Saints Paula and Eustochium

In Bethlehem of Judea, St. Eustochium, Virgin. She traveled from Rome to Palestine with her mother, blessed Paula. There she lived with other virgins near the manger of the Lord. Then, shining with exceptional merits, she went to the Lord. – Roman Martyrology for September 28

In Bethlehem of Judea the falling asleep of St. Paula, Widow. Although she was of a noble senatorial family she renounced the world, gave her property to the poor, and traveled to the manger of the Lord. There, endowed with many virtues and crowned by a lengthy martyrdom, she passed on to the Kingdom of Heaven. St. Jerome wrote of her remarkable life of virtue. – Roman Martyrology for January 26

In 1760 John Stilting assembled the many ancient and medieval references to Eustochium into a complete "historical summary" of her life and career.1 She was born in Rome as a high-ranking member of the Julian clan. As a teenager she studied the faith under St. Jerome. When he left for Palestine, she and her mother Paula followed him and established a monastery near him in Bethlehem. She continued her studies with Jerome, learning Greek and Hebrew.

Upon Paula's death in 404 Eustochium took charge of the monastery, now grown to 51 women, and put it under the Rule of St. Pachomius. She also collaborated with Jerome on his scriptural translations and commentaries. In 416 the monastery was attacked and severely damaged by a Pelagian mob following a condemnation of their beliefs by a church council in nearby Diospolis (Lydda). But apparently the complex was restored by 419, when Eustochium is known to have died and been buried there.

In the first image at right Claude Lorrain shows the two women leaving Rome for Palestine, whose spiritual prospects are symbolized by the bright sun in the distance. The second picture shows mother and daughter with St. Jerome. Apart from giving them nuns' habits the artist does not show either woman with attributes; in this and other images it suffices to have the two of them standing with Jerome.

Prepared in 2014 by Richard Stracke, Emeritus Professor of English, Augusta University, revised 2015-11-02.

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Claude Lorrain, The Embarcation of St. Paula, 17th century (See the description page.)


Zurbarán, St. Jerome with St. Paula and St. Eustochium, mid-17th century (See the description page.)


Maestro of the Straus Madonna, St. Paula, circa 1390-1420 (See the description page.)

DATES

  • St. Eustochium lived 368-419. Her feast day is September 28.
  • St. Paula died in 404. Her feast is January 26.

BIOGRAPHY

  • Golden Legend #29: html or pdf
  • Acta Sanctorum, January vol. 2, 711-52 (St. Paula) and September vol. 7, 630-45

NOTES

1 "De Sancto Eustochio Virgine Romana in Bethlehem," Acta Sanctorum, Sept. vol. 7, 630-45. Several print and internet articles in English provide accurate summaries of Eustochium's life and career, but except for Butler (III, 665f) they do not refer to sources. See the 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. "St. Eustochium Julia" and a brief paragraph in Swan (141). These three restrict themselves to material originally presented in Stilting.

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