She was daughter of Pudens, a Roman senator, and sister to St.
Pudentiana, and in the days of pope Pius I. and the emperor Antoninus
Pius, edified the church of Rome, by the bright lustre of her
virtues. All her great riches she employed in relieving the poor and
the necessities of the Church. By the comfort and succors which she
afforded the martyrs she endeavored to make herself partaker of their
crowns, and she lived in the assiduous exercise of prayer, watching,
and fasting. She died in peace and was buried near her sister on the
Salarian road. Bede and other martyrologists style her a virgin. An
old _title_ or parish church in Rome bearing her name is mentioned in
the life of pope Symmachus. It was repaired by Adrian I. and Paschal
I., and lastly by St. Charles Borromeo, who took from it his title of
cardinal.
* * * * *
The primitive Christians lived only for heaven, and in every step
looked up to God, regardless of all lower pursuits or meaner
advantages that could interfere with their great design of knowing
and loving him. This constant attention to God awed them in their
retirements; this gave life and wings to their devotion, and animated
them to fervor in all their actions; this carried them through the
greatest difficulties and temptations, and supported them under all
troubles and afflictions.