Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/148

136 ST. PAULA and a hospitium near them for travellers, so that if Joseph and Mary should return, they might be sure to find room in the inn."- These buildings have entirely disappeared, but close to the grotto of the Nativity, the rock chamber is still shown, in which Jerome lived while his monastery was being built and which he used to call his Paradise. Paula and Enstochium continued to copy, criticise and otherwise help in his ^preat work of translating the Bible into Latin. They, as well as he, had ad- vanced in their knowledge of Hebrew since he had begun the translation in Home. They daily read with him some portion of scripture in the original, discussing its meaning and amending each other's suggestions for transla- tion. Soon after their arrival they wrote to Maroella, expressing their happiness and urging her to join them. This letter is to be seen in Latin and English in the sixth volume of the Library of the Palestine Pilgrims^ Te^t Society. Paula's daughter Eufina died young. Her son Toxotius married St. Laeta, and soon afterwards became a Christian. Paula died at Bethlehem in 404, on the 26th of January, after sunset; and as the day was there considered - to begin from sunset, her name is placed in Ado's and other old martyrologies on the 27th. She was buried in the Church of the Holy Manger, where her empty tomb is still shown, beside that of St. Jerome. Her body is said to be at Sens. She was succeeded by St. Eustoghium, in the government of the monastery at Bethlehem. B.Jf. Jan. 26. Several of St. Jerome's treatises and prefaces to his translations are addressed to Paula and Eustochium. Paula's life is mainly taken from his Letters, particularly the one called her epitaph, which he addressed to Eusto- chium after her mother's death. AA.SS. Baillet. Tillemont, Hist, eccl St. Paula (14), June 1, 5th century, daughter of Toxotius and St. Laeta and granddaughter of St. Paula (13). This child was granted to her mother's prayers and tears, and was consecrated to G^d and to virginity before her birth. Laeta begged St. Jerome to give her directions by which she might train her child. He begins his letter by exhorting her to strive and to hope for the conversion of her father Albinus, prefect of Borne ; and this came about through his affection for his little granddaughter who sat on his knees, singing " Hallelujah " as soon as she could speak, and singing and recit- ing her hymns and prayers so sweetly that the old man's heart was touched and was won over to Christianity. Jerome, so austere in some respects, recommends that the child should be brought up with great tenderness, be encouraged with caresses and little presents to learn ; be taught to read by means of wooden letters that she might become familiar with their shapes and names while play- ing with them as toys. She was to be so gentle and courteous that she should be beloved by every one. She was to be led to love prayer and retreat. In her early years her abstinence was to be practised with great moderation. She was to work with her hands, to dress very modestly. He prescribed a certain order in which she should read the books of the Bible, and said she might read St. Cyprian, St Athanasius and St. Hilary. She was to be kept from all knowledge of evil, and for this purpose she was never to frequent the baths, where unseemly gossip was exchanged amongst the Roman ladies. Above all, a good example must be set her at home by her father and mother. If her parents found it impossible to bring her up thus innocently and care- fully in Home, they were to send her to Bethlehem, to her grandmother Paula and her aunt Eustochium. She went, as soon as she was old enough, to their convent in Bethlehem. She remained there with Eustochium, after the death of the elder Paula, and was still there in 416, when the house was attacked by the Pelagians. St Paula (14) and St. Melania the younger attended St. Jerome in his last illness. Paula is not worshipped but is called Saint by many writers. She is mentioned in the lives of St. Jerome and of the sainted members of her own family. St Jerome's Epistle cvii, Freemantle's edition. Tille- mont, Hist. EccU