Yesterday, in one of the tightest matches in Lent Madness history, Pandita Ramabai snuck past Damien of Molokai despite a virtual dead heat. With over 8,500 votes cast, she won by a mere 45 votes. She'll square off against Marguerite d'Youville in the Saintly Sixteen. Close observers of this tight contest watched as Pandita staked out a slim early lead, watched as Damien came storming back as the Hawaiians woke up -- literally -- because of the time difference, and then Pandita's enthusiastic advocates tipped the scales. Whew!
Today, it's the Battle of Rome as contemporaries Paula of Rome and Marcella of Rome clash for the exclusive right to claim Rome as their own. Who will end up as queen of the Eternal City? You won't have to wait an eternity to find out, but a mere 24 hours.
And in case you missed yesterday's edition of Monday Madness, why not watch it right now? You'll be reminded of why Tim and Scott are serious when they claim each episode is never rehearsed and always done in a single take. Also, they share the stunning (and true) news that this week we have passed the 5 millionth page view in Lent Madness history. Not bad for a mom-and-pop online Lenten devotion.
Paula of Rome
Paula of Rome was a wealthy woman purportedly descended from the line of Agamemnon, the Greek king during the Trojan War. When she was 16, she married a nobleman named Toxotius, and they had five children. In her youth, Paula lived extravagantly. She wore lavish silks procured from the finest markets in China. When she traveled around the city streets, a cluster of eunuch slaves carried her.
When Paula was in her thirties, Toxotius died. Then five years later, one of her daughters died. Paula’s grief was so great that she nearly died herself. Inspired by the faith and action of her contemporary Marcella, Paula opened her palace to the needy and set upon a life dedicated to God. She met Saint Jerome, who later described the “earnestness of her prayers, the brilliancy of her conversation, the tenacity of her memory, and the quickness of her intellect.” Paula and her daughter Eustochium joined Jerome on a pilgrimage from the bustling city of Rome to the Holy Land and Egypt. Paula settled in Bethlehem and built four monasteries, one for men and the other for women. She fasted, abstained, and lived a destitute life in order to focus on God, spending the rest of her years giving away her vast fortune to the poor.
Paula and Jerome continued working together. Jerome was commissioned to revise the Old Latin Gospels. Paula encouraged Jerome to expand the job and translate most of the books of the Bible into Latin. She provided him with resources for the translation, suggested revisions, and edited the manuscripts. The women of the convents served as scribes, making copies of this groundbreaking work, which became known as the Vulgate, the first translation of the Old Testament directly from Hebrew to Latin (rather than from Hebrew to Greek to Latin). In the sixteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church affirmed the Vulgate as its official Latin Bible, and it remained the standard until 1979.
Some have speculated about the extent of the relationship between Jerome and Paula. Yet Jerome’s words about his friend offer important insight to her life’s work. He wrote that Paula continued to practice a life of poverty and ascetic devotion in order “to preserve a singular attachment to God.”
Collect for Paula of Rome
Compel us, O God, to attend diligently to your Word, as your faithful servant Paula, that, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we may find it profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness; and that thereby we may be made wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Marcella of Rome
Marcella of Rome was born in 325 ce in Rome to wealthy parents. Her father died while she was still young. Her mother, Albina, continued to be an important influence, modeling kindness and care for those who were vulnerable. One of the more noteworthy guests to their home was Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, during one of his many exiles. Upon his departure he gave Marcella a copy of his Life of Antony, a gift that would deeply inform Marcella’s life.
As a prominent noblewoman in Rome, Marcella married a wealthy aristocrat. He died just seven months after their marriage. Shortly thereafter, to the chagrin of her mother, Marcella rejected the marriage offer of an older Roman consul and took on the life of an ascetic. She wore simple clothes and abstained from meat. She regularly fasted and avoided excessive wine. She turned her estate into a place of refuge for those who were poor and vulnerable. As Saint Jerome so aptly wrote, Marcella chose “to store her money in the stomachs of the poor rather than to keep it at her disposal.” The community in her home came to be known as the Brown Dress Society, on account of their simple and unadorned attire.
Although education was not commmon for women in that time, Marcella also became a student of the scriptures, reading them in both Hebrew and Greek. Jerome, the famed translator of the Vulgate and one of our best sources on Marcella’s life, clearly thought the world of her and deeply respected her intellect. She is described as a keen mind who would, in spite of social pressures to be a silent woman, engage in rigorous theological debate.
In 410 when the Visigoths sacked Rome, they ravaged wealthy homes; those with money could pay for their survival. The Visigoths approached Marcella’s large estate and were incredulous when she informed them that she had no money. They beat her mercilessly. She was transferred to the Basilica of St. Paul and died there of her wounds.
Collect for Marcella of Rome
O God, who satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry with good things: Grant that we, like your servant Marcella, may hunger and thirst after you more than the vain pomp and glory of the world and delight in your word more than all manner of riches. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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149 comments on “Paula of Rome vs. Marcella of Rome”
Another close matchup with accomplished and devout women. I had to vote for my fellow editor, Paula.
Another hard choice but one which must be made. I am thinking Paula as she influenced Jerome, but then again Marcella greatly influenced Paula. Which ever I vote for will probably lose as has been the case nearly every time.
I went for the theologian, who refused the proper role for women of the time: Marcella.
I made the choice of Marcella since she died in the service of others.
BIG Thank Yous to Michael & John for your wonderful creativity & sharing it w/us! Blessings to them, SEC, & this online community + all the Saints we're learning about :- )
Both women were inspiring. They were so advanced in their education, thinking, faith and bravery. It was hard to decide on a vote.
These two women are so very much alike, it's up to the minutiae of the bloggers' bios to sway us one way or another, I suppose. This matchup truly shows the SEC at their most demonic, and I am sure there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth (not to mention pulling out one's hair) throughout the worldwide LM community today. I finally went with Paula because of her close work with Jerome on the Vulgate. (Perhaps Marcella contributed just as much as Paula to the translation, but the bio doesn't really indicate that.) When I read that Paula had helped translate the Vulgate, I was at first astonished, then rapidly went through the five stages of grief because I am almost 60 and am only now finding out this important fact!
Marcella has much to commend herself--I especially like the Brown Dress Society--but her friendship with Athanasius sealed the deal. I have always been Against Athanasius myself. Not a huge trinitarian (yeah, I know: a weird trait in an Episcopalian, but there it is). Sure, Marcella may have had tea with Athanasius, too, but the blogger didn't say that!
I can't remember if I voted already, for Paula. I'm thinking about changing my mind. Her relationship with Jerome is suspicious. She may have left a young son traumatized as she sailed off. The surviving children all seem to end up in Bethlehem. She certainly did travel a lot. I thought she used her vast wealth, well. Then, when the "compound" got into financial trouble, Jerome sold two properties--after she had bankrolled quite a bit of his work. Can't deny the Vulgate they produced that was used until 1979! Oh, well. The Catholic church murdered thousands, accepted bribes for centuries and was horribly corrupt and has covered up mortal sins. Good thing we are all forgiven. I changed my mind. There's just something I like about Paula.
Paula! As a 40-year career editor, I value anyone who helps clarify the thoughts of the great to benefit the rest of us. If the Vulgate is that inaccurate, just think how bad it was before. 😉 (Besides, the Holy Spirit is an "it"; Jesus is the feminine - see Julien of Norwich.)
That lovely LM mug that was shown yesterday by Tim and Scott was, in fact, not shown as an option when I visited the Lentorium!
Nancy Baxter, I looked for it, too, and was devastated -- I tell you DEVASTATED!!! - - not to find it. Heavy martyred sigh!!!!!
Another difficult choice! My decision again was rather arbitrary and I don’t want to influence antyone’s choice. Either deserves to be chosen!
Marrying someone named Toxotius does not seem like a good omen. Apparently that proved not to be a problem.
These two saints are so similar that I had to make an arbitrary choice.
Rather toxic, would you say?
toughest vote yet, for me. i originally wanted to vote for paula - opening three monasteries for women, and by proxy, voting for all the women who helped with the translation for the vulgate. but the collect for marcella tipped it for me. may we all hunger and thirst for god.
Been fabulous I love all the comments and have learned so much.
Disappointed my vote didn't register this morning.
Many thanks all for your wonderful comments and creativityI have been bitten by the Lenten Madness Bug. L.
I happen to like the Creed attributed to Saint Athanasius and I like that Marcella welcomed the poor into her home and provided food along with shelter.
That he had, Paula gave Jerome the idea to translate the entire Bible and not just the four Gospels. And she proofread it!
Would we have all our modern translations without the existence of the Vulgate?
I'm glad to learn about both these saints of old, never known to me before. (But then, we Methodists don't focus on the saints much, being very suspicious of praying to other human beings. That's one of the reasons I enjoy Lent Madness so much; I learn about so many people in our history.) As I was an editor in one part of my life, I can't resist voting for one of my early forewomen. Imagine being part of a literary effort that lasted so many centuries!
We don't pray to them, rather we ask them to pray for us in the same way we ask other fellow Christians to pray for us. If I asked you to pray for me about something, it would be just like asking Saint Lucy (aka Lucia) to pray for me about the same thing.
Since Marcella is the one who inspired Paula, she should get the vote. Granted, Paula put up with Jerome a lot longer, which, in itself, makes her a saint, but would she have discovered such a holy life had it not been for Marcella? I suspect not. VOTE FOR MARCELLA!
Today, I am enjoying the interconnectedness of these early Christians. Marcella and Paula were acquaintances, they had similar social circumstances and their faith directed their responses to hardships similarly, both had meaningful relationships with Jerome, and Athanathius was a house guest somewhere in there. (Considering St Jerome’s legendary inattention to personal hygiene, I’ve long since dispatched the notion that he and Paula were anything but friends and fellow-workers...).
I must confess, I’ve found some of these match-ups somewhat - - uninspiring. And it’s not just me, I’ve heard this in other fans’ comments as well. Have we used up the Skobtsovas or the Bonhoeffers? At the same time, my .... pusillanimity over these match-ups is embarrassing to me. (“Oh reeeeally? I’m bored about the quiet yet brave faith of .... _______ ?” “Used up?” What is wrong with me?? )
Then here comes the ol’Lent Madness Magic. I’m beginning to ponder deeply the “slow saints” in the match-ups. This morning I am considering how both Marcella and Paula’s lives unfolded into beauty, piety and adventure. Scary and uncertain times for the Empire, yet they grew in faith and service. Yet, they persisted.
These slow match-ups highlight for me that we must follow Christ - in terms of devotion and obedience even as we wrestle with the intense demands of life. Paula and Marcella are perfect points for inspiration here.
One more notion sparked by these slow match ups: I’m wondering what my write-up a la Lent Madness might look like. You know, sometimes we’re challenged to do great deeds with the question, “what would your obit say about you?”
This year’s bracket competition has definitely taken a surprising turn inward!
P.S. I voted for Paula, the lady who pilgrimaged to the Holy Land. Wouldn’t that have been fun to tag along????
Can you tell me more about Jerome's "legendary inattention to personal hygiene"? Why on earth would anyone elevate that to the level of legend? Who would care that much unless they were a little kinky?
I love that thought: What woulda Celebrity Blogger say about me? I would be a “slow saint” most certainly!
I'm actually sort of gobsmacked that Paula has received any votes at all. But perhaps nothing says "Lent" more than being carried around city streets by eunuchs. One of my favorite hymns is "Hail Thee, Sybarite Day." I figure neither of these ladies will make it to the final round. I suppose being beaten by Visigoths counts as a form of martyrdom, but I prefer to respond to the idea of a woman reading and studying languages. That she could "engage in rigorous theological debate" interests me. I was glad to learn of women's role in generating the Vulgate Bible. But today's match is not one for the record books; send them both to the lions.
I love that thought: What woulda Celebrity Blogger say about me? I would be a “slow saint” most certainly!
As a vegetarian, and a Franciscan who mostly wears brown, I had to vote for Marcella, but both women seemed equally compelling, and since they were friends, I imagine whoever loses will be very delighted that her friend won. (and not in that fakey-nice way of beauty contestants, either!)
Lucy, it isn't supposed to be a matter of praying to other human beings, but rather asking the members of the communion of saints in heaven to pray to God for us, just as we ask members of that communion on earth, our friends and family, to pray to God for us. (Granted, superstition is always ready to creep into spiritual practices.) That the "Grump of Bethlehem," St. Jerome, was so admiring of the intellect of these two women was a revelation to me and makes me like him better than I did. I am still torn as to which worthy woman gets my vote.
Have never been a fan of St. Jerome but may have to revise my attitude when faced with these two girl friends of his. It occurs to me that many (most?) of our possible female . saintly choices had short-lived husbands, though I'm not implying foul play. At least today's two women sound like brave, sensible souls without the vague cloud of creepiness which lingers around some of the others.
As an English major, erstwhile proofreader, lover of scholarship, I am drawn to Paula--but I find her collect heavy on judgment and light on joy. "storing her wealth in the stomachs of the poor", and her collect swayed me.
This was a nearly impossible to for me, but I ended up voting for Marcella, because like dear Martha, she stayed home and was busy with many things. Paula, on the other hand, still had time to go gallivanting with Jerome and building minarets and such and so forth. Marcella, on the other hand, have it her all, and gave all she had to fill the stomachs of the poor, and gave her life. So, Marcella for the win for me.
Lord love a duck, spell check is my enemy today. Let's try again:
This was a nearly impossible tie for me, but I ended up voting for Marcella, because like dear Martha, she stayed home and was busy with many things. Paula, on the other hand, still had time and money to go gallivanting with Jerome and building monasteries and such and so forth. Marcella, on the other hand, gave it her all, and gave all she had to fill the stomachs of the poor, and also gave her life. So, Marcella for the win for me.
Oh, I was charmed by "building minarets." I think all the saints should have a minaret built for them.
Neither are in Holy Men, Holy Women. Surely an oversight that needs correcting!
What a coin toss is this matchup. The dead husband and no living children seem a frequent narrative vehicle that frees a woman (person) to follow her spiritual vision quest similar to the folkloric use of parental death to launch the protagonist onto their journey of self-discovery.
Reading the daily matchups is my morning meditation. It squares me up for one day at a time.
This was a close one for me...I give the nod to Marcella, because the push for a Bible in the then-vernacular is a big and lasting plus,
Quite an even match-up today. I chose Marcella because I liked her collect more than the collect for Paula.
Why couldn't one of yesterday's contestants been against one of these two ?!! Damien and Pandita are both more deserving of the crown than either of these two.
Paula bears the holy card trumps: better pic (fancy chair, group of disciples) and more obvious spiritual fruit. I just about voted for her and then, in a feast of cyber distraction, enjoyed reading y'all's comments before submitting my vote--which surely is the most important thing I do today. 🙂 I live where homeless folk are now expanding their street corner pleas for help even to the 'burbs. I am changing my vote to Marcella. She did something about homelessness.