Asella, St

Asella, St.

was a Roman virgin who, at twelve years of age, began to dedicate herself entirely to the service of God by fasting, mortification, silence, and prayer. After the retreat of St. Jerome, which was preceded by that of Sts. Paula and Eustochia, Asella remained alone at Rome, where Palladius testifies to have seen her, in 404, in a monastery, where she presided over several virgins. She died about 405, and is commemorated in the Roman martyrology on Dec. 8 (Jerome, Ep. 15, 99, 140).