Melania the Younger facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Melania the Younger
Miniature from the Menologion of Basil II
Born	c. 383 Rome
Died	(439-12-31)31 December 439 (aged 55-56) Jerusalem
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Eastern Catholic Churches
Feast	31 December

Melania the Younger (born around 383 AD – died December 31, 439 AD) was a Christian saint. She was known as a Desert Mother and lived a simple, religious life. She was the granddaughter of another famous woman, Melania the Elder.

People celebrate Saint Melania the Younger on December 31st. In Ukraine, some Orthodox Christians celebrate "Malanka" (Melania's Day) on January 13th.

Melania's Life Story

Growing Up in Rome

Melania was the only child of very rich and powerful parents, Valerius Publicola and Caeionia Albina. Her family was one of the oldest and most respected in Rome. Her relatives had held important government jobs for many years.

When she was just 14, Melania was married to her cousin, Valerius Pinianus. She didn't want to get married, but her family insisted. She lived in her father's grand palace. Melania loved God very much and wanted to live a simple, religious life. She found it hard to live in luxury and follow all the rules of Roman high society. She had to wear fancy clothes and appear in public with many servants. This was very difficult for her.

Melania often asked Pinianus if they could live a life devoted to God. Pinianus wanted to have children to continue the family name. Sadly, their two children died when they were very young. These sad events made both Melania and Pinianus want to live a more religious life.

Before her father died, he asked Melania for forgiveness. He knew she had not wanted to marry. After her father passed away, Melania and Pinianus decided to live a celibate life. This meant they would not have children and would focus on their faith. Melania inherited a huge amount of wealth and land from her father and grandfather.

In 404 AD, Melania decided to leave the palace. She moved to one of her country homes. Her grandmother, Melania the Elder, who also lived a religious life, encouraged her. Melania believed that giving up worldly things helped her grow closer to God. She gave away her expensive silk clothes and gold jewelry to churches. She started wearing simple, plain wool clothes. She also took many poor families and slaves with her to her villa. She treated them all like her own family.

Melania's villa was very large. It was big enough to house many people. This included 15 eunuchs, 60 young women who had promised to remain unmarried, and more than 30 families. Many travelers and religious leaders also stayed there. Melania was very generous and spent a lot of money to welcome her guests.

She decided to sell all her vast properties and give the money to churches and the poor. This surprised many rich Romans, who thought Melania and Pinianus were crazy. Some of their relatives tried to take advantage of them. Melania asked the Empress Serena and Emperor Honorius for help. The Emperor ordered that her properties be sold and the money given to her.

Selling such huge estates took several years. Some of their land was still unsold in 408 AD when the Goths invaded Rome. Some people tried to take Melania's remaining land for the government. But the people of Rome rebelled because they had no bread. They killed the official who was trying to take her land.

Even the richest Romans did not have enough money to buy Melania's properties. Her grand palace in Rome was so magnificent that no one could afford it. It remained unsold. In 410 AD, the palace was looted by invaders and partly burned. It was then given away for free.

Journeys to Sicily and Africa

In 408 AD, Melania and Pinianus left Rome. They went to live a monastic life near Messina in Sicily for two years. They lived in a beautiful villa by the sea.

Melania continued to sell her remaining property. She gave the money to charity. After Rome was captured by Alaric I, invaders marched south. Melania saw the fires from across the sea.

Fearing the invaders, Melania sought a safer place. Many Roman families moved to Africa. After selling more of her possessions, Melania and Pinianus traveled to Africa in 410 AD. On their way, a storm forced their ship to an island that had been attacked by pirates. Melania used her own money to pay the ransom for the islanders. They then continued to Africa. There, they became friends with the famous Augustine of Hippo. They dedicated their lives to prayer and helping others.

They chose to live quietly on their estate near Tagaste, in what is now Algeria. Their estate was so large it included two church districts. The church in Tagaste was very poor. Melania gave it gold and silver cups and beautiful altar cloths. She also gave the church a lot of land, including part of the town. She was also very generous to other churches and monasteries in Africa. She gave them regular income so they would not have to rely on donations.

They stayed in Africa for seven years. Melania started a convent for women who had been her slaves but whom she treated as sisters. Melania became the Mother Superior, leading the convent. Pinianus also started a cloister for men.

Melania lived a very strict religious life. She wore rough cloth and slept on the hard ground. She ate only herbs or vegetables with a little oil.

Life in Palestine

In 417 AD, Melania and Pinianus traveled to Palestine. They lived in a hermitage, a quiet place for prayer, near the Mount of Olives. There, Melania founded a second convent.

After Pinianus died around 420 AD, Melania built a cloister for men and a church. She spent the rest of her life there, continuing her religious work.

Melania's Properties

Melania owned vast lands in Sicily. She also had land in Britain, which she sold just before the Roman soldiers left there. She owned large estates in Spain, Africa, and Italy too. Her estate in Sicily was described as having the sea on one side and a forest with many animals on the other. It also had 60 large houses, each with 400 farm workers.

Melania's Legacy

Today, a town in Canada called Sainte-Mélanie is named in her honor.

About Her Life Story

We know about Melania's life from a special kind of biography called a hagiography. This story was written by Gerontius around 452 AD.

Another account of her life was written by Palladius, who died in 431 AD.

See also

In Spanish: Melania la Joven para niños

• Evagrius Ponticus
• Jerome
• Rufius Antonius Agrypnius Volusianus