From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
January 23rd - St. John the Almsgiver
(7th Century)
Posterity often gives to leaders nicknames that record their most
striking traits. Guess what the Greek Christians of Alexandria, Egypt,
found the chief trait of their generous archbishop patriarch John?
For 14 centuries, Christianity =E2=80=93 East and West =E2=80=93 has rememb= ered him
solely as Joannes Eleemosynarius: John the Giver of Alms.
John was born in the isle of Cyprus around 550 AD, the son of the
governor. A nobleman of means, John married young and had several
children. Death soon took away both his wife and family. The devout
widower therefore resolved to become a monk. On entering the
monastery, he gave his personal wealth to the needy, and soon won the
respect of all as a person of gentle holiness.
Around the year 608, the Greek Christians of the great patriarchate of Alexandria, having lost their bishop, asked that this John of Cyprus
be named to succeed him. Now about 50, John accepted. The diocese he
took over was in a sad state. Theological disputes and other
antagonisms had well nigh destroyed the spirit of mutual love among
its Christians. The task of reconciliation seemed almost superhuman.
The new patriarch came prepared with a solution that was superhuman.
He would set an example of Christian charity towards the poor. That,
he rightly believed, would re-create an atmosphere of love among his
people.
On first arriving, John asked for a list of his =E2=80=9Clords and masters.= =E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CWho?=E2=80=9D they asked him. =E2=80=9CThe poor,=E2=80=9D he repli= ed. The poor who go to
heaven, he explained, are most powerful in helping those who have
helped them on earth. We need that help. So he was given a list of
7500 known poor. These he took under his official protection.
Every Wednesday and Friday he sat all day in front of the church to
receive anybody who was in need or had other complaints. For those
poor people and for local charitable institutions he emptied the
diocesan treasury. =E2=80=9CGod will provide,=E2=80=9D he said to his treas= urers, when
they gasped at seeing the diocesan capital depleted. At the same time,
he forbade all his officers and servants to accept presents, which
were a sort of bribe. He likewise saw to it that taxes imposed on the
poor were repealed, and that fraudulent weights and measurements used
so oppressively in dealing with the lower classes were standardized.
When refugees from Syria and Palestine swarmed into Egypt before the
plundering armies of Persia, Patriarch John gave them first aid and
helped them to rebuild the nations of the displaced persons.
All along, John set a constant example of personal charity. Once, for
instance, an admiring friend gave him a warm rug to replace the one
thin blanket on his bed. Uncomfortable about this luxury, the bishop
used it one night only. The next day he sold it and gave the price to
the poor. His benefactor, learning of the trick, gave him a new
blanket, which he promptly sold; then still another and another. John
told him, with a smile, =E2=80=9CWe shall see who will get tired first.=E2= =80=9D
The point was, of course, that when others saw his love for the needy,
they opened their own purses. If they didn't, he good-naturedly rib=
bed
them until they forked over for the poor.
Meanwhile, Patriarch John was taking good care of his other church
duties. One delightful story is told of his dealings with those who
were casual about attending Mass. Noticing that many amused themselves
outside the church during divine service, he went out one day during
the liturgy and sat among them. =E2=80=9CMy children,=E2=80=9D he explained=
, =E2=80=9Cthe
shepherd must be with his flock=E2=80=9D Embarrassed by this tender rebuke, they missed Mass no more.
John died in exile in 619 because of a Persian invasion, although he
met his end, it so happened, in his native Cyprus. But he left
Alexandria a far better place than he had found it.
In his youth, John the Almsgiver had had a vision of a beautiful woman
wearing a crown of olive leaves. Identifying herself as Charity or
Compassion, she had said to him, =E2=80=9CI am the oldest daughter of the
King. If you will be my friend, I will lead you to Him.=E2=80=9D
Following her counsel, he had brought charity back to Alexandria. He
had also become a symbol of compassionate love to all Christians.
Today he is honored as a man of supreme charity by Christians of both
East and West.
Saint Quote:
It is to those who have the most need of us that we ought to show our
love more especially.
--St. Francis de Sales
Bible Quote:
=C2 So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and
your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you.
(John 16:22)
<><><><>
Behold Me, O Sweet Lord, Behold Me!
By St Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-1167)
Behold me, O sweet Lord, behold me!
For I hope. that in Your loving kindness,
O Most Merciful One,
You will behold me,
either as a loving physician to heal,
a kind teacher to correct,
or an indulgent father to pardon=E2=80=A6
confident in Your sweet powerful mercy
and most merciful power,
I ask in virtue of Your sweet Name
and of the mystery of Your sacred humanity
that, mindful of Your kindness
and unmindful of my ingratitude,
You forgive me my sins
and heal the languors of my soul.
Amen
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)