St. Mary of Egypt

Today is mainly the feast day of St. Francis of Paola. However, I would like to mention another saint whose day is also today, April 2. Her name is Mary of Egypt. She is a larger saint in the Orthodox Church, but I like her in ours too. She had left her parents and lived in Alexandria as a woman of pleasure, like Mary Magdalene. One day, seventeen years later, she was in Jerusalem, when she noticed celebration of the Holy Cross in the city. She happen to see a picture of the Theotokos, the Mother of God. She made a vow to this beautiful Ikon, that, is she were able to see the life-giving Wood of the Cross, she would do penance. She believed and adored, converted, received the Holy Eucharist, and disappeared into the wilderness for 47 years, living on three loaves of bread she had taken with her. She did NOT receive another piece of the Bread of Life for all that time, (unless she received through an angel), until another future saint, Zozimus, came along and found her.

She asked him to bring to her on Holy Thursday more of that Precious Bread. He did, after she had recited some prayers like the 'Our Father' and the 'Symbol'(of the Apostles, or the Creed as we know it), and received Him once again. Think about this! 47 years without our dear Lord in the Eucharist! It is hard enough if we happen to be sick and can't receive Him even one week! Well, isn't it? Anyway, she asked Zozimus to come back the following year, and this was promised. However, when he returned at that time, he found her body lying on the ground, dead. Near her were these words: "Abbot Zozimus! bury the body of this wretched Mary. Give back to the earth what belongs to it, and add dust unto dust. Yet pray to God for me. This last day of the month of Pharmuthi, on the night of the saving Passion, after the Communion of the Divine and Sacred Supper."


I would like to interject the sequence for this daughter of the Church, which the Orthodox probably read yesterday:


This daughter passes from the Egypt of Pharoah to the espousals with Jesus, our true Solomon. She that was abject, is made a chosen one; she that was deformed, is made fair; the vessel of dishonor is made one of honor.

The Star of the sea shone upon her, and leading her to her beloved Son, has knit the bond of peace. The Mother of God interceded; Christ forgave; the sinner's sins are pardoned.

She that led a carnal life, came to Jerusalem, to be espoused to the King of peace; leaving her false lover, she is united to the true Spouse, honored by the wonderful One.

She strives to enter the house of God, but her unworthiness forbids it; she is compelled to retire. Then does she return to her own heart; she weeps for her sins, and her weeping blots them out.

She flees to the desert; tramples on Leviathan; conquers the world and the flesh; forgets her father's house; neglects the beauty of the body, that her spirit may be made comely.

Rejoice, O daughter of Egypt! Thou, that once wast barren, take up thy harp, and sing. Exult and be joyful, for now thou art chaste and pure, fruitful in virtue, a vine that yields a precious fruit.

He that is our Joy hath loved thee; the shame of thy disorders is effaced by the merit of thy purity. The wisdom of thy heavenly Spouse has given thee, cleansed and all fair, the incorruption of His grace.

Robed in the seven-fold veil of His Spirit, thou wast anointed with the oil of gladness. The scarlet of charity, the lily of chastity, the girdle of modesty--all were upon thee.

Thy feet were decked with violet, for thy affections were changed from earthly to heavenly things. Thy vesture was of every richest hue, and thy couch was decked with flowers, sweeter than those of spring.

Rejoice, O Mary, in that Christ so loved thee, and beautified thee with grace. Be mindful of us sinners; pray for all mankind; feast now in thy eternal glory! Amen.






She did penance for 47 years! She had thought herself unworthy. Maybe we have lost that sense of unworthiness that we all should have in regards to receiving Him in the Eucharist. But Mary, with her perseverance and penance, along with the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, the Theotokos, she made it! So, if we persevere and do penance, along with the help of that same Virgin, we can make it too! St. Mary of Egypt, pray for us wretched sinners so that we may one day join you.