Santa Macrina: tra filosofia e amore mistico

The Life of Macrina, written by Gregory of Nyssa, is a philosophical biography that presents the realization of path towards holiness of Macrina. Through the choice of a philosophical life, Macrina arrived at the angelic life (βίος ἀγγελικός), overcoming the weakness of her female nature. She became similar to angels through the contemplation and she also became part of the angelic hosts. Throughout this journey, the lived experiences were essential for Macrina to reach the final encounter with Christ: philosophical asceticism leads to mystical asceticism. This aspect appears in the description of Macrina's death. On this occasion, she manifested her divine and pure love of the invisible bridegroom and in such a way, philosophical asceticism takes on the form of a face: the face of Christ. Macrina’s soul was seized by the passionate impulse to draw closer to God, and she never ceased to reach out to him who was always before her: Christ the bridegroom. Macrina crucified her passions to crucify herself with Christ. This double crucifixion led to the rejection of the desires of the flesh, in order to aspire to the divine love.