Mount St Macrina Academy - Macrinite Yearbook (Uniontown, PA)

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LIFE OF SAINT MACRINA FOREWORD OUR GUIDES HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST HEALTHIER, HOLIER, HAPPIER YOUTH SENIOR MEMORIES OUR BENEFACT ORS

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gnu we cZea,fS. ' Saint Macrina was born about 330 A,D, and died about 379. She was the eldest of ten children in a family of saints. Her brother, St. Basil, is revered as a Doctor of the Church. She received an excellent intellectual training, although it was based more on the study of the Holy Scriptures than on the classics. ln the custom of the day, her father arranged a marriage for her when she was but twelve years old. However, her affianced husband died suddenly, and Macrina resolved to devote her life to perpetual virginity and the pursuit of Christian perfection. She exercised great influence over the religious train- ing of her younger brothers. lt was through her that her brother Gregory received the greatest intellectual stimulation. The great St. Basil owed much to his sister, who also guided him through the trying days after he had returned from the University where he had won many distinctions for his oratory and learning, and which were the cause of much pride. So well did Macrina influence Basil in the spirituallife, that it was Basil who, upon the death of their father, took Macrina and her mother to a family estate on the River Iris in Pontus, Asia Minor. Here with their servants and other companions they led a life of retirement, consecrating themselves to God. Prayer, fasting, almsdeeds were the order of the day. All lived in a spirit of detachment from worldly goods. St. Gregory of Nyssa describes their way of life: Contirience was their luxury, obscurity their glory, poverty their wealth. The little community under Macrina's leadership grew and ministered to the poor, the hungry and the neglected. Stories are told of miraculous cures obtained through the intercession of Macrina, even in her lifetime. Macrina's life of prayer, fasting and self-sacrifice led to an early death. However her spirit of prayer, love for the neighbor, and sacrifice continues to live in her followers, the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great.

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1 .i Us-Y evans..-,,,,..:,1+'nqwe-Vanin ,wwe at , M mir..-Q Q gl O I I ln this the Tenth Anniversary Year of the establishment of Mount St. Macrina Academy we, the students and alumnae, wish to share with you the memories of our school days. We want to show you how our Alma Mater has endeavored to make of us healthier, holier and happier youth so that as adults we might bring Christ to His world, to His children, our brothers and sisters. In her curriculum, Mount St. Macrina provides for a continuous growth in men- tal and physical health through her academic subjects, guidance and physical edu- cation classes. She offers to students many opportunities of becoming holier through the religious activities. Even our daily duties are presented as a means of sanctifi- cation, so that study, rest and play contribute to the attainment of the goal of our student days. Consequently, if her students are healthy and physically healthy and spiritually attuned to the Heart of Christ, happiness, that true happiness, will be the attainment of each student. We are grateful to Our Alma Mater for these many opportunities and treasured memories, And to those who have made Mount St. Macrina possible, we now pay tribute - to the devoted Sisters of St. Basil the Great, to our Parents and to the Benefactors. May Almighty God grant each a large share of good health, holiness and happiness. - i Q U this Nl!!!