Blaesilla of Rome

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Blaesilla , also Blesilla , (* 364 ; † 384 in Rome ) was the eldest of the daughters of St. Paula and sister of the Virgin Eustochium . Blaesilla is considered a saint; the day of remembrance according to the Martyrologium Romanum is January 22nd.

Vita

Paula and Eustochium belonged to the circle of Christian widows and virgins that had formed in Rome around the priest and later church father Jerome . Blaesilla's husband, Furius, died seven months after the marriage. Paula encouraged the fun-loving young widow in vain to lead the ascetic life that she and Eustochium led. In 384, however, after Blaesilla nearly died of illness and was just recovering, she decided to adopt the ascetic lifestyle of her mother and sister. She was eager to study the Bible; Jerome praised the seriousness of her prayer and her keen intellect. It is said that she learned the Hebrew language faster than Origen . The asceticism, however, was too much for her weakened body and she died four months later. Paula was so hit by the death of her daughter that she had to be carried passed out from the funeral procession.

Aftermath of death

Jerome knew the dangers of radical asceticism. He had watched helplessly as Blaesilla fasted herself to death after allegedly surviving a serious illness. In his letter of consolation he wrote to Paula: “When you were carried unconscious from the middle of the solemn funeral, the crowd began to murmur: 'Have we not said it often enough that it will come this way? She cries for her daughter who has been a victim of the fast. She is heartbroken that she did not at least see grandchildren from their second marriage. How long can it still be before the abominable clan of monks is driven out of the city, thrown to death with stones or fell into the water? '” One should not mourn Blaesilla, but be glad that she has gone to Christ: “ But we, who have put on Christ and have become a royal and priestly generation after the apostle, should not grieve because of the dead. ” He himself wanted to honor the memory of his pupil in all his writings: “ As long as the spirit is still mine Members rule, (...) my tongue will proclaim its praise (...) I will not write a page that does not contain Blesilla's name. Wherever the monuments of my spirit go, they will also wander with my works. (...) She dwells in heaven with Christ, but she will also live on in people's mouths. (...) In my writings she will not die. "

There was great excitement in Rome over the death of the young woman through her asceticism. The previously harsh criticism of Hieronymus became even more violent and led to his leaving the city in 385 and going to Bethlehem with Paula and Eustochium . In the letter in which Hieronymus settled the Roman circumstances on board his escape ship, he does not even mention Blaesilla.

Adoration

The whereabouts of Blaesilla's relics is not known; no church is consecrated to her. She is seen as the patroness of young brides and widows.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Joyce E. Salisbury: Encyclopedia of Women in the Ancient World. ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, California 2001. ISBN 1-57607-092-1 , pp. 32-33.
  2. ↑ Hieronymus: Ascetic letters; Comfort letters; 39. To Paula: On Blesilla's death, section 1 ( BKV online 3311-1 )
  3. ↑ cf. Jerome: Ascetic Letters; Comfort letters ; 39. To Paula: On Blesilla's death, section 6 ( BKV online 3311-6 )
  4. ↑ Hieronymus: Ascetic letters: About the ecclesiastical classes and their asceticism , 24, to Marcella, Asella's curriculum vitae, §4. ( BKV online 3099-4 )
  5. ↑ cf. Hieronymus: Ascetic letters, consolation letter, 39, to Paula: on Blesilla's death, §1. ( BKV online 3311-1 )
  6. ↑ Hieronymus: Ascetic letters, consolation letter , 39, to Paula: on Blesilla's death, §6. ( BKV online 3311-6 )
  7. ↑ Hieronymus: Ascetic letters; Comfort letters; 39. To Paula: On Blesilla's death, section 4 ( BKV online 3311-4 )
  8. ↑ Hieronymus: Ascetic letters; Comfort letters ; 39. To Paula: On Blesilla's death, section 8 ( BKV online 3311-8 )
  9. ↑ Hieronymus: Polemical-apologetic letters: In my own case , 45, to Asella. ( BKV online 3300 )
  10. ↑ Michael Freze: Patron Saints. 1992. pp. 188 and 192 ISBN 978-0879734640 .
personal data
SURNAME Blaesilla
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Blesilla
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Daughter of St. Paula, sister of the Virgin Eustochium
DATE OF BIRTH 364
DATE OF DEATH 384
Place of death Rome