Marcella of Marseille

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Saint Marcella
Stained glass depicting saints Lazarus, Front [fr], Mary Magdalene and Marcella in the Church of Saint Martha in Tarascon, France
Disciple of Jesus
Born	probably on Bethany, Roman Empire
Died	Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, Roman Empire
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume
Feast	31 January

Marcella, according to Catholic tradition, was a disciple of Jesus and a servant of the brothers of Bethany. She is known for being the companion of Saint Martha during the Christianization of the current French region of Provence.^[1]

According to the Golden Legend, Marcella would have been a Christian servant of the siblings Martha, Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany, together with Sarah and Maximinus, also Christians.^[2]^[3] In the work "The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me" by Maria Valtorta, Marcella was responsible for announcing the agony of Lazarus and witnessing the resurrection of Jesus together with other women.^[4]

When the persecution of Christians in the Holy Land began around the year 44, Marcella, Sara, Maximinus and the brothers of Bethany were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea in a boat without oars that arrived in what is now the French commune of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.^[5]^[6] Along with them, other Christians: Mary Magdalene, Mary of Clopas and Mary Salome. Some versions also include Susanna, Joseph of Arimathea and Sidonius in the group.^[7]

In French territory, the group was welcomed by herders from the region, however they decided to separate to propagate the deeds of Jesus in different places.^[8] Marcella accompanied Marthe during her preaching in the ancient Roman province of Viennensis, near the city of Marseille, and later in Avignon, allowing herself to be guided above all by prayers during the evangelization of those people.^[9]^[10]

Her relics rest with Maximinus, Sidonius and Susanna in the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene, in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume.^[11]^[12] Her memory is celebrated annually on January 31 by the Provençals.^[13]

References

^ "La christianisation de la Provence". Fédération Française des Audioguides Historiques (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "Santoral hoy: 23 de agosto: San Cedon de Aix, obispo". Religión en Libertad (in Spanish). 23 August 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "San Maximino de Aix". Pregunta Santoral (in Spanish). 12 January 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ Valtorta, Maria (12 January 2010). "Marcelle - La servante de Marthe de Béthanie" (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ Barte, Dominique (25 May 2021). "Les Saints de Provence. Mythe ou réalité?" (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "Vézelay - Colline éternelle". Association Guillaume Budé — Orléans (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "The Relics of Saint Marie-Magdalene at La Sainte Baume". EWTN. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "La barque de saintes Maries". Bible Archeologie Free (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "Les Premiers Apôtres de la Provence". Gallican (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ Olivier, Véronique. "Paraître vrai et se vouloir vrai: La Vie de sainte Marthe de Tarascon et la notion de vérité historique au Moyen Âge". OpenEdition Journals (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "Den hellige Maximin av Aix (d. 46?)". Den katolske kirke (in Norwegian). 8 June 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "L'Evangélisation de la Provence". Spiritualite Chretienne (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^ "Janvier en Provence". Provence7 (in French). Retrieved 12 April 2024.

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