Aurea of Amiens

Who they were

Aurea was a young woman of Amiens in the 8th century who, according to tradition, joined Saint Ulfa in her hermit's life near Boves, the two women going each night into Amiens to pray Vigils. When more women wished to live a religious life in the city, Ulfa organised a community in an orchard near the Castillon and put Aurea in charge of it, returning herself to solitary life near Boves.

The fullest part of the tradition concerns Ulfa's death: Aurea is said to have received a night vision announcing it, found Ulfa dead at her hermitage, and presided over her burial, traditionally dated to 789, before returning to lead the Amiens community. Nothing is known of the place or date of Aurea's own death. Her feast is kept on 5 October, a date borrowed from the nearby, distinct tradition of Saint Aurea of Paris.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: she has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

First superior of the earliest women's religious community at Amiens, companion and successor to Saint Ulfa; feast 5 October.

Connected on this site

• Saint Aurea of Paris Saint
  “Her feast is kept on 5 October, a date borrowed from the nearby, distinct tradition of Saint Aurea of Paris.” — this site's research