An Improvement In Prayers

In eisdem quoque Homiliis rem narrasse me recolo, quam Speciosus compresbyter meus, qui hanc noverat, me narrante attestatus est. Eo namque tempore quo monasterium petii, anus quaedam Redempta nomine, in sanctimoniali habitu constituta in urbe hac juxta beatae Mariae semper virginis ecclesiam manebat. Haec illius Herundinis discipula fuerat, quae magnis virtutibus pollens, super Praenestinos montes vitam eremiticam duxisse ferebatur. Huic autem Redemptae duae in eodem habitu discipulae aderant, una nomine Romula, et altera, quae nunc adhuc superest, quam quidem facie scio, sed nomine nescio. Tres itaque hae in uno habitaculo commanentes, morum quidem divitiis plenam, sed tamen rebus pauperem vitam ducebant. Haec autem quam praefatus sum Romula aliam quam praedixi condiscipulam suam magnis vitae meritis anteibat. Erat quippe mirae patientiae, summae obedientiae, custos oris sui ad silentium, studiosa valde ad continuae orationis usum. Sed quia plerumque hi, quos jam homines perfectos aestimant, adhuc in oculis summi opificis aliquid imperfectionis habent, sicut saepe imperiti homines necdum perfecte sculpta sigilla conspicimus, et jam quasi perfecta laudamus, quae tamen adhuc artifex considerat et limat, laudari jam audit, et tamen ea tundere meliorando non desinit; haec quam praediximus Romula ea quam Graeco vocabulo medici paralysin vocant molestia corporali percussa est, multisque annis in lectulo decubans, pene omni jacebat membrorum officio destituta, nec tamen haec eadem ejus mentem ad impatientiam flagella perduxerant. Nam ipsa ei detrimenta membrorum facta fuerant incrementa virtutum, quia tanto sollicitius ad usum orationis excreverat, quanto et aliud quodlibet agere nequaquam valebat.  Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, Dialogorum Libri IV, Libri IV, Cap XV

In the same homilies I also recollect a certain thing that was told me, to which narrative Speciosus, my fellow-Priest, would attest. In the time when I sought the monastic life there was a certain old woman named Redempta established in the holy garb, dwelling in this city near the church of the Blessed Mary Ever Virgin. She was a disciple of that Hirundina who was renowned for her great virtues, and who led a hermit's life in the mountains of Praeneste.This Redempta herself had two disciples who wore the same dress as she had adopted, the one named Romula, but the name of the other, she who has survived to our own day and who I know by sight, I can not tell. These three, then, lived together in a little house, replete with the riches of virtues but leading a poor life in worldly things. Of the disciples just spoken of Romula far surpassed the other in merit of life. She was possessed of admirable endurance, perfectly obedient, a guardian of her mouth for the sake of silence, and one who with great diligence employed herself in continual prayer. But as many things are judged by men to be perfect yet in the eyes of the consummate artisan have some imperfection, as often we unskilful folk see fine seals and praise them as perfect yet a true artist having looked at the same would note flaws, and, though hearing it praised, would not hesitate to lay hands on it and improve it, so the aforesaid Romula was struck down by an affliction of the body which the physicians call by the Greek word of paralysis, and for many years she lay on her bed, being cast down in such a manner that she was deprived almost of the use of all her limbs, yet this scourge did not drive her to impatience, for the damage done to her limbs was to the benefit of her virtues, because the more she was rendered incapable of acting in other things, the more she was able to exert herself in prayer. Saint Gregory the Great, Dialogues, Bk 4, Chap 15