Q&A with Fr Flader: Who is St Ava?

Originally Published by www.catholicweekly.com.au

QUESTION: My daughter Ava asked me the other day whether there is a St Ava and, if so, to tell her something about the saint. I didn’t know the answer. If there is a St Ava, can you tell me something about her?

In fact, there are two St Avas.

The earlier and lesser known St Ava was a Christian martyr who lived in the early sixth century. She was born in a small village in the Roman Empire and was raised in a Christian family. Her parents instilled in her a strong faith in God and a deep love for Jesus Christ. As she grew older, Ava felt a call to serve God in a deeper way. She decided to become a nun and devoted her life to prayer and service to others. She lived in a small monastery where she served as a teacher and mentor for young girls. Her kindness and wisdom earned her the love and respect of all who knew her.

During this time, the Roman Empire in the East was undergoing a period of intense persecution of Christians. Many were arrested, tortured, and killed for their faith. Despite the danger, Ava refused to deny her faith in Jesus Christ. She continued to practise her religion openly and was soon arrested and brought before the authorities.

When questioned about her faith, Ava refused to recant and boldly proclaimed her belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. She was subjected to torture, but she remained steadfast in her faith. Her unwavering devotion to God inspired many of her fellow Christians to remain strong in the face of persecution. She was eventually sentenced to death by burning, but she accepted her fate with courage and peace, knowing that she was going to be with her Lord and Saviour.

After her death, Ava’s body was buried in a small cemetery near the monastery where she had lived. Over time, her grave became a place of pilgrimage for many Christians who sought her intercession and guidance. Her remains were later moved to a church where they were revered as sacred relics. Her legacy continues to inspire many people around the world to live their lives with courage, compassion, and devotion to God.

St Ava’s feast day is celebrated on 8 September and she is considered a patron saint of education and wisdom. She is also invoked for the protection of children and young women, and for guidance in times of persecution.

The better known St Ava was a princess who was born around the year 845 AD, and was the daughter of King Pepin II of Aquitaine, which made her a royal by birth. Her early life was marked by privilege and nobility, yet also by suffering, since she was born blind or lost her sight at an early age.

In a society where physical disability often led to exclusion, Ava faced significant challenges, but her faith sustained her. Tradition holds that she received a miraculous healing through the prayers of St Rainfredis, a Belgian holy woman of the same era. This healing marked a turning point in her life. Moved by gratitude and a profound spiritual renewal, Ava chose to abandon her royal privileges and dedicate herself entirely to God. She entered the Benedictine monastery at Dinant in what is now Belgium. There, she embraced the monastic life with fervour, becoming known for her piety, humility, and deep commitment to prayer and community service.

In due course, Ava was elected abbess of the monastery, a role in which she served with great wisdom and grace. Her leadership strengthened the spiritual and communal life of the sisters, and she became a model of holiness for those under her care.

Despite her noble origins, she lived with profound simplicity and detachment from worldly honors, dedicating herself to the spiritual formation of the sisters and the care of the poor. St Ava died around the year 890 AD. Though not widely known outside Belgium, she remains a powerful example of humility, healing, and the call to forsake worldly status for the sake of the Kingdom of God. She is venerated as the patron saint of the blind.