St. Macrina the Elder was the matriarch of a famously faithful family—her son and four of her grandchildren were named saints.

Two of these grandsons helped shape the faith that we proclaim today—Basil the Great, a doctor of the Church, and his brother, Gregory of Nyssa, who helped the Church better articulate her understanding of the Trinity. Both of these men played crucial roles in formulating the Nicene Creed that Catholics still recite every Sunday at Mass. Macrina raised both of these men and their influential younger sister, Macrina the Younger. She gave all these great saints their first religious instruction as children.

During a persecution of Christians, Macrina was forced to flee with her husband to safety. They left their home and hid in the woods for seven years. They were often hungry and had to live off of the land and whatever animals they could hunt. Not long after they were finally allowed to go home, another round of persecution took effect, and their possessions were confiscated.

Despite all these trials and tribulations, Macrina lived a long life and died around the year 340. She is a patron saint of widows and those facing poverty. Her image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.

St. Macrina the Elder, grandmother who raised a great family for the Church—pray for us!