The Lives of the Saints, Volume 01 (of 16): JanuaryBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
The Lives of the Saints, Volume 01 (of 16): January
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Christian saints
some who came to him to bring him a hoe and a hatchet, and a little
corn; and when these were brought, having gone over the land round the
mountain, he found a very narrow place which was suitable, and tilled
it; and, having plenty of water to irrigate it, he sowed; and, doing
this year by year, he got his bread from thence, rejoicing that he
should be burdensome to no one on that account. But after this, seeing
again some people coming, he planted also a very few pot-herbs, that
he who came might have some small solace, after the labour of that
hard journey. At first, however, the wild beasts in the desert, coming
on account of the water, often hurt his crops and his tillage; but
he, gently laying hold of one of them, said to them all, "Why do you
hurt me, who have not hurt you? Depart, and, in the name of the Lord,
never come near this place." And from that time forward, as if they
were afraid of his command, they never came near the place. So he was
there alone in the inner mountain, having leisure for prayer and for
training. But the brethren who ministered to him asked him that they
might bring him olives, and pulse, and oil every month; for, after all,
he was old.
Being once asked by the monks to come down to them, and to visit them
and their places, he journeyed with the monks who came for him. A camel
carried their loaves and their water, for that desert is all dry, and
there is no drinkable water except in that mountain where his cell is.
But when the water failed on the journey, and the heat was most intense,
they all began to be in danger; for finding no water, they could walk no
more, but lay down on the ground, and they let the camel go, and gave
themselves up. Then the old man, seeing them in danger, was grieved, and
departing a little way from them, he bent his knees, and stretching out
his hands, he prayed, and forthwith the Lord caused water to come out
where he had stopped and prayed. Thus all of them drinking, took breath
again; and having filled their skins, they sought the camel, and found
her; for it befell that the halter had been twisted round a stone, and
thus she had been stopped. So, having brought her back, and given her to
drink, they put the skins on her, and went through their journey
unharmed. And when they came to the outer cells, all embraced him,
looking on him as a father. And there was joy again in the mountains,
and comfort through their faith in each other. And he too rejoiced,
seeing the willingness of the monks, and his sister grown old in
maidenhood, and herself the leader of other virgins. And so, after
certain days, he went back again to his own mountain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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