Aglaia

Venerable Aglaia was a noble and rich woman of Rome who redeemed the body of the martyr Boniface and repented, living afterwards as a nun. The Church commemorates her on 19 December (new style), together with Saint Boniface.

According to tradition, Aglaia lived in disorder with the steward of her house, Boniface, and the two spent their time in sin. One day the thought of salvation came to her, with an invincible wish to have holy martyrs' relics in her house. She called Boniface, whom she regarded as the most faithful of her servants, and told him her wish. Boniface went to the East, to Tarsus, saw martyrs tormented there, confessed Christ and was put to death. His companions brought the body to Rome, and Aglaia received it with honour, built a church in the martyr's name and laid him there. Then she gave her wealth to the poor, devoted her life to repentance and lived in severe ascetic struggle, praying for the soul of the man who had converted her. She received the gift of healing and of driving out unclean spirits. She fell asleep in peace and was buried beside the martyr.