St. Paulinus of Nola
Bishop, Poet, and Patron of Bell Ringers
📖 Life of St. Paulinus of Nola
St. Paulinus of Nola was born around 354 AD in Bordeaux, France, into a wealthy and influential Roman family. His full name was Pontius Meropius Anicius Paulinus. He received an excellent classical education under the famous poet and rhetorician Ausonius, who became his lifelong friend and mentor. Paulinus excelled in his studies and showed great promise as a poet and orator.
Following the path expected of a young Roman nobleman, Paulinus pursued a successful political career. He became a senator and served as consul in Rome. Around 381 AD, he was appointed governor of the province of Campania in southern Italy, where he first encountered the city of Nola and the shrine of St. Felix of Nola, a martyr who would profoundly influence his life.
Despite his worldly success, Paulinus felt a growing spiritual restlessness. He was baptized as a Christian around 389 AD, along with his Spanish wife Therasia. This conversion marked the beginning of a dramatic transformation in his life. The death of their infant son shortly after birth became a turning point that led both Paulinus and Therasia to reconsider their priorities and their relationship with God.
In a decision that shocked Roman society, Paulinus and Therasia decided to renounce their vast wealth and dedicate their lives entirely to God. Around 394 AD, they sold their extensive properties, distributed the proceeds to the poor, and moved to Nola in Italy. There, they lived in voluntary poverty near the shrine of St. Felix, whom Paulinus had come to venerate deeply. They established a monastic community and built a hospice for pilgrims and the poor.
Paulinus was ordained a priest in Barcelona in 394 AD and later, around 409 AD, was chosen by popular acclaim to be Bishop of Nola. As bishop, he continued his life of simplicity and charity, using his remaining resources to ransom prisoners, feed the hungry, and care for the sick. He was known for his pastoral care, his hospitality to pilgrims, and his dedication to the poor.
Throughout his life, Paulinus maintained correspondence with many of the great Christian figures of his time, including St. Augustine, St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, and St. Martin of Tours. He continued to write poetry, but now his verses celebrated Christian themes and the lives of the saints, particularly St. Felix. St. Paulinus died on June 22, 431 AD, in Nola, where he had served faithfully for over three decades. He is remembered as a model of radical conversion, voluntary poverty, and pastoral charity.
🌟 Legacy of St. Paulinus
Christian Poet and Writer
St. Paulinus is considered one of the great Christian Latin poets of the early Church. His poetry combined classical literary skill with deep Christian devotion. He wrote numerous poems in honor of St. Felix of Nola, which were recited annually on the saint's feast day. His letters, particularly those exchanged with St. Augustine, provide valuable insights into the spiritual and theological concerns of the early fifth century.
Patron of Bell Ringers
St. Paulinus is traditionally credited with introducing bells into Christian worship, which is why he became the patron saint of bell ringers. According to tradition, he had bells installed in the church at Nola to call the faithful to prayer. The Latin word for bell, "campana," is said to derive from Campania, the region where Nola is located. While the historical accuracy of this tradition is debated, it reflects Paulinus's reputation for liturgical innovation and his desire to enhance Christian worship.
Model of Radical Conversion
Paulinus's decision to abandon wealth, status, and worldly ambition for a life of poverty and service to God made him a powerful example of radical Christian conversion. His transformation challenged the values of Roman society and demonstrated that true happiness and fulfillment come not from material possessions but from following Christ. His example inspired many in his own time and continues to challenge Christians today to examine their priorities and attachments.
Pastoral Charity and Hospitality
As Bishop of Nola, Paulinus was renowned for his charity and hospitality. He welcomed pilgrims, cared for the sick, ransomed prisoners, and fed the hungry. One famous story tells how he offered himself as a slave in exchange for the freedom of a widow's son who had been captured. His life demonstrated that Christian leadership means service, and that bishops should be fathers to the poor and defenders of the vulnerable.
📅 Feast Day
Memorial of St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop
The feast of St. Paulinus of Nola is celebrated on June 22nd, the traditional date of his death in 431 AD. This optional memorial honors a saint who exemplified radical conversion, voluntary poverty, and pastoral charity. St. Paulinus's feast day reminds us that true wealth consists not in material possessions but in following Christ and serving others.
On this day, the Church celebrates Paulinus's transformation from a wealthy Roman senator to a humble bishop who gave everything to follow Christ. His example challenges us to examine our own attachments to wealth and status, and to consider how we might use our resources more generously for the good of others. Many churches ring their bells on his feast day in honor of his traditional association with the introduction of bells into Christian worship.
🛡️ Patronage
Primary Patronages
- • Bell Ringers: Patron of those who ring church bells
- • Poets: Patron of Christian poets and writers
- • Nola, Italy: Patron of the city of Nola
- • Converts: Model for adult converts
- • Pilgrims: Patron of pilgrims and travelers
Special Intentions
- • Detachment: Help in letting go of material things
- • Generosity: Grace to give freely to others
- • Conversion: Strength for radical life changes
- • Hospitality: Grace to welcome strangers
- • Charity: Love for the poor and vulnerable
🙏 Prayers
Prayer to St. Paulinus of Nola
"O glorious St. Paulinus, you left behind wealth, honor, and worldly success to follow Christ in poverty and humility. You showed us that true riches are found not in material possessions but in loving God and serving others. Help us to detach ourselves from the things of this world that keep us from following Christ wholeheartedly. Inspire us to be generous with our time, talents, and resources, especially toward the poor and vulnerable. Through your intercession, may we learn to value spiritual treasures above earthly wealth and to find our joy in serving God and neighbor. St. Paulinus, pray for us!"
Collect for the Feast of St. Paulinus
"O God, who called Saint Paulinus from the riches of this world to the poverty of the Cross, grant that through his intercession we may learn to despise earthly things and to love the things of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Prayer for Detachment
"St. Paulinus, you gave up everything to follow Christ. Help me to recognize what attachments hold me back from serving God fully. Give me the courage to let go of whatever keeps me from loving God with my whole heart. Teach me to be generous and to use my resources for the good of others. May I find my treasure in heaven and my joy in doing God's will. Amen."