Feast of St. Paula, January 26

 

We follow the conversion of St. Paul (yesterday) with the Feast of St. Paula (347 A.D.-404 A.D.). St. Paula was married to a guy named Toxotius and had 5 children. After Toxotius died, Paula began working with the poor. She struck up a friendship with St. Jerome. They both ended up in Bethlehem, where Paula built a hospice, monastery, and a convent (which she governed).

Toxotius and Paula's children were named Toxotius (Jr., I guess) Paulina, Blesilla, Eustochium, and Rafina. Eustochium became a saint, too, working with her mom in Bethlehem. That her in the painting with Paula and St. Jerome.

St. Paula is the patron saint of widows.