Portal:Catholicism/Patron Archive/January 26
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Saint Paula (347–404) was an ancient Roman saint. A member of one of the richest "senatorial" families which frivolously claimed descent from Agamemnon, Paula was the daughter of Blesilla, from the great clan of the Furii Camilli. At the age of 15, Paula was married to the nobleman Toxotius, with whom she had four daughters, Bl(a)esilla, Paulina, Eustochium, and Rufina and a boy, also named Toxotius.
At the age of 32, Paula was widowed. She continued to dedicate herself to her family, but became more interested in religion as time went on.
Through the influence of St. Marcella and her group, Paula became an enthusiastic member of this semi-monastic group of women. In 382, she met Saint Jerome, who had come to Rome with St. Epiphanius and Bishop Paulinus of Antioch.
The death of Blesilla and that of Pope Damasus I in 384 completely changed the manner of life of Paula and Jerome. In September 385, Paula and Eustochium left Rome to follow the monastic life in the East. Paula first made in great detail the pilgrimage of all the famous places of the Holy Land, afterward going to Egypt to learn from the practices of the anchorites and cenobites, and finally took up her residence at Bethlehem, as did St. Jerome. Then began for Paula, Eustochium, and Jerome their definitive manner of life.
Two monasteries were founded, one for men, the other for women. Paula and Eustochium took a larger share in the exegetical labours of Jerome, and conformed themselves more and more to his direction.
They were involved in the events of the day, first the controversy concerning Origenism which influenced their relations with Bishop John II of Jerusalem, and later Paula's need of money (she was extravagant in her gifts to charity and left Eustochium with debt).
Paula died at the age of 56 and was buried beneath the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem.
Attributes: Depicted as a Hieronymite abbess with a book; depicted as a pilgrim, often with Jerome and Eustochium; depicted prostrate before the cave at Bethlehem; depicted embarking in a ship, while a child calls from the shore; weeping over her children; with the instruments of the Passion; holding a scroll with Saint Jerome's epistle Cogite me Paula; with a book and a black veil fringed with gold; or with a sponge in her hand.
Patronage: widows
Prayer:
