MARCELLINA, Saint. — Elder sister of St Ambrose, born about 330, probably at Trier, where her father was prefect of the praetorium, and died in 398, most likely at Milan. After her father’s death she received the veil of virgins at Rome from the hands of Pope Liberius on Christmas night, 353.
At her request St Ambrose wrote the three books De virginibus (PL 16, 197-244), which he dedicated to her. He also sent her three letters (Epp. 20, 22, 41; PL 16): in the first he describes his conflict with the Empress Justina and her son Valentinian II; in the second he announces the discovery of the bodies of SS Gervasius and Protasius; in the third he reports his discourse to Theodosius to induce him to revoke the edict issued against certain Christians who had burned a Jewish synagogue. In the discourse on the death of his brother Satyrus, Ambrose alludes to the sorrow felt by Marcellina on that sad occasion (De excessu fratris Satyri, I, 33; PL 16).
Marcellina was buried in the crypt of the basilica of St Ambrose beside her brother. She is commemorated in the Ambrosian Calendar of the 11th century on 17 July, the day on which her feast is celebrated.