“Rejoi­cing in my enrichment with this exceeding gift, to thee, Almighty God, I owe fresh thanks, such as may almost overwhelm and bury all those preceding, whereof each page of mine holds record. And although my constant devotion, grown too lengthy, has o’erspread its wide limits this while past, and almost calls itself to halt; yet it knows not how to make an end of dwelling on the gifts I owe to thee, O Christ.”[4].

Paulinus of Pella is mostly known by historians of Ancient Rome, as his poetic account of his life during the troubled end of the Roman Empire provides us with a first-hand description of the challenges experienced by many.

But Paulinus was more than a poet or historian. He was a Christian who made sense of his sufferings in the light of God’s providence. This poem is the only writing of his that has survived, and is not considered a high literary accomplishment. Yet his words resound in the heart of every Christian who has experienced both difficult times and ineffable consolations from a faithful God.

A Thankful Song

Paulinus’s poem is composed of 616 exameters in Latin and entitled Eucharistikos (Greek for “Thanksgiving”). If the literary critics have not been impressed by this work, we can appreciate it for its honesty and candor –rare in later Christian writings – and for the sincerity of his faith and love for God.

Whatever the critics may say of his poem, it includes some moving passages, such as his description of his decision to express his feelings of gratitude. While these feelings were already known to God, he said, “breaking through the silent depths of the mind, the unbidden, conscious voice of desire erupts as an overflowing fountain.”[1]

The poem opens with five paragraphs in prose, describing the intent of his work. Aware of his literary limitations and the common nature of his experience, he recognized God’s hand in his life and the lessons he had learned through suffering: “He has clearly taught me that I ought neither to love too earnestly present prosperity which I knew I might lose, nor to be greatly dismayed by adversities wherein I had found that his mercies could succour me.”[2]

He states that has no intention to leave this for posterity. He wants his work to be accepted by God rather than “win its way to the attention of the learned.” It might simply be a statement of humility which was common in early authors. In any case, his poem has in fact captured the attention of many, perhaps bringing more comfort than the author had imagined.

A Troubled Life

Paulinus was born in Pella, a city in Macedonia, Asia Minor. His father was at that time a deputy for the Roman prefect but, just nine months after Paulinus’s birth, was appointed proconsul in Carthage, North Africa. The family moved there for some time. But even that office didn’t last long. Eighteen months later, they moved again, spending some time in Rome and finally settling in Bordeaux, France, where the ancestors of Paulinus’s father had lived. Paulinus’s mother was from Greece.

In an effort to give Paulinus a good education, his parents kept him so long inside that they damaged his health. To remedy this, Paulinus’s father started to take him out hunting. Paulinus enjoyed the game and all that went with it: “a fine horse bedecked with special trappings, a tall groom, a swift hound, a shapely hawk.”[3] He also had a special ball sent from Rome for games of pitching. He wore the most fashionable clothes and used the best perfumes.

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