Saint Caesaria
Saint Caesaria (born c. 465 AD; died c. January 12, 529 AD at Arles, Provence, France) was the abbess of the monastery of Saint John at Arles, founded by her brother Caesarius of Arles. She collaborated closely with her brother in the governance and spiritual formation of the nuns in her care and is regarded as one of the first abbesses in the West to govern a large enclosed community of women under a written monastic rule. Her feast day is January 12.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Caesaria
| Saint Caesaria | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 12 |
| Profession | Benedictine abbess |
| Rel. Affiliation | Monastery of Saint John, Arles; early Western monastic tradition |
| Patronage | Abbesses; nuns; women religious |
| Attributes | Abbess's veil and staff; book (the Rule of Caesarius); Arles in background |
| Birthplace | Chalon-sur-Saône, Burgundy, France (probable) |
| Death Place | Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence, France |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Arles, Provence, France |
| Liturgical Class | Not included (universal calendar) |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Caesaria was the sister of Saint Caesarius of Arles, the great Archbishop of Arles and one of the most important churchmen of the early medieval West. When Caesarius founded the monastery of Saint John at Arles for women, he appointed Caesaria as its first abbess. She governed this community until her death around 529 AD.
Under her leadership and with the guidance of her brother, the Monastery of Saint John became a model of enclosed women's monastic life in the early medieval West. Caesarius wrote a monastic Rule for Women (Regula ad virgines) specifically for this community — one of the earliest surviving rules written explicitly for female religious. Caesaria implemented the rule with wisdom and care, and several of the nuns under her care wrote a life of Caesarius after his death, suggesting the high intellectual caliber of the community she led.
After Caesaria's death around 529 AD, her successor as abbess was Caesaria the Younger, who continued the tradition she established. Caesaria the Elder is commemorated on January 12.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Chalon-sur-Saône, Burgundy, France (probable)
Death location: Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence, France
Notable location: The monastery she governed as abbess; founded by her brother Caesarius; one of the earliest enclosed women's monasteries in the West (Monastery of Saint John, Arles, Provence, France)
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Feast day
January 12
Veneration
Saint Caesaria is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on January 12. She is honored as one of the earliest abbesses of the Western Church to govern a large enclosed community under a written rule.
Prayers
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