St. Marcella of Rome

Marcella was widowed after just 7 months of marriage. Independent and wealthy, she dedicated herself to the widow’s life and refused to marry again. Her status allowed her to step away from the trappings of an influencer lifestyle in Rome.
She instead used her wealth to gain an education and start a monastery. She met and studied under the theologian Jerome, and in return she financed his writing.

Marcella was a dedicated student of scripture and was not satisfied with herself until she could hold her own in any theological debate that could be thrown her way. She was so effective at apologetics and the interpretation of scripture that when her teacher, Jerome, left Rome on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Marcella became the point person for the bishops and the established church in Rome to settle disputes and provide clarity in debates.

From Marcella’s example, many Roman women formed monasteries of their own. It was quoted by Jerome that Marcella “Turned Rome into Jerusalem”, with how many people took up the monastic life seriously as a result of her influence.

Marcella tried her best to remain on the outside of politics in Rome as it related
to the church, however when a scholar by the name of Rufinus of Aquileia published his own translation of Origen’s “On First Principles”, she fiercely disagreed with his theology and saw it as a dangerous interpretation that was deceiving Christians. Her involvement with the bishops in condemning this work caused Originism to be declared a heresy, and according to Jerome, her involvement was solely responsible for the success of the church’s direction thereafter.