Saint Fabiola of Rome

Memorial

• 27 December

Profile

Born to the Roman patrician class. Divorced from her first marriage after being abused by her adulterous husband. Widowed in second marriage. Friend of Saint Jerome, Saint Paula of Rome, and Saint Pammachius. Founded the first hospital in the west. Built a hospice in Porto Romano for the area poor and for sick pilgrims. After doing penance for her divorce, she re-entered communion with the Church by dispensation of Pope Saint Siricius. Pilgrim to the Holy Lands in 394 where she worked in a hospice in Bethlehem. Wanted to live as a hermit in Jerusalem, but never managed it. Saint Jerome wrote of her life.

Born

• 4th century in Rome, Italy

Died

• 399 in Rome, Italy of natural causes

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• difficult marriages
• divorced people
• victims of abuse
• victims of adultery
• victims of unfaithfulness
• widows

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia, by J P Kirsch
• Catholic Online
• Heiligen 3s
• Katherine Rabenstein
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Saint Fabiola of Rome“. Saints.SQPN.com. 27 December 2012. Web. 19 June 2013. <>