LAKE JAMES

NORTH CAROLINA

 

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Saint Macrina the Younger

Saint Macrina is a good example of the powerful role some women have had in influencing men who, in turn, received far greater attention and fame (even though neither would have been as likely to have taken place without that influence).

The elder sister of Saint Bail the Great and of Saint Gregory of Nyssa was a woman of deep faith, but also, by her strength of character, was usually able to get others to see things her way. Although Basil had set his sights on a secular career, Macrina was able to convince him that his true vocation lay in the priesthood, thus gaining for the Church one of the greatest theological minds of the fourth century.

Her efforts were not only directed toward influencing others, for she herself took the vows of a Religious and established a flourishing community of nuns on the family estate in Pontus.

Like her more famous brothers, Macrina was also a highly competent theologian, a point attested to by her brother Gregory in his classic treatise De Anima ac Resurrectione. Macrina’s Feast Day is July 19th.

 

 

A Collect for the Feast of Saint Macrina

O God, by whose grace your servant Macrina, kindled with the flame of your love, became a burning and a shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and, aided by her prayers, may walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.


 

[Information gathered from several sources – A.T.K.Z.+]

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To learn more about St. Macrina (the Younger) from Wikipedia.org, click here.

To read an account of her life written by her brother, St. Gregory of Nyssa, click here.

 

This page last modified on Friday, April 11, 2008 09:40 PM