Saint Blesilla was a Roman widow at the age of 18 and a disciple of Jerome. She was born into a wealthy senatorial family in Rome, the eldest daughter of Paula of Rome and sister of Eustochium, who were members of a group of wealthy Christian women who followed the teachings of Jerome.
After a life-threatening fever, became “a changed woman” and a severe ascetic, practicing fasting as a spiritual discipline. Her fasts dramatically weakened her, and she died within four months, at the age of 20. Blaesilla’s death caused “bitter controversy” in Rome; many Romans blamed Jerome for her death and demanded that he be removed from Rome. Eventually, Jerome left Rome, with Blaesilla’s mother and sister, to live as an ascetic in the Holy Land.
Most of the knowledge about Blaesilla’s life comes from the writings of Jerome, in which he described her piety and virtue. She also inspired Jerome to translate the book of Ecclesiastes.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaesilla
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1797
Cruz, Joan Carroll (2015). Lay Saints: Ascetics and Penitents. Charlotte, North Carolina: TAN Books. ISBN 978-0-89555-847-3. OCLC 958120637.
Hooper, Finley; Schwartz, Matthew (1991). Roman Letters: History from a Personal Point of View. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 206.
