SAINT OF THE DAY -- Oct. 21 - St. Hilarion
October 21
Saint Hilarion
(291 - 371)
"The
identifying mark of the true healer is that he walks in the shadow of
his Mighty I AM Presence, that he is humble before God and man and that
he gives all glory to God for the works God performs through him,
knowing that he is but the instrument of the Holy Spirit. In sum, these
holy ones of God are self-effacing and they will not necessarily tell
you that they have the gift of healing. Hilarion was just such a man."
~Archangel Gabriel said in reference to St. Hilarion
Founder of Monasticism in PalestineHis first miracle was when he cured a woman who had been barren for 15 years. Later, he
cured blindness, raised children from the dead, healed a paralysed
charioteer, and expelled demons. He even cured horses and tamed a mad Bactrian Camel.
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Despite his best efforts to live in prayer and solitude, today’s saint
found it difficult to achieve his deepest desire. People were naturally
drawn to Hilarion as a source of spiritual wisdom and peace. He had
reached such fame by the time of his death that his body had to be
secretly removed so that a shrine would not be built in his honor.
Instead, he was buried in his home village.
St. Hilarion the Great, as he is sometimes called, was born in
Palestine. After his conversion to Christianity he spent some time with
St. Anthony of Egypt, another holy man drawn to solitude. Hilarion
lived a life of hardship and simplicity in the desert, where he also
experienced spiritual dryness that included temptations to despair. At
the same time, miracles were attributed to him.
As his fame grew, a small group of disciples wanted to follow Hilarion. He
began a series of journeys to find a place where he could live away from the
world. He finally settled on Cyprus, where he died in 371 at about age 80.
Hilarion is celebrated as the founder of monasticism in Palestine. Much of
his fame flows from the biography of him written by St. Jerome.
Comment:
Raised in a pagan family. Convert while studying at Alexandria, Egypt
as a teenager. Studied with Saint Anthony the Great in the Egyptian
desert in 306. He then gave away his wealth, and introduced the
eremitical life in the Gaza region of Palestine. Supported himself by
weaving baskets. Founded several monasteries in Palestine. Noted for
his ascetic life; for years he ate but 15 figs a day. Miracle worker
whose fame attracted unwanted crowds; to escape the people, including
his most dedicated student Saint Hesychius the notoriety, and the
persecutions of Julian the Apsotate, he lived on Mount Sinai, Egypt,
Sicily, Dalmatia, Paphos, and Cyprus.
If this saint trembled after an innocent, penitential, and holy life, because
he considered how perfect the purity and sanctity of a soul must be to stand
before him who is infinite purity and infinite justice, how much ought tepid,
slothful, and sinful Christians to fear? Whilst love inflames the saints with an
ardent desire of being united to their God in the kingdom of pure love and
security, a holy fear of his justice checks and humbles in them all presumption.
This fear must never sink into despondency, abjection, or despair; but quicken
our sloth, animate our fervour, and raise our courage; it must be solicitous,
not anxious. Love and hope must fill our souls with sweet peace and joy, and
with an entire confidence in the infinite mercy and goodness of God, and the
merits of our divine Redeemer.
Prayer:With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile.
Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne
fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining
upon the world. O Hilarion, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our God, to save our souls. Amen.
Saint Hilarion Castle, Kyrenia, Cyprus
Source: American Catholic Organization
Many great miracles have been associated with
the Rosary throughout history. The tremendous power of the Rosary can
overcome any problem, be it small or large, personal or worldwide.
Miracles continue to the present day.
The Rosary is a powerful prayer!
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?