Saint Marcella of Rome

I was born in Rome in 325. After the death of my husband, I decided to remain a widow. I rejected a marriage proposal from the Consul and decided to lead a life in the sole service of God. I used my time for spiritual reading, prayer and visiting churches. My example was followed by other women. Unfortunately, it was my fate to suffer at the hands of barbarians who wanted to know where my treasures were hidden. However, I had distributed these long before in charity. I had a spiritual director called Jerome and later also a spiritual daughter called Principia, whom I defended in case of danger. I died in her arms on August 410.