Fabiola
Fabiola was a wealthy Roman matron who, influenced by Church Father Jerome, renounced her privileged life to embrace Christian asceticism and charitable work. She is remembered for establishing a hospital in Rome and dedicating her wealth to the poor and sick, earning veneration as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox churches.
- Feast Day
- December 27
- Century
- 4th century
- Country Or Region
- Italy
Key Facts
- ›Fabiola belonged to the patrician Roman family of the gens Fabia.
- ›She divorced her first husband due to his vicious life and later entered a second union before his death.
- ›Following her second husband's death, she made public penance for her actions and was readmitted to the church.
- ›She devoted her wealth to building a hospital in Rome and caring for those with 'loathsome diseases'.
- ›In 395, she traveled to Bethlehem and lived in a hospice directed by Paula of Rome, studying scriptures and practicing asceticism.
- ›She died on December 27, 399 or 400, after co-founding a hospice for pilgrims at Portus with Senator Pammachius.
Santa Fabiola, Fabiola of Rome
About Fabiola
Fabiola, also known as Santa Fabiola or Fabiola of Rome, was a Roman matron of noble rank who became a notable figure in early Christian charitable work. Belonging to the patrician gens Fabia family, her life took a turn toward asceticism and service after experiencing difficulties in her marriages. Influenced by Church Father Jerome, she renounced worldly pleasures and devoted herself to the needs of the poor and sick.
Life and historical context
Fabiola's early life was marked by a difficult first marriage, leading her to obtain a divorce and enter a second union. This second marriage contravened Christian ordinances as her first husband was still alive. It was only after the death of her second consort that Fabiola, during Jerome's stay in Rome (382–84), decided to embrace a life of renunciation. On the day before Easter, she made a public penance for her past actions at the Lateran basilica, a gesture that deeply impressed the Christian population and led to her formal readmission into full communion with the Church by the pope.
Major contributions
Fabiola utilized her considerable wealth to establish a hospital in Rome, where she personally tended to the inmates, including those suffering from 'loathsome diseases' and rejected by society. She also provided significant financial support to churches and religious communities. In 395, she traveled to Bethlehem, residing in a hospice directed by Paula of Rome, and dedicated herself to studying scriptures and practicing asceticism under Jerome's guidance. Later, in Rome, she collaborated with the former senator Pammachius to erect a large hospice for pilgrims at Portus. Her practical application of medicine and her dedication to the sick highlight the involvement of early Christian women in the field.
Legacy
Fabiola's passing on December 27, 399 or 400, was met with great gratitude and veneration from the Roman populace, as noted by Jerome in a eulogistic memoir. Her influence extended into later centuries; Cardinal Wiseman immortalized her in his novel 'Fabiola,' written partly as a response to anti-Catholic sentiments. The idealized portrait of Fabiola painted by Jean-Jacques Henner in 1885 gained widespread recognition, inspiring numerous copies and later artistic exhibitions, underscoring her enduring cultural memory.
She is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church, with her feast day observed on December 27.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Saint Fabiola?
Fabiola was a noble Roman matron of the gens Fabia family who, after a complex marital history, renounced worldly pleasures to dedicate herself to Christian asceticism and charitable work. She is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
What charitable work is Fabiola known for?
Fabiola is chiefly remembered for her immense charitable endeavors. She devoted her wealth to the poor and sick, notably establishing a hospital in Rome where she personally tended to patients, including those with 'loathsome diseases'. She also co-founded a large hospice for pilgrims at Portus.
When did Fabiola live and when is her feast day?
Fabiola lived in the late 4th century, dying in 399 or 400. Her feast day is commemorated on December 27.
What was Fabiola's connection to Saint Jerome?
Fabiola was influenced by the Church Father Jerome. She lived in Bethlehem for a period, studying scriptures and practicing asceticism under his direction. She also maintained correspondence with him, and he wrote a treatise at her request.
How is Fabiola remembered in art and literature?
Fabiola's life was famously depicted in Cardinal Wiseman's novel 'Fabiola' and immortalized in Jean-Jacques Henner's 1885 portrait. This idealized portrayal of the saint has been widely copied and exhibited.
Related Saints
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Melania the Younger
Melania the Younger was a wealthy Roman aristocrat who embraced a life of extreme asceticism and charity in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. She is remembered for her renunciation of worldly possessions, her extensive charitable works, and her establishment of religious communities.
Begga
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