Righteous Aglaida of Rome

Righteous Aglaida came from a wealthy Roman family. In her youth she led a sinful life, cohabiting with her servant Boniface, given over to gluttony and drunkenness. Both, however, felt pangs of conscience and wished to atone for their sins. Aglaida sent Boniface on a distant journey to obtain the relics of holy martyrs, so as to establish a place of prayer in their honor in her home. Struck by the sight of the torments Christians were suffering in the city he arrived at, Boniface himself confessed himself a Christian before the judge and, after cruel torture, was martyred. Learning of this, Aglaida, struck by the greatness of his feat, deeply repented of her former sinful life, distributed all her wealth to the needy, and, withdrawing to a monastery she established outside the city, took monastic vows. For her sincere repentance and ascetic life she was granted by God the gift of casting out unclean spirits. She reposed peacefully around 308. Her memory is kept on March 22/April 4; also on December 19 together with the Martyr Boniface.