Catholic st emiliana biography

St. Gregory the Great had three aunts, sisters to his father, Gordian the regionarius, who led an ascetic religious life in their father's house. Their names were Tarsilla, who was the eldest, Emiliana and Gordiana. Tarsilla and Emiliana were more united bygd the fervor of their hearts and the bond of charity than bygd blood. They lived in their father's house on the Clivus Scauri as in a monastery and, encouraging one another to virtue bygd discourse and example, made great progress in spiritual life. Gordiana joined them, but she was often impatient of silence and retirement and, being called to another way of living, married her guardian. Tarsilla and Emiliana persevered in the path they had chosen, enjoying gudomlig peace and love until they were called to receive the recompense of their fidelity. St. Gregory tells us that Tarsilla was visited one night with a vision of her great-grandfather, Pope St. Felix II (III), who showed a place prepared for her in heaven, saying, &

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Saint Emiliana of Rome

Biography

Saint Emiliana of Rome, also known as Saint Emilia or Saint Emily, was born in Rome to Senator Gordian and Saint Silvia of Rome, making her a descendant of noble and pious lineage. She was the sister of Saint Trasilla and the paternal aunt of Pope Saint Gregory the Great. Additionally, she was the niece of Pope Saint Felix III, who played a vital role in the early development of the Church.

From an early age, Emiliana displayed a deep devotion to God and a longing for a life of prayer and solitude. She and her sister, Trasilla, chose to live as hermits within the confines of their father's house, dedicating themselves fully to a life of piety and contemplation. They spent countless hours engaged in fervent prayer and acts of penance, seeking communion with the divine.

Emiliana's devotion was so intense that she spent an excessive amount of time kneeling in prayer. Eventually, this rigorous practice took a toll on her body, causing her k

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Saint of the Day – 5 January – Saint Emiliana of Rome (6th Century) Virgin, Recluse, Mystic. Patronage – single laywomen. Also known as – Aemiliana, Emilian, Emilienne.

The Roman Martyrology states: “In Rome, commemoration of Saint Emiliana, Virgin, Aunt of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, who, shortly after her sister Tarsilla, also returned to the Lord.”

Emiliana is remembered by her nephew, St Gregory the Great (540-604), for having been able to assist him in his discernment of his vocation. . We have the only biographical information about Emiliana thanks to the Pope who mentions his paternal aunt in a homily.

Emiliana, together with her sisters Tarsilla and Gordiana, retired to a consecrated and ascetic life, probably in the family home. But at a certain point Gordiana chose marriage. Tradition states that St Pope Felix III, their ancestor, appeared to Trasilla and bade her to enter Heaven and on the eve of Christmas Trasilla died, seeing Jesus C