St. Paula of Rome (347-404)
(Catholic Online) Born in Italy Rome of a noble family little is known of Paula’s early life, she married Senator Toxotius according to SQPN and was blessed with five children: Toxotius, St. Blaesilla (Feast Day: 22 January) Paulina, St. Eustochium (Feast Day: 28 September) and Rufina they were regarded as an ideal family.
Paula’s husband Toxotius died in 379 when she was just 32 and from that day forward, Paula devoted her fortune and life to spiritual development and care for helping the poor.
In 382 Paula met St. Jerome through St. Epiphanius of Salamis and St.Paulinus of Antioch who were closely associated with his work at Rome — he would later write her biography.
The death of her daughter St. Blaesilla in at the age of 20 in 383 left Paula heartbroken, subsequently she would travel to the Holy Land with St. Jerome and a year later, settled in Bethlehem, under his spiritual direction, where she would build Churches, a Hospice, Monastery and Convent, where she would serve as its first Abbess until her death on this date in the year 404 — St. Paula was buried under the Church of the Nativity, in Israel Nazareth.
More here from Catholic Encyclopedia/New Advent
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