Paula (b. 347) was descended from Cornelia Africana, the mother of the Gracchi. As Cornelia was the model of a Roman Matron whose sons were her only jewels, so Paula become the model of the Desert Mother whose wealth was surrendered to the service of God. Married at a young age, she had five children and was widowed at age 32. Though she had lived in patrician luxury, after being widowed she was inspired by the example of Marcella (January 31) an…