Saint Pammachius

Pammachius (* 4th century; † around 409 probably in Rome) was a Roman senator, a leading member of the Christian community of Rome and a friend and correspondent of Jerome. He is one of the saints of the Catholic Church ( Memorial Day August 30 ).

Life

Pammachius came from the wealthy gene Furia. His father was a Christian Byzantius. Pammachius attended the school of rhetoric Aelius Donatus of Rome. There he met Jerome, with whom he remained lifelong allegiance.

385 he married Paulina, a daughter of Jerome's assistant Paula.

In the 390er years he participated in the Roman debates about the teachings Jovinian, who had denied the higher rank of life after the evangelical counsels. On Pammachius ' initiative Jerome wrote the treatise Adversus Iovinianum opposite of virginity, however, went so far in the reduction of marriage that Pammachius Jerome disagreed and the existing copies bought up in order to prevent further spread, which did not succeed. Jerome replied with thanks and self-criticism and put in another font Apologia ad Pammachium per libris adversus Iovinianum the ambiguous passages correctly.

Numerous other Pammachius dedicated to writings of Jerome, including about the art of translation as well as the theology of Origen, show the high esteem for his friend.

397 Paulina died, and Pammachius opted for a monastic and charitable life. Together with Fabiola, he founded a hospital for destitute and sick travelers in Portus at the mouth of the Tiber.

Pammachius possessed estates in the North African province of Numidia. Around 400 he wrote there a letter, in which he took against the Donatism position and campaigned for the return to the Catholic Church. For Augustine thanked him 401

The Roman church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo at the site of the martyrdom of St. John and St. Paul is considered the founding of the Pammachius and his father Byzantius.