Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?April_2nd_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Mary_of_Egypt?= To : All From : rich Date : Sun Apr 01 2018 10:12:58 From: rich April 2nd =E2=80=93 St. Mary of Egypt 5th v. THE story of St. Mary of Egypt seems to be based upon a short and not incredible account contained in the Life of St. Cyriacus, written by his disciple Cyril of Scythopolis. The holy man had retired with his followers into the wild and apparently uninhabited desert beyond Jordan. One day two of his disciples suddenly saw a human figure which escaped into some bushes, but which they afterwards tracked into a cave. The figure told them not to approach because she was a woman and naked, but upon being interrogated she informed them that her name was Mary, that she was a great sinner who had been a public singer and actress, and that she had come there to expiate her former life. The two returned to tell St. Cyriacus what they had seen and heard. Upon the occasion of a second visit which they paid to the cave they found her lying dead and they buried her on the spot. Round about this narrative there grew up an elaborate legend which attained enormous popularity in the middle ages and which is illustrated on the old glass windows of the cathedrals of Bourges, Auxerre and elsewhere. It may be summarized as follows: In the reign of Theodosius the Younger, there lived in Palestine a holy monk and priest named Zosimus who, having served God with great fervour in the same house for 53 years, was divinely directed to leave his monastery for one near the Jordan, where he might learn how to advance still further on the path of holiness. He found that the members of this community on the first Sunday in Lent after Mass used to disperse in the desert to pass in solitude and penance the time until Palm Sunday. It was at that season, about the year 430, that Zosimus found himself a 20 days' distance from his monastery, and s= at down one day at noon to say his psalms and to rest. Perceiving suddenly what appeared to be a human form he made the sign of the cross and finished his psalms. Then, looking up, he saw a white-haired, sun-tanned figure which he took to be a hermit, but which ran away as he went towards it. He had nearly overtaken it and was near enough to crave its blessing, when it exclaimed, =E2=80=9CFather Zosimus, I am a woman: throw your mantle to cover me that you may come near me=E2=80=9D. Surprised that she should know his name, he complied, and they entered into conversation. In reply to his inquiries the woman told him her strange story with many expressions of shame and penitence: =E2=80=9CMy country=E2=80=9D, she said, =E2=80=9Cis Egypt. At th= e age of 12, while my father and mother were still living, I went without their consent to Alexandria. I cannot think without trembling of the first steps by which I fell into sin or of the excesses which followed.=E2=80=9D She then described how she had lived as a public prostitute for 17 years, not for money, but to gratify her lust. At the age of about 28, curiosity led her to join a band of people who were going to celebrate at Jerusalem the feast of the Holy Cross--and even on the journey she continued her evil courses, corrupting some of the pilgrims. Upon their arrival in Jerusalem she tried to enter the church with the rest of the congregation, but an invisible force held her back. After 2 or 3 ineffectual attempts, she withdrew into a corner of the outer court, and for the first time a full realization of her sinfulness swept over her. Raising her eyes to an icon of the Virgin Mary she besought with tears the help of the Mother of God, vowing herself to a life of penance. With a lightened heart she was now able without any difficulty to enter the church to venerate the cross, and as she returned to the icon to give thanks to our Lady she heard a voice which said, =E2=80=9CGo over Jordan and thou shalt find rest=E2=80=9D. At a baker's where she bought loaves she inquired the way to the Jordan, and started off forthwith, arriving that same night at the church of St. John the Baptist on the bank of the river. Here she made her communion and crossed the Jordan into the wilderness, where she had remained ever since--about 47 years, as far as she could judge. She had seen no human being and had lived on edible plants and on dates. The winter cold and the summer heat had sorely afflicted her unprotected body, and she had often been tortured by thirst. At such times she had been tempted to regret the luxuries and the wines of Egypt in which she had formerly indulged. These and other assaults beset her night and day almost unremittingly for 17 years, but she had implored the intercession of the Bl. Virgin and the divine assistance had never failed her. She could not read, and had never had any human instruction in holy things, but God Himself had taught her the mysteries of faith. At her request, Zosimus undertook not to divulge what she had said until after her death, and promised to meet her again beside the Jordan on the Maundy Thursday of the following year to give her holy communion. The next Lent, Zosimus made his way to the selected meeting-place, bearing the Blessed Sacrament, and that same Maundy Thursday evening beheld Mary standing on the opposite bank of Jordan. After she had made the sign of the cross, she proceeded to walk upon the water until she reached dry ground beside the astonished priest. She received communion with deep devotion, following it by the recitation of the opening words of the Nunc dimittis. From a basket of dates, figs and lentils which Zosimus offered, she would accept only 3 lentils; and she thanked him for all he had done and commended herself to his prayers. Then, with a final entreaty that he would return a year later to the spot where they had first met, she departed over the river as she had come. But when Zosimus went back into the desert to keep this 2nd appointment, he found Mary's dead body stretched out upon the ground, whilst beside her on the sand were traced these words: =E2=80=9CFat= her Zosimus, bury the body of lowly Mary. Render earth to earth and pray for me. I died the night of the Lord's Passion, after receiving the divine and mystic Banquet.=E2=80=9D The monk had no spade, but a lion from = the desert came to his assistance and with its claws helped him to dig her grave. Zosimus resumed his mantle, which he treasured henceforth as a holy relic, and returned to tell his brethren all his experiences. He continued for many years to serve God in his monastery until a happy death released him in his 100th year . This legend has had a remarkable diffusion and popularity in the East. In its developed form it seems to have been the composition of St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who died in 638. Besides the digression referred to above, which Cyril of Scythopolis introduced into his Life of St. Cyriacus, Sophronius had before him a somewhat similar story told by John Moschus in the Pratum Spirituale. This nucleus was elaborated into a narrative of respectable dimensions with the aid of sundry borrowings front the Life of St. Paul of Thebes. St. John Damascene, who died in the middle of the 8th century, makes long quotations from the developed Life of St. Mary of Egypt and apparently regarded it as an authentic record. Saint Quote: Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife. -- Pope Saint Leo the Great Bible Quote: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Lk. 9:23). In this brief counsel you will find a summary of His divine doctrine, and the secret of attaining the perfection taught in the Gospel. Thus, while the body may be a prey to hardships and labors, the soul will enjoy a paradise of peace, and this interior sweetness will enable you cheerfully to embrace all the sufferings of the exterior life. <><><><> Prayer At The Elevation "My Lord and my God!" Hail! most blessed Jesus, eternal Son of the Most High God, O deign to be merciful to those for whom we pray; Thou Who didst expire on the cross for their sakes, give rest to their souls. To whom shall we turn, but to Thee? Thou hast the words of the eternal life, by which Thou canst shorten their sufferings, and give them eternal rest. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .