St. Macarius, Monk and Greek Father of the Church

St. Macarius, Monk: 300-390 A.D.

Introduction

There is a St. Macarius the Great listed as one of the Greek Fathers of the Church. And there is a Desert Father Macarius of Egypt (also ca. 300-390 A.D.) whom homilies are ascribed to. The context of these homilies is the early monasticism of Syria. Since St. Macarius is from Egypt, there is speculation that these homilies may not originally come from him. Nevertheless, the fifty homilies which comprise these writings, gave it great authority in the Christian East. It also influenced the West after it was translated into Latin and several vernaculars. Some of these sermons and homilies are among the most ecumenical of all Christian texts, and are treasured by Orthodox, Catholics and many Protestants. One of the homilies is Homily 10. And the title of this Homily 10 is: By Lowliness of Mind and Earnestness the Gifts of the Divine Grace are Preserved, But by Pride and Sloth they are Destroyed.

The life of St. Macarius

As regards his life, this St. Macarius the Great, may also have been referred to as St. Macarius the Elder, who also lived between ca. 300-390 A.D. Macarius the Elder was born in Upper Egypt. He was a cattle herder in his youth but early became a hermit, practicing a lot of austerities. He was accused of assaulting a woman but proved his innocence and became somewhat of a hero for his patience and humility during this trying ordeal. To escape the adulation he was receiving, he retired to the desert of Skete when he was thirty. He was also ordained and was very much sought after for his spiritual wisdom.

Then for a time, he was exiled on a small island in the Nile with Macarius the Younger (d. ca. 394 A.D.) and other monks, because the Arian Lucius of Alexandria tried to drive out the desert monks. Later though, he was allowed to return. St. Macarius the Great died after living in Skete for sixty years and is believed to be the first hermit to live there.

References of this article

• Pocket Catholic Dictionary, by John A. Hardon, SJ
• The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism, by editor Bernard McGinn
• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney

St. Anthony of Padua, Franciscan and Doctor of the Church

For a comprehensive biography of St. Anthony of Padua, visit this link.

There is a prayer of praise in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. It was composed by St. Bonaventure, also a Franciscan and a doctor of the Church.

This prayer of praise is sung frequently in the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua and prayer every Tuesday throughout the world.

If then you ask for miracles,
Death, error, all calamities,
Leprosy and demons fly,
And health succeeds infirmities.

The sea obeys and fetters break,
And lifeless limbs do you restore;
While treasures lost are found again,
When young and old your aid implore.

All dangers vanish at your prayer,
And direst need does quickly flee;
Let those who know your power proclaim,
Let Paduans say: these are of thee.

To Father, Son, may glory be
And Holy Spirit, eternally.

Pray for us, blessed Anthony.
Make us worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
Lord God, may the votive commemoration of blessed Anthony, Your Confessor and Doctor, be a source of joy for Your people. May they always be strengthened with his spiritual assistance and deserve eternal rewards. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Memorial of Saints (June 12)

St. John of Sahagun was educated by the Benedictine monks. He was ordained in 1445 A.D., then spent some years studying at the University of Salamanca. He did a lot of work the next decade, but fell ill and had a serious operation. After this serious illness, he entered the Augustinians in 1463 A.D. St. John worked well as an Augustinian, and was known for his gift of reading men's souls (died ca. 1479 A.D.).

St. Antonina was tortured and martyred during Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Tradition reports her martyrdom to have happened at Nicaea, Bithynia, during the governorship of Priscillian. Many places aside from Nicaea, Bithynia also claim the honor of her martyrdom. She is also known by the name Antonia - the name listed in the Roman Martyrology (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Onuphrius was an Egyptian hermit. Originally a monk in a large monastery in the Thebaid, he felt called to a solitary life. Onuphrius lived as a hermit for sixty years after leaving the monastery in the Thebaid. Paphnoutious, a monk who wanted also to be a hermit, met Onuphrius in the desert. While with St. Onuphrius, Paphnoutius learned of the old hermit's life and wrote a biography on the Saint (died ca. 400 A.D.).

For the rest of the Saints honored on June 12, please visit this link.