The Basics: Died about 750 in France; canonized pre-congregation; feast day, January 31. Hermit.
The Story: There are stories about Ulphia and frogs: she talked to them, she was able to silence them by her presence (only to have them croak loudly when they were moved to another area). But alas, they are things of legend.
What is not legend is that she lived on her own near a river in northern France, and that after embarking on this life of solitude, she 
encountered a deacon named Domitius (now a saint as well) who lived about a mile away. For about thirty years, he served as a spiritual director of sorts to Ulphia, helping her draw closer and closer to the Lord in her life as a hermit. The two would go together to the cathedral at Amiens for prayer.
After Domitius’s death, women who had heard about Ulphia began emulating her lifestyle. Eventually, she helped them gather into a community… then returned to being a recluse.
What We Can Learn from Ulphia: Even when we desire isolation, the Lord often brings us community in some way or another. Just as Ulphia learned from Domitius, let’s be open to people who may have been placed in our lives to guide us closer to God.
To Learn More About Ulphia: Read the short passage about her in Lay Saints: Ascetics and Penitents by Joan Carroll Cruz.
To Learn More About Other Women Saints and Blesseds: Come back next week, or consider buying my book, Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.
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