A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Blesilla
BLESILLA, Daughter of Paula, a celebrated Roman Lady, and Sister of Eustochium. Died at Rome in 389, aged 20.
A woman of great sensibility, piety, and learning. She was very beautiful, and, in the early part of her life, had spent much time and care in adorning her person; but becoming more deeply impressed with religious ideas, she gave herself up to study and prayer. On the death of her husband, though so young, she refused to enter into any other engagement, and is much extolled by St. Jerom, for her memory and eloquence. She knew perfectly the Greek and Latin languages, and had conquered so well the difficulties of the Hebrew as to speak it with facility.
F.C.