St. Tharsilla

Biography

St. Tharsilla (d. sixth century), also spelled Trasilla, is known to us through her nephew, Pope St. Gregory the Great, who wrote about her in one of his homilies on the Gospels and in his Dialogues. She was one of three sisters of Gregory's father, Gordianus, from a noble Roman family that already counted a pope, St. Felix III, among its ancestors. Tharsilla and her sisters Emiliana and Gordiana decided to consecrate themselves to God and lived together in their family home in Rome, devoting themselves to prayer, fasting, and a quiet life. Gregory writes that Tharsilla and Emiliana grew steadily in love of God, while Gordiana eventually lost her fervor and later married. Tharsilla was known for her deep prayer; Gregory records that after her death her knees and elbows were found hardened from long kneeling. He also recounts that Pope Felix appeared to her in a vision, inviting her into the dwelling of glory. Soon afterward she fell ill with fever, and as she died she told those around her that Jesus was coming. Gregory adds that she later appeared to Emiliana, inviting her to celebrate the Epiphany with her in heaven, since they had not kept Christmas together, and that Emiliana died soon after. The Roman Martyrology honors Tharsilla on December 24, the eve of the Nativity.

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