Also know as Marcellin, our Saint was born in Africa of a noble family; with two other Christians desiring to evangelize Gaul – Sts. Vincent and Domninus – he went to Pope St. Damasus. The young men were sent to St. Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli, who encouraged them for their mission and announced to them that they would have much to suffer. The three were ordained, and St. Marcellinus was consecrated Bishop of Embrun by St. Eusebius and St. Emilien, Bishop of Valence. The gift of miracles fortified the preaching of St. Marcellinus at Embrun, in a region bordering on the Alps, while his companions continued their labors at Digne. He was especially concerned with fighting Arianism, and often had to flee to escape the imperial officials seeking to arrest him. St. Domninus was later consecrated Bishop of Digne by St. Marcellinus, and energetically protected his flock from the errors of Arius; eventually his companion, St. Vincent, succeeded him there.
St. Marcellinus built at Embrun a chapel (which St. Eusebius came from Vercelli to consecrate) in which he passed his nights in prayer, after laboring all day in the exercise of his sacred calling. By his pious example, as well as by his earnest words and his miracles, he converted many of the pagans among whom he lived. A striking miracle, added to these influences, brought the entire population of Embrun into the Church, with the exception of one idolater, who later also abandoned his false gods. The waters of the nearby baptistery were increased, without the human intervention which had been proposed, to accommodate great numbers of catechumens who, during the Feast of Christmas, would be baptized. The same event occurred again at Easter, and the sick were healed by the waters. For as long as the ancient baptistery remained standing, the miracle was renewed, as St. Gregory of Tours and St. Adon of Vienne attest – that is, for more than five hundred years. St. Marcellinus died at Embrun about the year 374, and was interred there. St. Gregory of Tours, who speaks of him in terms of highest praise, narrates some of the countless miracles which multiplied at his tomb. He is honored as the secondary Patron of the Diocese of Gap and Embrun.
Though we may not be called upon to preach, we should endeavor to give good example, remembering that deeds often speak louder than words.
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