St. Pamphilus - June 1st
Pamphilus was born in Lebanon and became a famous scholar in his own city. He studied in Egypt and then settled down in Palestine. Here he became a priest and started a school for the study of the Holy Bible.
Pamphilus loved to read and to study religious writings. He collected a wonderful library of them, which was preserved for a long time after he died. He was so anxious to have many people read God’s message in the Bible that he would give away his copies of the holy Book. In those days, when there were no printing presses, books cost a great deal of money, because they had to be copied all by hand. Yet St. Pamphilus was so generous that he gave many away.
This Saint treated everyone, even the poor slaves, as his brothers. He gave all the money he received from his father to his relatives and friends and to poor people. After working hard all his life, he was put in prison for refusing to worship false gods. He kept on writing the two years he was in prison. Then he and other faithful Christians were beheaded and so won the martyr’s crown.
Little by little, let us build up on an inspiring home library. Then let us make use of it. We will be surprised at how good we feel when we read books on our holy Faith!