Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?May_13th_=E2=80=93_St=2E_John_the_Silent_B_=28RM=29?= To : All From : rich Date : Wed May 12 2021 10:19:22 From: rich May 13th =E2=80=93 St. John the Silent B (RM) Also known as John Hesychastes John Sabaites John Silentiarius Memorials 7 December 3 December (Orthodox calendar) 30 March on some calendars 13 May of some calendars Born at Nicopolis, Armenia, in 454; died near Jerusalem, 558. At the death of his prominent parents when he was 20, John founded a monastery and become a monk with ten companions in his native city. Despite their youth, the little community led a most edifying life of devotion and hard work. As their leader, John acquired a reputation for sanctity that led to the archbishop of Sebaste's choosing him, at age 28, as bishop of Colonia (Taxara), Armenia, against his will. Nevertheless, for nine years he executed his episcopal functions with zeal, even to the point of depriving himself of the necessities of life in order to relieve the poor. As much as possible, he continued to lead the life of a monk. Then his inability to remedy certain evils combined with the pull of a secluded life. He resigned his position and headed quietly for Jerusalem. His vita says that in prayer one night, John saw a bright cross in the air and heard a voice say, "If you want to be saved, follow this light." At length he followed it to the laura of Saint Sabas near Jerusalem. Hiding his episcopal dignity, he entered the monastery of 150 monks, where he spent the rest of his life. At first Saint Sabas assigned him under the steward to fetch water, carry stone, and serve the workmen building a new hospital. Having obediently carried out his work in this position, Sabas made him guest-master. When Sabas recognized that his novice was on the road to Christian perfection, he allowed John to occupy a separate hermitage. John left his cell only on Saturdays and Sundays to attend public worship in the church. After three years as a hermit, he was chosen to be steward of the laura. Four years later, Saint Sabas thought John was worthy of ordination to the priesthood. Upon their arrival at the church of Mount Calvary, where John was to be presented to Patriarch Saint Elias for ordination, he turned to the patriarch and said, "Holy father, I have something to tell you in private: afterwards, if you judge me suitable, I will receive holy orders." During the private interview and after he bound the bishop to secrecy, John revealed: "Father, I have been consecrated bishop. But on account of my many sins I have fled and sought out this desert to await the coming of the Lord." Elias reported to Sabas that he would be unable to ordain John because of what he had revealed. As they returned to the laura, Sabas was deeply grieved because he feared that John must have committed a terrible crime. His fears were relieved when God revealed the situation to him during his earnest prayer--but he was not to divulge the secret. In 503, both Sabas and John were forced to leave the laura for the nearby desert. Six years later, when Sabas was recalled, John also returned and lived in his hermitage for another forty years. Although his humility and love of obscurity would have made the hidden life preferable, John's sanctity and wisdom drew numerous people seeking his advice. He now saw it was God's will to lead others to God. When alone he occupied himself with uninterrupted exercises of love and praise until his death (Benedictines, Walsh). In art, Saint John is portrayed as a bishop with his finger on his lips (Roeder). Saint Quote: Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessing of heaven. --G. C. Lichtenberg Bible Quote: I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. 32 And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified.=C2 (Acts 20:29-32) <><><><> God the End of Our Life [5] Seek ye, therefore, first the Kingdom of God.=C2 (Matt. vi. 33.) Our life is a circle: whence it first came, thither it must return. As we proceeded from God, so we must go back to Him if our life is to be a success. We can never find repose or lasting satisfaction in anything except God. As long as we do not tend to Him, we shall be fluctuating, inconstant, uncertain. Until we make Him the end of our life, we shall feel that we are wandering about in the dark. What do we mean by making God the end of our life? We mean that to do His pleasure shall be the motive which shall be first and foremost, and that when there is a choice between God's pleasure and our own, when the two seem to be opposed, our disposition shall be to do God's will and not our own. In spite of the pain involved in giving up his own will, the man who makes God the end of his life will abandon it without hesitation, and so will draw nearer to God, his last end. Every time we do this we break down a barrier between God and ourselves; we come nearer to the enjoyment of Him, we get a little closer to Heaven. The self-willed man is never satisfied; the man whose will is perfectly subjected to God is always happy. The Angels are always happy because they have no will but God's. If I want to find happiness in this world or the next, the first thing is to learn to submit my will to God's. Pray God to break down your self-will at any cost. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .