St. Maxima was a house servant and nanny to a family of imperial nobility in ancient Rome. She was given responsibility for caring for the family’s son, Ansanus whom she secretly baptized him as a child and raised as a Christian.

When Ansanus was 19, his own father denounced him as a Christian during a persecution. Ansanus stood strong and boldly admitted his faith. Upon this both he and Maxima were beaten and scourged; Maxima died from these wounds while Ansanus survived, and escaped Rome and fled north.

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