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There have been many saintly families over the years, though sometimes one saint in the family towers over everyone else.
That appears to be the case with St. Ambrose, who is widely known for his role in the life of St. Augustine and is recognized as a Doctor of the Church.
His older sister is also a canonized saint, but is frequently forgotten since she did not have the same influence as her little brother.
St. Marcellina
Little is known about St. Ambrose’s family, but it is believed he had one older sister named Marcellina.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, even before their family moved to Rome, Marcellina “had already forsaken the world, elected to live a life of Christian virginity, and devoted herself to the practice of piety and asceticism. On Christmas Day, probably in 353, she received the veil of consecrated virginity from the hand of Pope Liberius.”
St. Ambrose may have learned from his big sister the value of dedicating yourself to Jesus Christ and may have wanted to live-up to her example of holiness.
Later on, when St. Ambrose became a bishop, he called on St. Marcellina’s help:
[H]e summoned his sister thither, and found in her a zealous assistant in fostering and extending the ascetic life among the maidens of Milan. To her Ambrose dedicated his work on virginity, written in 377 ("Libri III de virginibus ad Marcellinam" in P.L. XVI, 187-232). Marcellina survived her brother, and died in 398 or shortly afterwards.
St. Marcellina’s feast day is not on the General Calendar, but is celebrated each year on July 17.
She reminds us of the importance of older siblings and how they can influence and help their younger siblings, especially with regard to practicing the faith.
