Subj : December 5th - St. Sabas
To   : All
From : rich
Date : Fri Dec 04 2020 09:06:46

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

December 5th - St. Sabas

Sabas was born at Mutalaska, Cappadocia, near Caesarea. He was the son
of an army officer there who when assigned to Alexandria, left him in
the care of an uncle. Mistreated by his uncle's wife, Sabas ran away
to another uncle, though he was only eight. When the two uncles became
involved in a lawsuit over his estate, he again ran away, this time to
a monastery near Mutalaska. In time the uncles were reconciled and
wanted him to marry, but he remained in the monastery.

In 456, he went to Jerusalem and there entered a monastery under St.
Theoctistus. When he was 30, he became a hermit under the guidance of
St. Euthymius, and after Euthymius' death, spent four years alone in
the desert near Jericho. Despite his desire for solitude, he attracted
disciples, organized them into a laura in 483, and when his 150 monks
asked for a priest and despite his opposition to monks being ordained,
he was obliged to accept ordination by Patriarch Sallust of Jerusalem
in 491.

He attracted disciples from Egypt and Armenia, allowed them a liturgy
in their own tongue, and built several hospitals and another monastery
near Jericho. He was appointed archimandrite of all hermits in
Palestine who lived in separate cells, but his custom of going off by
himself during Lent caused dissension in the monastery, and 60 of his
monks left to revive a ruined monastery at Thecuna. He bore them no
ill will and aided them with food and supplies.

In 511, he was one of a delegation of abbots sent to Emperor
Anastasius I, a supporter of Eutychianism, which Sabas opposed, to
plead with the Emperor to mitigate his persecution of orthodox bishops
and religious. They were unsuccessful.

Sabas supported Elias of Jerusalem when the Emperor exiled him, was a
strong supporter of theological orthodoxy, and persuaded many to
return to orthodoxy. He was a vigorous opponent of Origenism and
monophysitism.

In 531, when he was 91, he again went to Constantinople, this time to
plead with Emperor Justinian to suppress a Samaritan revolt and
protect the people of Jerusalem from further harassment by the
Samaritans. He fell ill soon after his return to his laura from this
trip and died on December 5 at Laura Mar Saba, after naming his
successor. Sabas is one of the most notable figures of early
monasticism and is considered one of the founders of Eastern
monasticism. The laura he founded in the desolate, wild country
between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, named Mar Saba after him, was
often called the Great Laura for its preeminence and produced many
great saints. It is still inhabited by monks of the Eastern Orthodox
Church and is one of the three or four oldest monasteries in the
world.

Saint Quote:
If, when stung by slander or ill-nature, we wax proud and swell with
anger, it is a proof that our gentleness and humility are unreal, and
mere artificial show.
--St. Francis de Sales

Bible Quote:
He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that
seeketh the glory of him that sent him, he is true, and there is no
injustice in him.=C2  (John 7:18)


<><><><>
WHAT MUST WE DO?

St Paul tells us that we must do all we do, whether in word or work,
in the Name of Jesus."All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ..." (Col 3:17).

In this way, every act becomes an act of love and of merit, and
moreover, we receive grace and help to do all our actions perfectly
and well.

We must therefore do our best to form the habit of saying, "Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus," very often every day. We can do so when dressing, when
working--no matter what we are doing--when walking, in moments of
sadness, at home and in the street, everywhere.
Nothing is easier if only we do it methodically. We can say it
countless times every day.
Bear in mind that each time we say, "Jesus," devoutly:

1. we give God great glory,
2. we receive great graces for ourselves,
3. and we help the souls in Purgatory. 


--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)

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