The Shepherd, June 2009
The Venerable James the Ascetic (13th/26th June) decided to take up the monastic life and distributed all his possessions to the poor, without retaining even a mite for his own purposes. However, perhaps in part because of this perfect renunciation and certainly through the prompting of the evil one, thoughts of pride began to assail him. He considered himself better than others and refused any admonition or rebuke, any counsel or any spiritual guidance from others. He continued to live his strictly ascetical life and this also became a source of pride for him. He reached such a state of delusion that he became the sport of the demons. On one occasion a demon, taking the form of an angel of light appeared to him, and told him to clean up his cell, to decorate it with lights and to be ready, because, on account of his virtue, Christ was to visit him that night. The poor man believed this deceit. And at midnight when the evil one appeared to him in an effusion of light and glory, he fell down and worshiped him. The demons then mocked him and beat him, claiming him as their own. When he came to himself, he at last sought the advice of a spiritual elder, but when he approached this man, before he had even related his tale, the latter told him to go away, because he has been deceived. Stung by this rebuke, his heart was disturbed, however the Elder went on to admonish him that he should go to a cœnobium and place himself in obedience. This he did and he was put to work in the refectory. For seven years in struggled carefully, soberly and under guidance, and was thus healed of the spiritual wound he had received. Later, he was indeed granted to achieve great spiritual heights and became known as a wonder-worker even before he ended his earthly course.
Saint Paulinus of Nola (22nd June / 5th July) celebrates on the same day as the Holy Protomartyr of Britain, Alban. St Paulinus was the son of the praetorian prefect in Gaul, and was born in A.D. 353 near Bordeaux. He was tutored by the poet Ausonius, and himself became an accomplished poet and orator. He came to the notice of the Emperor Valerian and was appointed prefect of Rome. For reasons connected with this position he was often required to visit Spain and Gaul, and on one of his journeys he met St Ambrose of Milan, who had great respect for him. He also met and married a Spanish lady, Tharasia. After many years of remaining childless, his wife bore him a son, but the child died shortly after his birth. Sometime thereafter Saint Paulinus visited Nola, and both being struck by the miracles worked at the tomb of Saint Felix there, and being bereaved of his only child, he resolved to become a Christian and devote his life to God. He was baptized at the age of thirty-eight by Bishop Delphinus of Bordeaux, and then he and his wife retired to the region around Barcelona, where her family had estates, to live in quiet. There he was ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop Lampius, but after some four years he sold all his possessions, distributed his wealth to the poor, and went with his wife to Milan, where he was received by St Ambrose. Later he moved to Rome, but his reception there by the clergy was chilly, and so he and Tharasia withdrew to Nola, where he had witnessed the miracles of St Felix, and from this time they lived separately, each in separate cells, in reclusion. He was reproached for this because some said that he was burying his talents. When the Bishop of Nola reposed, the people elected Paulinus to succeed him, and so he became their Archpastor. He entered into rest on 22nd June, 431, and after his demise he appeared clothed white and in heavenly glory to Bishop John of Naples.
|
