Saint Fabiola of Rome (27 December): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On December 27, the Church commemorates St Fabiola of Rome, a Roman patrician woman whose dramatic conversion, public penance, and heroic charity left a permanent mark on Christian civilization. Taken from The Lives of the Saints by Father Alban Butler, this account recounts the extraordinary journey of St Fabiola—a woman of wealth and passion who, after a troubled marriage and civil divorce, submitted humbly to the public penance of the Church under Pope St Siricius and was restored to full communion. Following her reconciliation, St Fabiola dedicated her entire fortune to the poor, founding what is widely recognized as the first Christian public and free hospital in the West, personally caring for the sick gathered from the streets of Rome. Her work marked a turning point in the history of Christian charity and Western civilization. St Fabiola was a devoted spiritual daughter of St Jerome, remaining loyal to him during theological controversies in Bethlehem, including disputes involving Rufinus and the teachings of Origen. Though drawn to pilgrimage and activity rather than contemplation, her restless charity bore immense fruit across Rome, Italy, and beyond. St Jerome later honored her with writings and a moving account of her life and death, noting that all Rome attended the funeral of this beloved benefactress. This video is ideal for: Daily saint reflections Traditional Catholic teaching Liturgical calendar devotions Church history and patristics Conversion, penance, and charity themes 📖 Source: The Lives of the Saints by Fr. Alban Butler 🗓 Feast Day: December 27 0:00 Introduction – Lives of the Saints (Butler) 0:20 December 27 – St Fabiola of Rome 0:48 Marriage, Divorce, and Moral Struggle 1:04 Public Penance and Restoration to Communion 1:18 Dedication to Charity and the Poor 1:32 The First Christian Public Hospital 1:43 Journey to Bethlehem and St Jerome 1:53 Theological Controversies and Fidelity 2:14 Why the Contemplative Life Did Not Suit Her 2:39 Threat of the Huns and Departure from Palestine 3:00 Question on Canonical Penance 3:36 St Jerome’s Response on Penance 3:46 Continued Works of Mercy in Rome 3:51 Hospice for Pilgrims with St Pammachius 4:09 Death and Funeral Honored by All Rome 4:16 St Jerome’s Writings for St Fabiola 4:44 Legacy and Final Commendation https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/december/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium 🔴 Truth Social - @SensusFidelium ▶ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #StFabiola #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicSaints #December27 #SaintOfTheDay #StJerome #CatholicHistory #TraditionalCatholic #ConversionAndPenance #ChristianCharity #EarlyChurch #WomenSaints #ButlerLivesOfTheSaints