Saint of the Day – 14 May – St Boniface (Died c307) Martyr

Saint of the Day – 14 May – St Boniface (Died c307) Martyred by beheading in c307 in Tarsus, Cilicia (in modern Turkey). Patronage – of the City of Cerchiara di Calabria in Italy. Also known as – Boniface of Tarsus, Bonifatius

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “The birthday of the holy Martyr Boniface, who suffered at Tarsus in Cilicia under Diocletian and Maximian. His body was subsequently carried to Rome and buried on the Latin Way.”

Boniface went from Rome to Tarsus in Cilicia to bring back the Relics of the Martyrs to his mistress, Aglaida of whom he was the steward. As a faithful follower of Christ, he in turn suffered Martyrdom under Galerius and his father-in-law Diocletian.

Both Boniface and Aglaida had been pagans and lived in dissoluteness. Tired of their way of life but also interested in understanding the phenomenon of Christianity, Aglaida decided to send Boniface on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to collect the holy Relics of the Christian Martyrs.

When he arrived in Tarsus, Boniface discovered a massive persecution against Christians had begun, he immediately declared himself a Christian and, as such, was subjected to Martyrdom. His embalmed body was brought back to Rome to be buried in an oratory on the Via Latina.

Aglaida herself had too become a Christian. Leaving all her wealth to the poor, she retired to monastic life for the eighteen years she lived, receiving – the divine gift of exorcising evil spirits.

In memory of Boniface, Aglaida had a Church built on the Aventine which later became the basilica of Saints Boniface and Alexius (where the remains of St Alexius of Rome are also found), a place where, the Saint’s Relics were later transferred, on Palm Tuesday 1217, to a marble urn under the high Altar.

St Boniface is remembered on 14 May. He is the Patron of Cerchiara di Calabria in Italy. In 1969 the life of the saint was considered legendary and his name was removed from the general calendar of Saints.
The Municipality of San Bonifacio takes its name from a noble Chapel dedicated to Saint Boniface of Tarsus.