• June 1st - Saint Pamphilus of Alexandria

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Mon May 31 10:16:19 2021
    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)