Saint Marcellinus of Carthage

Saint Marcellinus of Carthage was a high imperial official, a married layman, and a friend of Saints Augustine and Jerome. In 411 he presided at Carthage over the conference of the Catholic and Donatist bishops, and two years later he was executed, though innocent, on a false charge. The Church commemorates him as a martyr on September 13.

It is not known when or where he was born. He served at the court of the emperor Honorius with the rank of tribune and notary. He had a wife, Anapsychia, and an elder brother, Apringius, who in 411 was proconsul of Africa. Augustine wrote of him that he would have given up worldly affairs and devoted himself entirely to the service of God, had he not already been bound by marriage.

In 411 the emperor sent Marcellinus to Carthage to settle the dispute between the Catholics and the Donatists, who for nearly a hundred years had divided the Church in Africa. In June, after hearing both sides, he ruled in favor of the Catholics. The emperor then issued new measures against the Donatists, and Marcellinus, as his representative, put them into effect. When he examined Donatists accused of killing a Catholic priest, he did not use instruments of torture but had them beaten with rods. Augustine then asked him in a letter not to sentence them to death.

Marcellinus often turned to Augustine with questions about the faith. At his request the bishop of Hippo wrote works against the teaching of Pelagius, on sin and the baptism of infants and on grace. The City of God, too, came into being at his prompting; Augustine dedicated this work to him and in its opening words called him his dearest son. Saint Jerome also wrote from Bethlehem to Marcellinus and his wife.

In 413 Heraclian, the commander of the troops in Africa, rebelled against the emperor. Marinus, who put down the revolt, then hunted down his supporters in Africa. The Donatists falsely accused Marcellinus and Apringius of backing the rebel, and Marinus had them imprisoned. Augustine visited Marcellinus in prison and recalled that he bore his captivity with joy, accepting his suffering as a punishment for sins borne while still in this life. The bishops interceded for the brothers, and one of them was sent with a plea to the imperial court; they were assured that until then the case would not be heard.

Nevertheless Marinus suddenly had the brothers led out of prison and beheaded at Carthage on the eve of the feast of Saint Cyprian, September 13, 413. Augustine, shaken, left the city at once. In one of his letters he described Marcellinus as a man of innocent life, constant in friendship, pure in his family life, and honest in office. A year later the imperial court recognized the charge as false, and an edict of 414 mentioned Marcellinus with respect.

The Church venerates Marcellinus as a martyr. The Roman Martyrology calls him a close friend of Saints Augustine and Jerome, killed though innocent for defending the Catholic faith.