St. Boniface OF Tarsus (+307)
St. Boniface was a third century Roman. He experienced a great conversion and was martyred for the faith in Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul.
THE NOBLE LADY, AGALE
There lived in Rome a lady named Agale: young, beautiful and well born. She was so wealthy and found of being the center of attention that three times she funded great public shows and entertainments for the whole city. Among her many servants, one in particular, called Boniface, caught her eye. Boniface became Agale's chief steward and consort. Although he was man prone to many vices, including an addiction to wine, he did have three remarkably good qualities: (1) hospitality, (2) generosity and (3) compassion. Using Agale's vast resources, he would cordially assist strangers or travelers and even went about the streets at night helping and relieving the poor of their necessities.
After several years of living in sin, Agale was touched by divine grace and began to feel contrition. She reminded Boniface that God would judge them upon their death. She had also heard of many followers of Jesus Christ who were willing to lay down their life for Him, because He promised all those who loved and honored Him would share in eternal glory. Desirous of some relics from these spiritual conquerors, Agale asked Boniface to travel to the East and bring her the relics of a martyr. Boniface gathered a large sum of money with which to purchase the bodies of executed martyrs and to distribute as alms for the poor and set off for the East.
A JOURNEY OF CONVERSION
Traveling gave Boniface much time to reflect upon his life, especially what had prompted this great change in Agale. It afforded him the time for quiet meditation. In addition, God graced him with the opportunity to meet many Christians from across the Empire. He visited Churches, met wise bishops and was strengthened by the lives of so many faithful. Boniface became a changed man. Most important, he was filled with great contrition. During his long journey, he fasted, prayed, did penitential works, gave alms, and ate neither meat nor drank any wine.
Boniface decided to go Tarsus, the imperial city of St. Paul's birth. He chose it because he head that it was the city suffering most under the cruel persecution of emperors Diocletian and Galerius. Tarsus was under the despotic control of certain Governor named Simplicius who was filled with hatred towards Christ and all His disciples. No sooner had Boniface arrived at an inn of Tarsus, that he left his companions to seek the out public courts. There he witnessed holy martyrs being brought to trail and suffering terribly: one was hung from his feet, another had his head placed over a fire; one was stretched so far that his limbs were ripped out of their sockets, another was sawed in half; one had his hands cut off, another was tied up and then beaten with clubs; yet another was fixed to the ground with a stake running through his neck. He saw no less than twenty martyrs tortured horribly beyond description; and yet all of them were filled with holy courage and resolution. Many of the bystanders were amazed.
MARTYRDOM
Divine grace filled Boniface, who boldly cried out: "Great is the God of the Christians, great is the God of the holy martyrs. I beseech you, the servants of Jesus Christ, to pray for me, that I may join with you in fighting against the devil!" The governor took this as a personal insult and had Boniface arrested. When questioned, Boniface replied that he was a Christian and that he feared nothing from the governor for he would be protected by the holy Name of his Lord.
In a rage, Governor Simplicus had sharpened reeds thrust under his fingernails and toe nails. Then he had boiling lead poured into his mouth. The whole time Boniface prayed to God and begged for the prayers of the other expiring martyrs. The bystanders, disgusted by so much evil, began to cry out "Great is the God of the Christians." Simplicius was alarmed by the growing mob and withdrew. But the next day he once again had Boniface dragged before his court. Boniface was cast into a cauldron of boiling pitch but emerged unscathed. Then Simplicius ordered his executed by decapitation. Boniface prayed and then willingly gave his neck to the executioner.
Boniface's companions had remained at the inn and were unaware of all that had happened to him. They searched for him and soon learned what had transpired over the previous two days. They paid 500 pieces of gold for his body, embalmed it, and carried it home to Rome, all the while praising God for the happy end of this blessed martyr.
As per her wish, though surely very unexpected, Agale did receive the relics of a great martyr who had battled against the devil, and with divine grace emerged victorious. Boniface's companions assured Agale of Boniface's powerful intercessory prayers for her whom he had loved. Through his merits and intercession, Agale in turn lived the remainder of her life in great penance. She also had a monument raised to St. Boniface of Tarsus in Rome and entombed his relics there. Years later a chapel would be built there in honor of this great saint. Fifteen years after his death, and after the victories of Emperor Constantine, Agale ended her journey in this vale of tears. She was buried near his relics.