Born at Alexandria in Egypt of wealthy Macedonian parents, St. Syncletica consecrated her virginity to God at a tender age. Mortification and prayer were her principal employment. The fame of her virtue being spread abroad, many women resorted to her abode to confer with her upon spiritual matters. Her humility made her unwilling to take upon herself the task of instructing, but charity, on the other side, opened her mouth. “In this life we sail, as it were, in an unknown sea. We meet with rocks, shelves, and sands; sometimes we are becalmed, and at other times we find ourselves tossed and buffeted by a storm. Thus we are never secure, never out of danger; and, if we fall asleep, are sure to perish. We have a most intelligent and experienced pilot at the helm of our vessel even Jesus Christ himself, who will conduct us safe into the haven of salvation, if by our supine ness, we cause not our own perdition.” In her eightieth year she suffered cancer and bore terrible suffering and pain with such a desire for an addition to her sufferings, that she greatly dreaded the physicians would alleviate her pains. She died at eighty-four predicting her death.