From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
June 1st - Saint Pamphilus of Alexandria
d. 309
IN the section of his Ecclesiastical History devoted to the
Palestinian confessors, Eusebius describes his master Pamphilus as
=E2=80=9Cthe most illustrious martyr of his day for philosophical learning = and
for every virtue=E2=80=9D. This is not mere conventional panegyric. There i=
s
an unmistakable note of sincerity in the phrases which the historian
uses when he speaks of =E2=80=9Cmy lord Pamphilus=E2=80=9D, for he adds, = =E2=80=9Cit is not
meet that I should mention the name of that holy and blessed man
without entitling him =E2=80=98my lord'=E2=80=9D. In grateful vener=
ation he had
himself assumed what he calls =E2=80=9Cthat name thrice dear to me=E2=80=9D=
, styling
himself Eusebius Pamphili, and he had written his hero's biography =
in
three volumes which were known to St. Jerome but which are now no
longer extant. Pamphilus, who came of a rich and honourable family,
was born at Berytus (Bairut) in Phoenicia. After distinguishing
himself in all branches of secular knowledge in his native city,
itself renowned as a centre of learning, he went to Alexandria where
he studied in the great catechetical school and came under the
influence of Origen's disciple Pierius. The remainder of his life w=
as
spent at Caesarea, at that time the capital city of Palestine. There
he was ordained priest; there also he collected a splendid library
which survived until the seventh century, when it was destroyed by the
Arabs. He was the greatest biblical scholar of his age, and the
founder of a school of sacred literature. With infinite pains and
after examining and correcting many manuscripts he produced a more
correct version of the Holy Scriptures than any of those then current.
This he transcribed with his own hand, and disseminated by means of
copies made in his school which he bestowed upon worthy recipients, in
many cases gratis=E2=80=94for, besides being the most generous of men, he w=
as
always anxious to encourage sacred study. An indefatigable worker, he
lived a most austere, self-denying life and was remarkable for his
humility. He treated his slaves and dependants as brothers and
distributed to his relatives, his friends and the poor the wealth
which came to him from his father. So exemplary a life found a fitting culmination in a martyr's death. In the year 308 Urban, the governo=
r
of Palestine, caused him to be apprehended, cruelly tortured and
imprisoned for refusing to sacrifice to the gods. During his captivity
he collaborated with Eusebius, who may have been his fellow prisoner,
in writing an Apology for Origen, whose works he had greatly admired
and had copied. Two years after his arrest, he was brought before
Firmilian, the successor of Urban, for examination and judgement,
together with Paul of Jamnia, a man of great fervour, and Valens, an
aged deacon of Jerusalem, who was credited with having committed the
whole of the Bible to memory. Finding them staunch in the faith,
Firmilian passed upon them the sentence of death. As soon as the
verdict had been pronounced, Porphyrius, a gifted young scholar whom
Pamphilus had cherished as a son, boldly asked the judge for
permission to bury his master's body.
Firmilian inquired if he were also a Christian, and upon receiving an
answer in the affirmative directed that he should be delivered to the torturers. Although his flesh was torn to the bone and his vital
organs were exposed, the youth never uttered a groan. He ended his
martyrdom by slow fire, invoking the name of Jesus. After him a
Cappadocian named Seleucus, who brought news of the triumph of
Porphyrius and applauded his constancy, was condemned to be
decapitated with the rest. So infuriated was the tyrant that even his
own household was not spared for, having been informed that his
favourite servant, the aged Theodulus, was a Christian and had
embraced one of the martyrs, he had him crucified forthwith. That same
evening, for a similar offence, a catechumen named Julian was burnt at
a slow fire. The other confessors, Pamphilus, Paul, Valens and
Seleucus, were beheaded. Their bodies, which were thrown out but left
untouched by the wild beasts, were afterwards rescued and buried by
the Christians.
The principal source is Eusebius, De Martyribus Palaestinae. The Greek
text of the later and fuller recension was first edited in the
Analecta Bollandiana, vol. xvi (1897), pp. 113-139....
Saint Quote:
=E2=80=9CDo not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but
stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards
you will honour your patience.=E2=80=9D
--Saint John Climacus
<><><><>
All things whatsoever that they command you, observe and do.--Matt.
23:3=C2 =E2=80=93=C2 June: Obedience
8. Would you know who are true monks? Those who by mortification have
brought their will under such control that they no longer have any
wish except to obey the precepts and counsels of their Superior.
--St. Fulgentius
St. Francis once gave the blessed Egidius full freedom to choose
whatever province or monastery he might prefer as a place of
residence. After four days of this liberty, Egidius was surprised at
finding himself much troubled in mind. Then returning to the Saint, he earnestly entreated him to fix his abode for life, for he knew that
this liberty would banish all peace from his soul.
Bible Quote:
Jesus answered, and said to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days
I will raise it up. The Jews then said: Six and forty years was this
temple in building; and wilt thou raise it up in three days? But he
spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen again from
the dead, his disciples remembered, that he had said this, and they believe=
d
the scripture, and the word that Jesus had said.=C2 (John 2:19-22)
<><><><>
Prayer to obtain the virtue of Humility
Philip, my glorious Patron, who on earth wast so enamored of humility
as to count as dross the praise and even the good esteem of men;
obtain for me also this fair virtue by thy prayers. How haughty in my
thoughts, how contemptuous in my words, how ambitious in my works, I
am, thou knowest. Ask for me, then, humility of heart; that so my soul
may be divested of all pride, and in its place may dwell deep-seated
that low esteem of self which thou hadst of thyself, counting thyself
worst of all men, and for that reason rejoicing when thou didst suffer contempt, and thyself seeking out occasions of it. Ah, my great saint,
obtain for me a true humble heart and the knowledge of my own
nothingness; that I may rejoice when I am despised, and resent not
when others are preferred before me; be never proud when praised, but
ever seek only to be great in the eyes of God, desiring to receive
from Him alone all my exaltation.
Pater. Ave. Gloria.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)