St. Paulinus of Nola gave up great wealth and high office for a life of prayer and became bishop of Nola and a Christian poet.
Life
Paulinus was born in the mid-fourth century to a wealthy Roman noble family in the region of Bordeaux, in present-day France. Well educated and full of promise, he served as governor of Campania in Italy.
After his baptism he and his wife Therasia gave their wealth to the poor and began a simple life of prayer. Ordained a priest, he settled beside the tomb of St. Felix at Nola, caring for pilgrims and the poor, and later became bishop of Nola. He corresponded with St. Augustine and others, wrote poems of faith, and died in 431.
Spirituality
Paulinus's spirituality is the freedom of letting go, joined to friendship. He valued Christ above worldly honor and shared his heart with friends in faith through letters and poems. For him, hospitality was a way of welcoming Christ.
Reflection
What we cling to can sometimes block our way to God. Like Paulinus, could we find one thing to share with a neighbor today?