| ST. MACRINA THE YOUNGER |
| Feast: July 19
|
| Born
about 330; died 379. She was the eldest child of Basil and Elder Emmelia, the
granddaughter of St. Macrina the Elder, and the sister of the Cappadocian
Fathers, Sts. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa. The last-mentioned has left us a
biography of his sister in the form of a panegyric ("Vita Macrinae Junioris"
in PG XLVI, 960 sq.). She received an excellent intellectual training, though
one based more on the study of the Holy Bible than on that of profane
literature. When she was but twelve years old, her father had already arranged a
marriage for her with a young advocate of excellent family. Soon afterwards,
however, her affianced husband died suddenly, and Macrina resolved to devote
herself to a life of perpetual virginity and the pursuit of Christian
perfection. She exercised great influence over the religious training of her
younger brothers, especially St. Peter, afterwards Bishop of Sebaste, and
through her St. Gregory received the greatest intellectual stimulation. On the
death of their father, Basil took her, with their mother, to a family estate on
the River Iris, in Pontus. Here, with their servants and other companions, they
led a life of retirement, consecrating themselves to God. Strict asceticism,
zealous meditation on the truths of Christianity, and prayer were the chief
concerns of this community. Not only the brothers of St. Macrina but also St.
Gregory of Nazianzus and Eustathius of Sebaste were associated with this pious
circle and were there stimulated to make still further advances towards
Christian perfection. After the death her mother Emmelia, Macrina became the
head of this community, in which the fruit of the earnest Christian life matured
so gloriously. On his return from a synod of Antioch, towards the end of 379,
Gregory of Nyssa visited his deeply venerated sister, and found her grievously
ill. In pious discourse the brother and sister spoke of the life beyond and of
the meeting in heaven. Soon afterwards Macrina passed blissfully to her reward.
Gregory composed a "Dialogue on the Soul and Resurrection" (peri
psyches kai anastaseos), treating of his pious discourse with his dying sister.
In this, Macrina appears as teacher, and treats of the soul, death, the
resurrection, and the restoration of all things. Hence the title of the work, ta
Makrinia (P.G. XLVI, 12 sq.). Her feast is celebrated on 19 July.
J. P. Kirsch From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright © 1913 by the Encyclopedia Press,
Inc. Electronic version copyright © 1996 by New Advent, Inc. |
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