Feast of Marcella of Rome 1/31/24

The Magnificat

When the Blessed Virgin Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, she sings a song of praise unto the Lord for the great gift bestowed upon her. She sings the following:

My soul doth magnify the Lord, *

and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

For he hath regarded *

the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold from henceforth *

all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me, *

and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him *

throughout all generations.

He hath showed strength with his arm; *

he hath scattered the proud in the imagination

of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *

and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, *

and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, *

as he promised to our forefathers,

Abraham and his seed for ever.

(Luke 1.46-56)

Main theme in readings

When we consider the readings for this feast day of Marcella of Rome, we find that the common thread is that of charity. When I say “charity” I don’t mean the act of giving leftovers to the mission or giving clothes we don’t need to someone who needs it. Giving of that sort is to be expected and should not be seen as demanding praise in return. James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Thus, the theological virtue of charity, sometimes called love, is in fact one of the traits that makes us in the likeness of God.

There are three theological virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love. But God doesn’t need faith or hope. But he is love. Charity is a part of his character. How do I know that God is love? 1 John 4:16 says, “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” Likewise, 1 John 4:8 says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Of course we must remember John 3:16 which says, ““For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

So, if God is love or charity, and if we are called to practice the virtue of charity, according to St. John, then in order to be conformed into the image of Christ we must seek to love others.

Marcella of Rome was a female monastic and scholar from the 4th and 5th centuries. As a child, her mother invited St. Athanasius to rest in their estate during his travels. Marcella sat at his feet and absorbed a zeal for the Gospel of Christ. She was widowed at a young age. Sensing a calling from the Lord, she turned her house into a house of prayer and refuge. She housed and cared for St. Jerome while he translated the first Bible into Latin, commonly referred to as the Latin Vulgate. Marcella assisted him in this process. She devoted herself to chastity, poverty, fasting, prayer, studying the scriptures, and serving the poor and needy. She is considered to be the mother of Roman monasticism.

Much like the widow in the OT reading, Marcella had almost nothing at the end of her life. In the NT reading, Jesus takes his disciples to watch the offerings given at the Temple treasury. Many people come to give offerings, mostly out of their abundance, which is easy to do. But the poor widow put two small copper coins worth a penny into the Temple treasury. The Lord said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on” (Mark 12.43-44).

Christ cares very much about how we steward our time, talent, and treasure. Pleasing God, then, is more than just giving God your heart. He wants all of you. He wants us to fully surrender to his will. Good stewardship begins with asking God to increase in us the virtue of charity, by his grace. This virtue, of charity, on the outside seems like a good deed done unto another, whether that be to the Church or to one in need. But in reality every act we do unto others is ultimately done unto God himself, for he is the Creator of all.

let us pray: Grant Oh Lord, that we, like your servant Marcella, may hunger and thirst after you above the vain pomp and glory of the world, and delight in your word above all manner of riches; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.