Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-09-07

wealth. she united the gifts Of gen
ius and beauty. Married mt fifteen
the mother of four daughters, sh.
had bnt reached the zenith of elor-
ions womanhood when she became
the friend and disciple of st. jerome,
and devoted her brilliant intellect
to study. Modern historians seem
to have lost sight of the superior
intellectual qualities of Paula: they
tell rs of her life of prayer, th,
works ck charity she REFORMED, am
the monastery she founded. but il
is to the letters Of st. Jerome wt
again must turn TO discover tn.
depth Of scholarship and inner ma.
ture OF woman who united with
the old Roman spirit the charm and
versatility of the Greek-traits
which, blended with the highest
Christian virtues, formed in her q
rare combination of character. HeI
accomplishments and those of hel
daughters put to shame those pos.
sessed by a majority of the woman
of this age of intellectual triumphs.
Besides the holy books which were
her first studies, both Grecian and
Latin literature were familiar 10
her. and st. Jerome writes in his
Sublime eulogy upon her: - am
about to say thing that will seem
incredible, but which is nevertheless
true. The Hebrew language, which
to learn the little | know of it cost
me so much labor in my youth. and
at which | labor diligently still
every day, least were ] to forsake it
it should forsake me, that Hebrew
tongue Paula undertook to learn,
and learned it SO perfectly that she
always recited the psalms in He
brew, and spoke the language fluent
ly, as did her daughter, Eustochia.
In that age, as now, there were
not wanting those who, agreeing
with the laws of Manou, which de-
clare: Women have long hair but
ma row minds" opposed any steps
Tor Tneir advancement, and St.
Jerome. the giant of theology, did
not escape a severe criticism for be-
coming their teacher. A storm a.
rose. and abandoning Rome he
sought refuge in his hermitage at
Bethlehem. In the autumn of Ammo
Domini $50, burning with a desire
TO see the land hallowed by the life
and crimsoned by the blood of the
Man God, Paula, accompanied by
her daughter, Eustochia, sat out on
a pilgrimage, visiting Syria, the
Holy Land, and extending her
travels into Egypt, where she re-
mained some time studying, and
attending the lectures of the cele-
brated theologians of Alexandria,
and afterwards penetrated into
Nitria that she might gather wisdom
from the lips of its holy anchorites,
g. he Columns of the Desert"
A.tcr two years OF wandering
Paula turned her s'cps again to
Pa,cs,s a. and there, close To 81.
j rome cell, erected two monas-
t.. les. one Tor nuns, over whom she
presided, and the other for monks,
over whom st. Jerome ruled, and it
wa here he completed his lifc-work,
assisted by Paula and her daughters.
who, while they labored among tie
poor. performing the lowest house
hold Offices, found time TO devote
hours To studies requiring the pro-
foundest thoughts, day after day
comparing st. Jeromc's Latin trans
lations vita the originals in Hebrew
and Lrcek. and correcting any error
they discovered. 1t was in this
monastery that was first commenced
the practice o. copying manuscripts
for fear of the original ones being
lost. Paula exacted of her spiritual
daughters that they should copy
the Psalter, translated by St.
Jerome. and they found this a
work of no little labor. Great ex-
actness was requisite, for the origi-
mails through neglect were injured
and obliterated, and transcribing
became one of the routine duties Of
their daily lives. Thus We are in
debted TO Paula for much that is OF
untold value TO Christianity.
from 81. Jerome's letters we learn
that constant correspondence
mast have taken place between
Paula and her friends in Rome, set
there has been preserved to Us bur