Marcellin of Embrun (†374)

Biography

Together with Dominus and Vincent, Marcellin arrived from Africa to evangelize the French Alps. He sent his two companions to the Low Alps, reserving Embrun and the High Alps. He built a church in this city; Saint Eusebius of Vercelli came to consecrate it and appointed Marcellinus bishop. It is said that returning from an apostolic trip, Marcellin found a team of mules carrying sacks of wheat. One of the muleteers was cursing next to his beast, fallen and half dead from exhaustion. "Ah!" he then shouted, stopping the bishop, "here's who is going to do my job." Marcelino let himself put on the harnesses, lining up in the convoy and replacing the animal until the end of the stage. When the local Christians saw him arrive in such a company, they wanted to hit the scoundrel who had treated their pastor like this, but he stopped them saying, "Do not harm him because he is my benefactor. Isn't it true that it has allowed me to imitate a little the One who bore our sins and wanted to carry the cross for our salvation? It is understandable that such love for Christ has made Marcellin a great apostle. We must add to these merits that of combating the Arianism that Constance II tried to impose and spread in the West, in such a way that he had to go through the mountains of the imperial officials who tried to capture him. Constanza's death restored his freedom.