St. Sabas

St. Sabas – December 5th


Sabas is one of the most famous monks of Palestine. His father was an officer in the army and when he had to go to Alexandria, Egypt, he left his young son with his brother-in-law. Since his aunt treated him badly, young Sabas ran away to another uncle. When an argument arose between the two uncles, Sabas felt very bad because he liked to see people at peace. So he ran away to live in a monastery.


His two uncles felt ashamed of themselves and they told Sabas to come out and they would give him all his property. But by this time Sabas was too happy in the monastery to think of going back to a worldly life. Even though he was the youngest person in the monastery, he was the most fervent.


When he was eighteen, St. Sabas went to Jerusalem to learn to live as a hermit, because he felt inclined to live alone with God. For a while, however, he was advised to live in another monastery there, for he was still young. He obeyed and joyfully did all the heavy work, chopping wood for the fires and carrying the heavy jugs of water.


One day, St. Sabas was sent to Alexandria, Egypt, as a companion to another monk. There he ran into his father and mother! They tried their best to make him come with them and enjoy the same honors his father had won. Not Sabas! He would not even take the money they tried to give him. Finally he accepted three gold pieces, but when he got back to the monastery, he gave them to the Abbot.


At last, he was able to spend four years completely alone, as he desired. But after that, he had to found a monastery for all the disciples who came to him. And before long, he was put in charge of all the monks in Palestine who lived the life he lived.


Even when sent to the Emperor on important affairs for the Church, St. Sabas wore his poor rags, and kept to his hours of prayer. When a disciple claimed that the Emperor might be offended, the Saint answered: “My son, the Emperor does his duty and we must do ours.”


Let us pray to know the Will of God for us, and then let us follow it with generosity.

St. Marcian

St. Marcian – November 2nd

This Syrian Saint came from a noble family, but he wanted to give up everything for Christ’s sake. He might have just given away his possessions, or left his home for a monastery. Marcian, however, left everything-family, money, and even country. He went to a far-away desert and into the most distant spot in the desert. There he built a low, narrow hut, in which he could not even stand up straight.

Marcian considered this lonely spot a heaven on earth. He spent his time praying, working and singing psalms. God gave him a wonderful knowledge of the great truths of our holy Faith, too. But despite his desire to remain hidden from the world, people began to learn of his holiness. In time, Marcian had a great number of followers, and he made his first disciple the abbot of the others.

Once St. Flarian and other bishops called on St. Marcian and asked him to speak to them of the things of God. The humble hermit was upset by the high position of his visitors and he was quiet for a while. Finally, when they urged him to speak, he said: “God speaks to us every day by His creatures and by this whole world we see. He speaks to us in His Gospel. In it He teaches us what we ought to do both for ourselves and for others. What more can Marcian say that can be of use?”

Because he worked several miracles, he was called a wonder-worker. This he did not like at all. One day a hermit came to ask him to bless some oil to cure a friend’s sick daughter. St. Marcian refused rather abruptly, because he did not want to be considered able to work miracles. Yet at that very hour, the girl was cured!

Because many people were arguing over who should have his body when he died, Marcian told his first disciple to bury it in a secret place.

I will make sure I have a copy of the Gospel for himself and I will read a page of it every day The Holy Gospel is the best book, for it tells me all about God.

St. Hilarion

St. Hilarion – October 21st

Hilarion was a pagan lad when he left his home in Palestine to go to school in Egypt. There he learned about the Christian Faith, and soon he was baptized. Hilarion was only about fifteen at this time, but before long, he was off on a visit to the famous St. Anthony in the desert. He wanted to be alone to serve Jesus, whom he had just come to love. Hilarion stayed two months with St. Anthony, but it was not quiet enough there for him. Too many people came to St. Anthony for help, in his opinion. So he left and after giving everything he had to the poor, he went into the wilderness to live as a hermit.

Hilarion had to battle many temptations. At times it seemed to him as if none of his prayers were heard at all. Yet he did not let these temptations stop him from praying even harder.

After twenty years in the desert, the holy man worked his first miracle and soon many people began coming to his hut to beg his help. Many men asked him to let them stay with him to learn how to pray and do penance. In his great love of God and souls, the Saint did not refuse. But finally, when he was sixty-five, he began going from one country to another trying to find peace and quiet. The fame of his miracles of mercy always brought crowds of visitors, however. It was not until a few years before he died at eighty that this great lover of God could be alone with Him.

When I say my prayers I will avoid every willful distraction.

St. Jerome

St. Jerome - Patron of Librarians - September 30th

Jerome was a Roman Christian whose father taught him his religion well but sent him to a famous pagan school. There Jerome grew to love pagan writings and to lose some of his love for God. Yet, in the company of a group of holy Christians, with whom he became great friends, his heart was turned completely to God.

Later, this brilliant young man decided to live alone in a wild desert. He was afraid that his love for pagan writings would lead him away from the love of God, so he did hard penance in that scorching hot desert. Yet even there, he suffered terrible temptations, and the impure entertainments held in Rome seemed to appear in front of him. The Saint did not give in, however. He did more penance and wept for his sins. He also went to study Hebrew with a monk as his teacher. This he did to get rid of the bad thoughts that kept attacking his mind. He became such a great scholar of Hebrew that he could later translate the Bible into Latin so that many more people at that time would be able to read it.

St. Jerome spent many years of his life in a little cave at Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. There he prayed, studied the Holy Bible, and taught many holy souls how to serve God perfectly. He wrote a great many letters and even books to defend the Faith from heretics.

St. Jerome had a bad temper, and his sharp tongue made him many enemies. Yet he was a very holy man who spent his life defending the Faith and trying to serve Jesus in the best way he could. And so, despite his temper, he became a great saint.

To overcome his strong temptations, St. Jerome worked and studied hard, and read the Holy Bible. I, too, will work and study hard, and read the Holy Gospel.

St. Sergius of Radonezh

St. Sergius of Radonezh – September 25th

This famous Russian saint was given the name of Bartholomew when he was baptized. He was not as bright as his two brothers, but with God’s help, he learned to read and write, which made him very happy, because he greatly desired to be able to read the Holy Bible. Bartholomew’s parents were nobles, but while he was still a boy, the family had to flee from enemies and go to work as peasants. After his parents died, he and his brother Stephen went off to live as hermits. They built a little church of trees they had cut down, and had it dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity.

When his brother went to Moscow to enter a monastery, Bartholomew lived alone, but he received the habit of a monk and took the name, Sergius. He was a big, husky young man strong enough to stand the biting cold and fierce winds of his forest home. He was happy praying to God and loving Him with all his heart. He called fire and light his companions, and even made friends with bears!

Before too long, other young men came to share St. Sergius’ holy life. They asked him to be their abbot and he did. He was ordained a priest and ruled his monastery very wisely. Once when some of the monks together with his own brother Stephen-who had come back-disagreed with Sergius, he went away in order to keep peace. Four years later, when he was asked to return, the monks were so happy to see him that they kissed his hands, his feet and even his robe. Powerful rulers often went to ask St. Sergius’ advice, and he became so famous that he was asked to become bishop of the greatest Russian diocese, but he was too humble to accept. When the Prince of Moscow was not sure whether he should try to fight the terrible pagan Tartars, the Saint said, “Do not fear, sir. Go forward with faith against the foe. God will be with you.” And the Russians were victorious!

It was not great learning that made people trust St. Sergius and love him. It was his confidence in God and his desire to help everybody.

I will follow the example of this Saint. When someone disagrees with me and starts an argument, I will keep still. In this way both of us will be at peace.

St. Thecla

St. Thecla – September 23rd

Thecla, the first women martyr, was a beautiful young pagan noblewoman of the city of Iconium, in Turkey. She did much reading in philosophy books, yet nothing satisfied her desire to know about her Creator. But when St. Paul the Apostle came to preach the Gospel of Jesus in Iconium, her prayer to know the one, true God was answered. From St. Paul she also learned that a young woman can become the Bride of Christ is she gives up marriage. By this time, Thecla desired nothing else than to give herself entirely to God.

Thecla’s pagan parents tried their best to make her give up her Christian Faith, but she would not. Her fiancé, Thamyris, begged her not to break their engagement, but Thecla wanted to be Christ’s bride, not his. At last, in great anger, Thamyris accused her to the judge, and when she still refused to give up her love for Jesus, she was ordered to be burned to death at the stake.

The beautiful young women bravely prepared to die, but no sooner had the fire been lit than a storm from Heaven put it out! Later, she was condemned to be eaten by lions, but once again, God saved Thecla’s life. Instead of clawing her, the fierce beasts walked gently up to her, lay down at her side, and licked her feet, like pet kittens! At last, in fear, the judge set the Saint free. Thecla went to live in a cave and teaching all the people who came to visit her about the Lord Jesus.

St. Thecla is honored as a martyr because she was ready to die for Jesus, even though God saved her by miracles.

The example of St. Thecla shows us how to keep the promises of Baptism. We have renounced the evil which is in the world and the devil once and for all. Now we must send away all temptations and advance in virtue day by day, until the time when God calls us to His glorious reward.

St. Giles

St. Giles - Patron of Cripples, Beggars and Blacksmiths - September 1st

Giles was born in Athens, Greece, and when his parents died, he used the great fortune they left him to help the poor. For this reason and especially because he worked many miracles, Giles found himself a greatly admired young man. He did not want this praise and fame at all. So, to be able to serve God in a hidden life, he left Greece and sailed to France.

There he went to live alone in a dark forest, making his home in a rough cave behind a thick thorn bush. Every day a dear came to give him her milk, and lived contented, safe from the danger of becoming proud at hearing himself praised. But one day, a certain king and his men went hunting in the forest and chased the deer to Giles’ cave. Then they could not see where it disappeared. One of the men shot an arrow into the thorn bush, and when they forced their way in, they discovered Giles sitting wounded by the arrow.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” demanded the King. St. Giles told them the story of his life, and when they heard it, they asked his forgiveness. The King sent his doctors to take care of the Saint’s wound. Although Giles begged to be left alone, the King felt such veneration for him that he came often to see him. Giles never would accept the King’s gifts but finally he agreed to let the King build a large monastery there, and Giles became its first abbot.

This monastery became so famous that a whole town grew up there and it was called St.Giles. When the Saint died, his grave at the monastery became a great shrine where many, many people came on pilgrimage.

The greatest virtues of St. Giles were humility and charity. The more we are generous with our brothers, sisters and companions, the more Our Lord will be generous with us.

St. Mary Magdalen

St. Mary Magdalen - Patroness of Penitent Sinners - July 22nd

Mary Magdalen was well known as a sinner when she first saw Our Lord. She was very beautiful and very proud, but after she met Jesus, she felt great sorrow for her evil life. When Jesus went to supper at the home of a rich man named Simon, Mary came to weep at His feet. Then with her long beautiful hair, she wiped His feet dry and anointed them with expensive perfume. Some people were surprised that Jesus let such a sinner touch Him, but Our Lord could see into Mary’s heart, and he said: “Many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved much.” Then to Mary He said kindly, “Your faith has made you safe. Go in peace.”

From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly served Jesus and His Apostles. And when Our Lord was crucified, she was there at the foot of His cross, unafraid for herself, and thinking only of His sufferings. No wonder Jesus said of her: “She has loved much.”

After Jesus’ body had been placed in the tomb, Mary went to anoint it with spices early Easter Sunday morning. Not finding the sacred body, she began to weep, and seeing someone whom she thought was the gardener, she asked him if he knew where the Body of her beloved Master had been taken. But then the Person spoke in a voice she knew so well: “Mary!” It was Jesus, risen from the dead! And He had chosen to show Himself first to Mary Magdalen, the repentant sinner.

Today I will often say the invocation, “Jesus, make me love You more and more.” When the love of God fills our hearts, it purifies them from every stain of sin.

St. William of Monte Vergine

St. William of Monte Vergine - June 25th

William was born in Northern Italy and was brought up by relatives because his parents died when he was a baby. When William grew up, he became a hermit, but when he worked a miracle and cured a blind man, he became famous. He was too humble to be pleased with the people’s admiration, so he went away to live alone on a very high, wild mountain.

Even there, however, men gathered around the Saint and he built a monastery for them dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. People gave the mountain a new name now-the Mountain of the Virgin-because of William’s monastery.

Later the Saint founded other great monasteries, helped by King Roger of Naples. His good influence on this king angered some evil men of the court, and they tried to show William was really an evil man hiding behind a holy habit. They sent a bad women to tempt him to sin. As soon as William what kind of women this visitor was, he worked a miracle and the evil women ran away frightened.

When we are tempted to commit a sin of impurity, we should remember that after that sin we might die and go to hell to suffer forever.

St. Ephrem

St. Ephrem - June 18th

Ephrem was born in Mesopotamia. He was not baptized until he was eighteen, but right afterwards he could think of nothing but leading a holy life. The thought of appearing before God after death to be judged made him tremble and he wanted to prepare for that judgment by living well. He was naturally quick to become angry, but he gained such a control over himself that people thought of him as a very calm man.

Ephrem became a hermit in a cave near the city of Edessa in Syria. His clothes were just patched rags and he ate only enough to keep alive. His chief work all this time was the writing of spiritual books. So holy and beautiful are these books that St. Ephrem is given the title of “Doctor of the Church.”

He often went to preach in Edessa, and people cried when he spoke about God’s judgment. Because he thought he was a great sinner, he wept all his life for the slight sins he had committed as a child. When St. Bazil met him and asked if he were Ephrem, the famous servant of Jesus, St. Ephrem said, “I am Ephrem who walks unworthily on the way of salvation.” Then he asked and received from St. Bazil much advice on how to live his spiritual life in the best way possible.

St. Ehprem is also called the “Harp of the Holy Ghost,” Because he wrote many beautiful hymns. These hymns were very popular and as people sang them, they learned much about the Faith. In this way, too, Ephrem saved them from falling into heresy.

So humble was this Saint that in his last sickness, he said to his friends: “When I die, treat my body without any respect, in order to show what I am.”

We, too, will be judged after our death. But if we think of our judgment now, we will prepare for it with a good life.

St. Celestine V

St. Celestine V - Patron of Bookbinders - May 19th

When the father of this Italian Saint died, his good mother brought up her twelve children well, even though they were very poor. “Oh, if I could only have the joy of seeing one of you become a saint!” she used to say. Once when she asked as usual, “Which of you is going to become a saint?” little Peter (who was to become Pope Celestine) answered with all his heart, “Me, Mama! I’ll become a saint!” And he did.

When he was twenty, Peter became a hermit and spent his days praying or reading the Holy Bible. If he was not praying or reading, he would copy books or do some hard work so that the devil would not find him doing nothing and tempt him. Because other hermits kept coming to him and begging him to guide them, he started a new Order.

Peter was an old monk, eighty-four years of age, when he was made Pope. It came about in a very unusual way. For two years, there had been no Pope, because the Cardinals could not decide whom to choose. St. Peter sent them a message to decide quickly, for God was not pleased at the long delay. Then and there, they chose the holy old hermit himself! Poor Peter wept when he heard the news, but he sorrowfully accepted and took the name Celestine V.

He was Pope only about five months. Because he was so humble and simple, everyone took advantage of him. He could not say “no” to anyone, and soon matters were in great confusion. At last, the Saint decided that he had better give up his position as Pope. He did so and then threw himself at the feet of the Cardinals to ask forgiveness for not having been capable of governing the Church. What an impression his humility made on all of them!

St. Celestine hoped to live in one of his monasteries in peace. But the new Pope thought it would be safer to keep him where wicked people could not take advantage of him. The Saint was put in a cell and died there. Yet he was cheerful and close to God. “You wanted a cell, Peter,” he would repeat to himself, “and a cell you have.”

St. Celestine loved to live alone, because he wanted to be closely united to Our Lord. Once in a while, let us stop what we are doing for a few seconds and have a heart-to-heart talk with Jesus.

St. Benedict Joseph Labre

St. Benedict Joseph Labre - April 16th

This French saint led a most unusual life. He was the son of a store owner and taught by his uncle, a priest. When the good priest died, Benedict tried to enter a monastery, but he was told he was too young. Then he entered another, but his superiors had to dismiss him because he had become like a shadow on account of his poor health. “God’s will be done,” said Benedict.

While he was gaining back his health, he felt inspired to leave his relatives and his country to live a life of penance in the midst of the world. As a pilgrim, he would travel to the famous shrines of Europe.

Benedict went visiting one church after another. He dressed in rags, with a crucifix over his heart and a rosary around his neck. He slept on the bare ground. They only food he had was what kind people gave him. If people gave him money, he gave it to the poor. In a sack he carried his own Gospel, and medals and holy books to give to others. St. Benedict paid no attention to the beautiful sights in the cities he visited. His only interest was in the churches where Jesus dwells in the Blessed Sacrament.

While he prayed in front of the alter, Benedict was so still and devout that he seemed like an angel adoring God. Hid white, tired face would glow with happiness. He had a great love for our Blessed Mother, too. “Mary, O my Mother!” he would exclaim.

St. Benedict was not interested in taking care of himself. His only thought was to keep Jesus company in church.

When he died at the age of thirty-five, the fame of this poor holy man spread far and wide.

We cannot imitate the poverty of Jesus in the way St. Benedict Joseph did, but we can imitate this Saint’s love for the Blessed Sacrament. Let us go to church often to visit Jesus and to have a heart-to heart talk with Him. Jesus is our best Friend.

St. Paul-The First Hermit

St. Paul-The First Hermit – Patron of Weavers – January 15th

St. Paul was born of rich parents in Egypt and became an orphan at the age of fifteen. He had been taught to trust God since he was a very young child. When he was twenty years old, he had to flee to a desert because of a bloody persecution of the Christians. In his great love of God, St. Paul trusted in the Lord to provide him with what he needed to live. He dwelt under a tree that supplied him with fruit for food. A nearby spring gave him water.

When he was one hundred and ten, the great St. Anthony of the Desert went to visit him. St. Anthony tells us how he found out about St. Paul. One day he had a temptation to think that no one else but he had spent his life in the desert as a real hermit. That night God revealed to him that there was another hermit much better than he and so Anthony went to visit him. We are told that while they were talking, a raven dropped a loaf of bread. St. Paul told St. Anthony that for the past sixty years he had been receiving a half of loaf a day. “Now you have come,” he said, “and God has doubled the portion. The Lord is truly good!” After they had eaten, they spent the night in prayer.

St. Paul died at the age of one hundred and thirteen, and St. Anthony buried him.

When St. Anthony returned to his monks, he told them: “Sinner that I am, I do not deserve the name of monk! I have seen another John the Baptist, another St. Paul in the third Heaven!”

St. Paul spent all his long life in prayer and penance to gain glory in heaven. Let us, too, spend our time well, because time spent in praying and in doing our duties for Jesus will win us a treasure in Heaven.