Saint Paula of Rome
Roman widow who worked with Jerome to found monasteries at Bethlehem
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Layperson, Religious
- Life
- ~347 – 404
- Era
- 5th century
- Feast
- 26 January
- Countries
- Italy, Palestinian Territories
Life story
She was born on 5 May 347 in Rome, into a distinguished senatorial family. At sixteen she married Toxotius; they had four daughters — Blaesilla, Paulina, Eustochium and Rufina — and a son, also named Toxotius. She was widowed at thirty-two.
She met Jerome in Rome in 382 through the circle of Marcella. In 385 she left Rome with her daughter Eustochium and set out on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Egypt, travelling with Jerome. After the pilgrimage she settled in Bethlehem and founded a men's monastery, a women's convent and a hostel for pilgrims. She was abbess of the nuns, while Jerome lived and wrote in the men's monastery.
Several of her children died before her, among them Blaesilla in 384. She died in Bethlehem on 26 January 404, aged 56, and Eustochium succeeded her as abbess. Jerome wrote her epitaph (Letter 108) that same year. Her feast falls on 26 January, the day of her death.
Works and witness
- Married at sixteen to Toxotius and had five children
- Widowed at thirty-two; went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Jerome
- Founded a men's monastery, a convent and a pilgrim hostel at Bethlehem
- Served as abbess of the nuns until her death in 404
Saints from the same country
References
- Jerome, Letter 108 (Epitaphium Sanctae Paulae, 404)
- Oxford Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity database, record E06528
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.