De sancta Affra
The Unexpected Conversion
Bishop Narcissus encounters Affra in her house of prostitution, leading to her sudden and sincere conversion to the faith.
Affra was the daughter of Hilaria, whose ancestors had come from Cyprus; because they were devoted to the worship of Venus, she had dedicated herself and her maids to a life of prostitution, and Bishop Narcissus, fleeing the persecution of Diocletian, unknowingly entered their brothel with his deacon Felix. At first, he was received as a shameful lover, but later, when he was recognized as a Christian bishop, Affra threw herself at his feet and was immediately converted.
Deliverance and Consecration
Affra protects the Christians, her mother is converted, and the bishop cleanses the house and establishes a church.
Christians were being sought out for their faith, but Affra hid them under bundles of flax; then Affra brought the bishop to her mother, Hilaria, who also fell at his feet and became a Christian. Then the demon cried out that he was being unjustly driven from his dwelling and refused to leave unless some soul were given to him in his power; the bishop then gave him a great dragon in the mountain passes, which immediately... the demon killed. Then Narcissus consecrated Hilaria’s house as a church and ordained Dionysius, Affra’s uncle, as bishop in Augusta.
The Witness of Martyrdom
Affra and her household bear witness to Christ through their suffering and death by fire.
But when Affra stopped practicing her trade, she was accused before the judge Gaius. When the pagan judge told her that the God of the Christians detests prostitutes and that Christ could not dwell in such people, Affra replied that Christ came for sinners. She was ordered to be burned on an island in the river Lech, and her mother and maids, having buried her, were seized there and burned in the fire.
Read the original Latin
Affra filia Hilariae, cujus progenitores a Cypro venerant, cum essent cultui Veneris dediti, ipsa cum ancillis suis meretricio se dedicaverat, Harum prostibulum Narcissus episcopus cum Felice dyacono persecutionem Dyocletiani devitans ignorans ingressus est. Et primo pro turpi amatore susceptus est, postea christianorum episcopus cognitus, Affra pedibus episcopi advolvitur et statim convertitur. De inane christiani quaeruntur, sed Alfra sub lini fasciculis eos abscondit, "Tunc Affra episcopum ad Hilarium matrem suam ducit, quae etiam advoluta pedibus ejus efficitur christiana, Tunc clamat daemon, se injuste a suis habitationibus expelli et recusat abscedere, nisi aliqua anima sibi im potestatem detur, Datur ergo ei draco magnus ab episcopo in faucibus Alpium, quem statim. daemon occidebat. Tunc Narcissus domum Hilariae in ecclesiam consecravit et Dionysium avunculum Af frae episcopum ordinavit in Augusta. Affra vero cum solita exercere negligit, Gajo judici accusatur, Cui dum judex paganus diceret, Deum christianorum meretrices abhorrere et Christum habitare in talibus non posse, Affra respondit, Christum pro peccatoribus venisse, Jubetur in insula Lyci fluminis cremari, mater autem et ancillae, dum eam sepelivissent, ibidem comprehensae in igne cremantur,
The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea) companion
Continue through all 240 chapters, one saint a day
Chosen Portion serves the Golden Legend as a daily portion on iOS, free, alongside the full Sub Rosa archive
The Legenda Aurea was organized for day-by-day use across the liturgical year, and Chosen Portion restores that original one-feast-per-day reading rhythm
- A complete saint's life or feast reading most days in 5-10 minutes
- 240 chapters - enough daily readings to cover a full liturgical year and beyond
- Daily reminders so the plan survives busy weeks