Baring-Gould’s sources: Gallican Martyrologies. Venerated at Poitiers. Authority The Life of S. Hilary of Poitiers by Venantius Fortunatus.] S. Abra, the only daughter of S. Hilary of Poitiers, was bom to him before he was raised to the bishopric. When S. Hilary was driven from his see, she remained with her mother at Poitiers. The governor of that city had a son who was attached to the young Abra, and declared his passion to her mother. When Hilary heard, in his exile, that a marriage was contrived for his daughter, he was highly incensed. He had conceived the idea of dedicating the S. Autbert.

…young girl to a virginal life. He therefore wrote her a vehement letter, urging her on no account to listen to proposals of marriage, and exalting the state of virginity as that which a Christian maiden ought to cleave to as her highest privilege.

Abra could not well refuse to follow the determination of her father, whom she reverenced as an oracle of God. With the letter he sent her a couple of hymns he had composed, one for the morning, the other for the evening, and he begged her to sing these daily, in order that she might have her father constantly in mind. The second of these hymns has been lost, but the first is preserved, and is sung by the Church of Poitiers at Lauds on the festival of S. Hilary.

On the return of the bishop in 360, he found that his daughter had acquiesced more or less readily in his decision. But apparently the surrender of the youth she had loved was not without a struggle which had affected her health. Hilary found her docile indeed, but languid, probably heart-broken. She died painlessly in his presence shortly after his return, and was followed not long after by her mother.