Lea of ​​Rome

Saint Lea

Lea of ​​Rome (* in Rome ; † March 22, 384 ibid) was a wealthy Roman widow . She was widely known as the mother of virgins , patron saint of widows and benefactress of the church father Jerome .

Leah lost her husband at an early age and, as a wealthy matron, belonged to the circle of pious women around St. Jerome in Rome. According to tradition, she lived a life of severe penance , wore a hair shirt, and spent most of the night in prayer . Later she was head of a convent of consecrated virgins . After Lea's death around 384, Hieronymus dedicated an obituary to her, a copy of which is in the Vatican Library . In it he writes:

“Who can praise Blessed Leah as she deserves? She did not paint her face or adorn her head with shiny pearls. She traded her rich clothes for burlap and refused to command others in order to obey everyone else herself. ... She looked forward to her arrival in heaven, where she will be richly rewarded for the virtues she practiced on earth. "

Jerome subsequently compares her to a pagan named Praetorate who died that same year after being previously elected consul.

“Praetorian status is today robbed of all of his goods and his positions of honor and lies buried in the terrible darkness. Leah, on the other hand, who was ostracized by the world and whose way of life was viewed as folly, now rules with Jesus Christ and is drunk with that stream of joy that God promises his elect. "

The use of the term “blessed” is considered sufficient evidence of the veneration of the saints in the early Church. In Christian iconography , Saint Lea is depicted in widow clothing and praying in front of a crucifix . Her feast day in the Catholic Church is April 21 .

literature

• Lea Blumentritt-Virághalmy: Szent Lea élete és halála a Vatikáni kódexekben . Róma, 1997. ( in Hungarian )

Web links

• Parroquia "Sagrada Familia" (Diócesis Tui - Vigo - España)