Friday, April 20, 2012

Happy Name Day, Marcela! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Marcela.  Happy name day, Marcela! 
The name Marcela is a variant of Marcella, which is of Latin origin and means "dedicated to Mars".  

Saint Marcella was a Roman matron.  She was widowed after nine months of marriage, refused to marry Cerealis, the consul, and formed a group of noble ladies to live a life of austerity and asceticism. She was tortured by the Goths looting Rome in 410 to force her to reveal the whereabouts of her wealth, which she had long since given to the poor, was released, but dies shortly after, in August.  Her feat day is January 31st.