg, in Bavaria, and a pagan of so dissolute a character. That her house and its inmates were used by her for the infamous purpose of corrupting the youths of that city. But the triumph of divine grace appeared the more brilliant in bringing this most wretched creature from the very lowest abyss of infamy to the glory of martyrdom. Thus did this holy penitent prepare herself to receive from God.

It is believed that Saint Afra together with her mother and entire family was converted by the holy bishop Saint Narcissus. From her Acts found in Ruinart it would appear that she had always before her eyes the deformity of her crimes. And was tortured by the recollection of them. So that when she had embraced the faith she endeavored to get rid of the price of her infamy.

The persecution of Diocletian was raging when Saint Afra was arrested and brought before the judge named Gaius. Who said to her: “Come now, sacrifice to the gods; it is better to live than to die amid torments.”