Saint Tharsilla

"This change, which Tarsilla noticed well, often made her say to Aemiliana: 'I see clearly that our sister is no longer of our company; she pours herself out too much externally, and she does not have the care she should have to keep her heart in the good resolutions she has made.' Both of them reproved her with all possible gentleness, pointing out to her that her great levity was ill-suited to the profession she had made to live in reform. Gordiana seemed, in truth, to want to profit from their charitable reprimands, and, when one spoke to her of correcting herself, her face immediately resumed the gravity becoming a virgin; but, as soon as the reprimand was finished, she would abandon this modesty to give herself over once again to a great freedom of speech and to complete dissipation, eagerly seeking the company of secular young ladies, and unable to endure those who did not live according to the maxims of the world."

Tarsilla, being the most assiduous in prayer, the most careful in practicing austerities to afflict her flesh, and the most severe in abstinence and modesty, soon arrived at an eminent degree of holiness. She told me that one day she had a vision, in which the blessed Felix, my great-gran dfather, bishop o bienheureux Félix Great-grandfather of Saint Gregory and Tarsilla, Bishop of Rome. f the Roman Church, appeared to her, and, Église romaine The episcopal see of Rome. showing her a dwelling filled with an admirable brightness, he said to her: 'Come, because it is in this place of light that I receive you.' Indeed, the next day she was seized by a fever that led her, in a short time, to the tomb; and, as it is the custom to gather when persons of rank are in danger of death, to try to console the relatives, several men and a quantity of women, among whom was my mother, were present at the hour of her agony. Everyone was around her bed, when all of a sudden she raised her voice, and said to those present: 'Withdraw, and make way; I see Jesus who is coming to me.' And while she was looking fixedly at the one she saw, her holy soul was delivered from the bonds of her body.

"The fragrance with which the whole room was filled at that same moment led the company to judge that the Author of all sweetness Himself had honored her with His presence. When her body was uncovered to be washed, according to custom, it was found that her elbows and knees were covered with calluses, similar to those seen on camels; it was an authentic testimony to the long prayers she had offered during her life. These wonders occurred before the feast of the Savior's birth. Immediately after the feast, Tarsilla appeared to Aemiliana and said to her: 'Come, my sister, I did not celebrate the solemnity of the day of the Lord's birth with you; but we shall celebrate the feast of the Epiphany tog fête de l'Épiphanie Liturgical feast marking the death of Emilienne in the narrative. ether.' — 'If you are calling me alone,' replied Aemiliana, 'what shall we do with our sister, and to whom shall we entrust her care?' — 'Come, I tell you,' the Saint replied with a very sad face; 'Gordiana is resolved to remain with the worldly.' After this vision, Aemiliana fell ill and died before the feast of the Lord's apparition, just as her sister had predicted to her. As for Gordiana, as soon as she found herself alone, she relaxed even more; for, losing the fear of God, renouncing modesty and propriety, and forgetting her consecration entirely, she married her steward."

« You have seen three sisters », adds Saint Gregory, « who gave themselves to God at the same time, with equal fervor, but who did not all persevere, because, according to the word of

Jesus Christ, "many are called, but few are chosen." Let those who practice virtue, therefore, not rely on their own strength, but let them be in a continual state of distrust of themselves, for fear of losing tomorrow what they have acquired until today with so much labor.

Saint Gregory the G reat, Homily XXXVIII on Saint Grégoire le Grand Pope and author of the Dialogues, primary narrator of the life of Servulus. the Gospels, and Dialogues, Book IV, Chapter 16.