Prêtre, Solitaire
(+ 376)
Saint Abraham vint au monde à Chidame, près d'Édesse, en Mésopotamie, et s'illustra par son innocence et sa haute vertu. Son père et sa mère, doués des biens de la fortune, l'aimaient tendrement. Malgré son attrait pour la vie solitaire, pour ne pas déplaire à ses parents, il consentit à s'engager dans les liens du mariage. Dès que les noces furent terminées, il sortit furtivement de la maison, et ayant trouvé une caverne à deux milles de la ville, il s'y retira plein de joie, résolu d'y passer toute sa vie à servir Dieu seul.
Après dix-sept jours de recherches, ses parents le découvrirent dans sa retraite, plongé dans la contemplation. Ils furent si touchés de ses supplications, qu'ils firent le sacrifice de leur fils et le laissèrent suivre sa vocation. Dès lors le nouvel ermite fit murer sa cellule, n'y laissant qu'une étroite fenêtre pour recevoir la nourriture qu'on lui apportait chaque jour.
Il fit de grands progrès dans la voie de la perfection. Il acquit surtout une humilité extraordinaire et une charité extrême pour le prochain. Jamais il ne réprimanda personne durement; sa parole était toujours assaisonnée d'indulgence. Saint Éphrem nous dit qu'il ne se relâcha jamais en rien de sa vie de pénitence, qu'il ne passa pas un seul jour sans verser des larmes, et que, malgré ses austérités, il conserva toujours la fraîcheur de son visage et la vigueur de son corps.
Il y avait dix-sept ans qu'il menait en ce lieu une vie tout angélique, lorsqu'il apprit la mort de ses parents. Il pria un de ses amis de vendre tout son héritage et d'en donner le prix aux pauvres, ne se réservant qu'un vêtement de poil de chèvre, une natte et une écuelle de bois.
La renommée des vertus du saint solitaire se répandit de tous côtés. Dieu permit qu'une si grande piété servit à Sa gloire. Il fit construire près de sa maisonnette une cellule pour sa nièce, qui docile à ses leçons, fit de grands progrès dans la vertu et la piété.
Près de la cellule était un gros village peuplé d'idolâtres, si attachés à leurs superstitions qu'ils maltraitaient tous ceux qui cherchaient à les instruire. L'évêque d'Édesse, affligé de l'aveuglement de ce peuple, résolut de lui envoyer Abraham comme le plus capable de les convertir par sa charité et sa patience.
Le Saint se défendit en vain. On le conduisit à Édesse, où l'évêque l'ordonna prêtre et l'envoya travailler à l'oeuvre du Seigneur. Fort mal reçu des habitants, frappé, menacé de mort, le Saint ne perdit point courage et entreprit hardiment de bâtir une église. L'édifice achevé, Abraham pria le Seigneur d'y rassembler les habitants infidèles en les convertissant à la foi; puis, animé d'un nouveau zèle, il brisa leurs idoles, et renversa leurs autels.
Le peuple, dans sa colère, se rua sur lui, et, après l'avoir accablé de coups, le chassa du village; mais le Saint revenu pendant la nuit dans son église y demeura en prière. Le lendemain, le peuple, l'ayant aperçu, se jeta de nouveau sur lui et le battit si cruellement que, le croyant près d'expirer, il le traîna au loin par les pieds avec une corde; mais Dieu, qui est le Maître de la vie et de la mort, lui rendit promptement la santé.
Abraham passa ainsi trois ans dans une continuité de souffrances et de douleurs, sans que rien pût ralentir son zèle. Enfin Dieu exauça ses prières; ces infidèles, touchés de la charité et de la patience d'Abraham, se rendirent à l'église et demandèrent à être instruits. Le saint prêtre expliqua alors à ce peuple les mystères de la religion et en baptisa un grand nombre. Il demeura quelques temps encore avec ses néophytes pour les affermir dans la foi, puis se retira dans sa première cellule.
Enfin le Seigneur appela à Lui Son fidèle serviteur, âgé de soixante-quinze ans, pour le récompenser de ses travaux, ses prières et ses austérités. C'était le 16 mars 376.
Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes, Vie des Saints, p. 117-118
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_abraham.html
Saint Abraham vint au monde à Chidame, près d'Édesse, en Mésopotamie, et s'illustra par son innocence et sa haute vertu. Son père et sa mère, doués des biens de la fortune, l'aimaient tendrement. Malgré son attrait pour la vie solitaire, pour ne pas déplaire à ses parents, il consentit à s'engager dans les liens du mariage. Dès que les noces furent terminées, il sortit furtivement de la maison, et ayant trouvé une caverne à deux milles de la ville, il s'y retira plein de joie, résolu d'y passer toute sa vie à servir Dieu seul.
Après dix-sept jours de recherches, ses parents le découvrirent dans sa retraite, plongé dans la contemplation. Ils furent si touchés de ses supplications, qu'ils firent le sacrifice de leur fils et le laissèrent suivre sa vocation. Dès lors le nouvel ermite fit murer sa cellule, n'y laissant qu'une étroite fenêtre pour recevoir la nourriture qu'on lui apportait chaque jour.
Il fit de grands progrès dans la voie de la perfection. Il acquit surtout une humilité extraordinaire et une charité extrême pour le prochain. Jamais il ne réprimanda personne durement; sa parole était toujours assaisonnée d'indulgence. Saint Éphrem nous dit qu'il ne se relâcha jamais en rien de sa vie de pénitence, qu'il ne passa pas un seul jour sans verser des larmes, et que, malgré ses austérités, il conserva toujours la fraîcheur de son visage et la vigueur de son corps.
Il y avait dix-sept ans qu'il menait en ce lieu une vie tout angélique, lorsqu'il apprit la mort de ses parents. Il pria un de ses amis de vendre tout son héritage et d'en donner le prix aux pauvres, ne se réservant qu'un vêtement de poil de chèvre, une natte et une écuelle de bois.
La renommée des vertus du saint solitaire se répandit de tous côtés. Dieu permit qu'une si grande piété servit à Sa gloire. Il fit construire près de sa maisonnette une cellule pour sa nièce, qui docile à ses leçons, fit de grands progrès dans la vertu et la piété.
Près de la cellule était un gros village peuplé d'idolâtres, si attachés à leurs superstitions qu'ils maltraitaient tous ceux qui cherchaient à les instruire. L'évêque d'Édesse, affligé de l'aveuglement de ce peuple, résolut de lui envoyer Abraham comme le plus capable de les convertir par sa charité et sa patience.
Le Saint se défendit en vain. On le conduisit à Édesse, où l'évêque l'ordonna prêtre et l'envoya travailler à l'oeuvre du Seigneur. Fort mal reçu des habitants, frappé, menacé de mort, le Saint ne perdit point courage et entreprit hardiment de bâtir une église. L'édifice achevé, Abraham pria le Seigneur d'y rassembler les habitants infidèles en les convertissant à la foi; puis, animé d'un nouveau zèle, il brisa leurs idoles, et renversa leurs autels.
Le peuple, dans sa colère, se rua sur lui, et, après l'avoir accablé de coups, le chassa du village; mais le Saint revenu pendant la nuit dans son église y demeura en prière. Le lendemain, le peuple, l'ayant aperçu, se jeta de nouveau sur lui et le battit si cruellement que, le croyant près d'expirer, il le traîna au loin par les pieds avec une corde; mais Dieu, qui est le Maître de la vie et de la mort, lui rendit promptement la santé.
Abraham passa ainsi trois ans dans une continuité de souffrances et de douleurs, sans que rien pût ralentir son zèle. Enfin Dieu exauça ses prières; ces infidèles, touchés de la charité et de la patience d'Abraham, se rendirent à l'église et demandèrent à être instruits. Le saint prêtre expliqua alors à ce peuple les mystères de la religion et en baptisa un grand nombre. Il demeura quelques temps encore avec ses néophytes pour les affermir dans la foi, puis se retira dans sa première cellule.
Enfin le Seigneur appela à Lui Son fidèle serviteur, âgé de soixante-quinze ans, pour le récompenser de ses travaux, ses prières et ses austérités. C'était le 16 mars 376.
Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes, Vie des Saints, p. 117-118
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_abraham.html
St. Abraham (296-366) was born to a wealthy family near Edessa, Syria. He was forced into an arranged marriage at an early age but had no desire to marry. During the wedding festivities, Abraham fled. He walled himself up in a nearby building, leaving a small hole through which his family could send in food and water, and by which he could explain his desire for a religious life. His family relented, the marriage was called off, and he spent the next ten years in his cell.
After a decade of this life, the bishop of Edessa ordered Abraham from his cell. Against Abraham’s wishes, the bishop ordained him, and sent him as a missionary priest to the intransigently pagan village of Beth-Kiduna. He built a church, smashed idols, suffered abuse and violence, set a good example, and succeeded in converting the entire village. After a year, he prayed that God would send the village a better pastor than he, and he returned to his cell. It is from his success in Kiduna that he became known as Kidunaia.
He left the cell only twice more. Once a niece, Saint Mary of Edessa, was living a wild and misspent life. Abraham disguised himself as a soldier, which he knew would get her attention, and went to her home. Over supper he convinced her of the error of her ways; she converted and changed her life, and Abraham returned to his cell. His final trip out was his funeral, attended by a large, loving throng of mourners. His biography was written by his friend the great Saint Ephrem of Syria.
SOURCE : http://www.ucatholic.com/saints/saint-abraham-of-kidunaia/
(✝ 370)
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Saint Abraham
(✝ 370)
Il quitta sa riche
famille, renonça à un mariage prometteur et se fit ermite dans le désert, près
d'Edesse. Ordonné prêtre, il convertit au Christ tous les habitants païens de
Beth-Kiduna, la bourgade où il habitait.. Après ce succès apostolique, il se
retire au désert où il vit en ermite. Saint Ephrem, qui était son admirateur et
son ami personnel, a chanté ses louanges.
Also
known as
§
Abraham
the Great of Kidunja
§
Abraham
of Kidunja
§
Abrhahn
of Kidunaja
§
16
March
§
29
October (Eastern Orthodox Church)
§
14
December (Syrian Church)
§
29 July
(Coptic Church)
§
24
October (Syriac Orthodox Church)
Profile
Born to a wealthy family near Edessa, Syria. Forced into an arranged marriage
at an early age. During the wedding
festivities, Abraham fled. He walled himself up in a nearby building, leaving a
small hole through which his family could send in food and water, and by which
he could explain his desire for a religious life. His family relented, the marriage
was called off, and he spent the next ten years in his cell.
After a decade of this life, the bishop of Edessa ordered Abraham from his cell.
Against Abraham’s wishes, the bishop ordained him, and sent him as a missionary priest to the intransigently pagan
village of Beth-Kiduna. He built a church, smashed idols,
suffered abuse and violence, set a good example, and succeeded in converting the entire village. After a year, he prayed
that God
would send the village a better pastor than he, and he returned to his cell.
It is from his success in Kiduna that he became known as Kidunaia.
He left the cell
only twice more. Once a niece, Saint
Mary of Edessa, was living a wild and misspent life.
Abraham disguised himself as a soldier, which he knew would get her attention, and
went to her home. Over supper he convinced her of the error of her ways; she converted and changed her life, and Abraham returned
to his cell.
His final trip out was his funeral, attended by a large, loving throng of
mourners. His biography was written by his friend Saint
Ephrem of Syria.
Born
§
c.296
at Edessa, Mesopotamia
§
c.366
at Edessa, Mesopotamia
of natural causes
§
hermit wearing animal skins
§
man
with a long red beard
The Life of Saint Abraham, Hermit, [Celebrated in the Roman Martyrology on March 16]
by S. Ephraem the Deacon
translated into Latin from the Greek
translated into Latin from the Greek
by an anonymous author.
Prologue by S Ephraem
My brothers, I wish to tell you about the way of life of that wonderfully perfect man Abraham, who began his life and continued to the end in such a way that he has earned perpetual glory. But when I think of his great virtue I am very hesitant about trying to put together a worthwhile and enlightening tale. For he was an outstanding man who had achieved perfection, whereas I am but weak and unpolished. But although unskilled, I will do the best I can to write as much as possible about this man, although I cannot claim to have a perfect understanding of him. Anyone, indeed, who is deservedly called a second Abraham cannot be easily described by human tongue. He was a man of our own time, living an Angelic life while still on earth. He developed as much endurance as the hardest of adamantine rock, which earned him celestial glory. From his early youth he preserved the most spotless chastity, which made him a holy vessel, fit to be a temple of the holy Spirit, and thus he opened himself up to the God who came to dwell in the guesthouse of his mind.
The Life
Chapter I
This blessed Abraham had wealthy parents who loved him tenderly beyond measure. They had such care for him, beyond the usual limits of human affection, that they betrothed him to a girl while he was still a child, hoping with a great longing that he would make progress in some secular walk of life. But he had long thought otherwise, for from the beginnings of his adolescence he began to frequent the regular gatherings at the church, eagerly listening with enjoyment to whatever was read from the holy Scriptures, which he would commit to memory and afterwards mull them over intently in his heart. But then his parents set a date for the approaching marriage ceremonies, which would oblige him to be bound by nuptial vows. He had objected to this at first, but they berated him and brought such pressure to bear on him that after a while he could no longer stand against them and felt so ashamed that he was persuaded to agree. So the nuptials were celebrated, but during the seven days of festivity divine grace suddenly illuminated him like a lamp shining in his heart. He welcomed it as guiding him to the fulfilment of his own desire. He leapt for joy and followed it as it led him out of the city.
Chapter II
About two miles from his home he found an empty cell which he occupied and made his home, glorifying God with immense happiness. But it was a crushing blow to his parents and friends, who went out searching everywhere for this man of God. He had been seventeen days in his cell when they finally found him there praying, and the blessed man then saw how distressed they were."Why should you be so upset at seeing me in this situation?" he asked. "Rather give glory to the most merciful God, who has rescued me from feasting at the table of my own sins, and pray for me that I may in all things shape my life as may be most pleasing to his will, and that I may be able to bear unto the end this most gentle yoke which the Lord has laid upon me, unworthy though I am."All who heard him could not but say Amen, and he asked them not to disturb him by dragging out this meeting any longer. After they had gone he blocked up the entrance to his cell and shut himself up inside, constructing a small window to the outside world through which he might receive his usual daily bread. Divine grace began to light up his mind, freed as it was from all turbulent distractions, and he advanced daily in the way he governed his life. The foundation of his life was continence, upon which he built his vigils and prayers, which he poured out with humble tears and love. Gradually his reputation for holiness spread everywhere around, and as people heard about him they hoped for inspiration from him and came from all directions to visit him. God abundantly bestowed upon him words of wisdom and knowledge and comfort, which lit up the minds of his hearers as if by the most brilliant of lamps.
Chapter III
Chapter III
When he had been living this life for twelve years, his parents died leaving him a great deal of money and property. Lest this should distract him from his own prayers he asked a close friend to take upon himself the godly task of overseeing the distribution of it all to the poor and to orphans. His own soul and mind continued securely in quietness, for it was the greatest wish of this good man to be completely free from all earthly cares. He possessed nothing on this earth except a mantle and a coarse tunic. He also had a little bowl from which he ate and drank, and a rush mat on which he slept. Above all he had true humility, and showed the same charitable respect to all. He did not put the rich before the poor, the prince before the subject, or the aristocrats before the common people, but gave the same consideration and honour to all, without any respect of persons. He never scolded people rudely; his speech was always rooted in love and gentleness. How could anyone possibly get too much of his eloquence, offered as it was with such sweetness? Or how could anyone gazing at his face, the image of holiness, fail to be filled with a desire to see him over and over again. Once he had taken up his rules of abstinence he never relaxed them at any time. He completed with all diligence fifty years of this chosen way of life, and for the great love and longing he had for Christ, he reckoned that long stretch of time as but a few days, and he thought of all the austerity of his rule as nothing at all.
Chapter IV
There was quite a large and important village not far from the city, where everyone from the greatest to the least lived in a state of the most crude paganism. Nobody had succeeded in converting them from the worship of idols. A number of presbyters and deacons had been ordained by the bishop and sent there for that very purpose, but had to withdraw without converting anyone. They laboured there in vain; the people would not be persuaded. They were fierce in temperament and quite inflexible about keeping to their own opinions. Not only that, but they also stirred up anger and the most intense resentment against the preachers. There were even a number of monks who had tried to approach them time and again, but had not had the least success in converting any of them.Then, one day, as the bishop was having a meeting with his clergy, he began to talk about this most blessed man."In all my days I have never seen anyone like him," he said. "He is perfect in every good work, adorned with all the virtues. God is with him, which is why he is known as Abraham the most holy.""It is perfectly true," came the reply from the clergy. "This servant of God is the most perfect of monks.""I would like to ordain him presbyter," said the bishop, "and send him into that village of pagans. With his patience and love he would be able to convert them to God."And he got up straight away and went to the holy man's cell along with his clergy. After greeting him he immediately suggested that Abraham should go to that village for the sake of their salvation. "I beg you, most holy father," said Abraham, unhappy and agitated, "Let me just go on weeping for my sins without placing this sort of burden on my weak and insignificant existence.""But by the grace of God you can do it. Surely you don't want to be found lacking in obedience in this matter.""I beseech you, your holiness, let me just mourn my misdeeds.""Look, you have renounced the world and everything in it, you have embraced the life of the cross, and yet having done all that, you should know that you have no idea of what obedience is, which is the greatest of all virtues.""What am I but a dead dog (1 Samuel 24.14), and what is my life that you have passed such a sentence on me, most holy father!""Look, you are just sitting here taking thought for your own salvation. There are multitudes more whom by the help of God's grace you could save by turning them towards the Lord God. Just ask yourself which will bring the greater reward, saving your own soul, or leading many others to salvation with you..""Then the Lord's will be done," the blessed man of God said in floods of tears. "In truth, obedience demands that I do whatever you wish."
Chapter V
So he was taken from his cell into the city, ordained presbyter by the laying of hands, and sent without delay to that pagan village, praying as he went on his journey."O God most clement, most bounteous," he prayed, "look upon my infirmity, and send your heavenly grace down on my new status (praesidium) that your holy name may be glorified."When he got to the village and saw how deeply they were all immersed in the madness of idolatry, he groaned from the bottom of his heart and wept in grief."You alone are without sin, O God," he cried, lifting up his eyes to heaven. "Despise not the works of your own hands."And he hastily arranged for a messenger to be sent to his dear friend in the city, asking him to bring him what money was left of his inheritance. Once he had got it, before long he had built a church and decorated it with many wonderful ornaments as if it were a most beloved bride. While it was being built, however, the man of God walked daily past the pagan statues, saying nothing, but praying secretly in his heart, and sending up his tears and sighs to the Lord. When the church was finished he offered it up with many tears as a gift to God and on his knees poured forth prayer to God."Almighty Son of the living God, you have trodden the whole world of error underfoot, and led it by your presence into the knowledge of your light. Gather this scattered people also into the bosom of your church, and enlighten the eyes of their minds, that they may cast off the worship of idols and know you the only kind God and lover of humankind."The prayer over, he went straight out of the church to the pagan temple, overturned the altar and images and destroyed them with his own hands. When the pagans realised what he had done an angry crowd of them gathered around like a herd of wild beasts and beat him with many rods, making him run for his life. At night time he came quietly back to his church, taking no thought for his lacerations and wounds, but praying to the Lord with tears and groans that they should be saved. In the morning the pagans came to the church and found him praying, and they stood stock still in amazement. And they came to the church for several days, not in order to pray, but to feast their eyes on the beauty and ornaments of the church. A few days later the blessed man Abraham began to urge them to know God. But this made them very angry, and they fell upon him with clubs as if he were some lifeless stone, bound his feet with ropes, dragged him out of the village, and stoned him till they thought he was dead, although in fact he was still only half dead. In the middle of the night he regained consciousness and began to weep bitterly."O Lord," he prayed, "why have you despised my lowliness and turned your face away from me? And why do you cast down my soul, and despise, O Lord, the work of your own hands? Now, O Lord, look upon your servant and hear my prayer and give me strength. Loosen your children from the chains of the devil, and enlighten them that they may know you, for you alone are God, and beside you there is no other."Rising from his prayer, he returned to the village and went in to the church, singing psalms to the Lord. When it began to get light the villagers came and were astonished to see him. Infuriated and maddened, they again tormented him cruelly without mercy, bound him and carried him out of the village.
Chapter VI
He went on suffering like this for three years, but he endured as if he were an adamantine rock, and he suffered a great many abusive torments without ceasing. But when he was knocked over, when he was dragged about, persecuted and stoned, suffering from hunger and thirst, no matter what happened he was never provoked to anger, never moved by indignation, never fainthearted, never worn out and weary. The more he suffered from them the more his love and charity increased towards them. He warned, he cajoled, he showered them with entreaties of gentlest eloquence. He addressed the older men as fathers, the younger as brothers, the youths as sons, but when he was ridiculed by them in return he just laughed as he suffered a thousand insults.
SOURCE : http://www.vitae-patrum.org.uk/page17.html
Abraham Kidunia (RM)
(also known as Abraham Kidunaia)
Born near Edessa, Mesopotamia; died there, c. 366; feast day on the Byzantine Calendar is October 29. Abraham's surnamed "Kidunaia" derives from the name of his parish at Beth-Kiduna. He was born into a wealthy family near Edessa. Although Saint Abraham felt called to the religious life, he bowed to the wishes of his parents to marry. Immediately after the wedding feast, which led up to the ceremony, he informed his bride of his vocation, and fled from a life of privilege and a promising marriage to live as a hermit in the nearby desert. His friends, who searched for him for 17 days, found him in his cell at prayer. He begged them to leave him there. When they agreed, he walled up the door to his cell, except for a small window through which he could receive the food needed for sustenance.
Voir aussi : http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j213sd_AbrahamKiduna_03_16.html
SOURCE : http://www.vitae-patrum.org.uk/page17.html
Abraham Kidunia (RM)
(also known as Abraham Kidunaia)
Born near Edessa, Mesopotamia; died there, c. 366; feast day on the Byzantine Calendar is October 29. Abraham's surnamed "Kidunaia" derives from the name of his parish at Beth-Kiduna. He was born into a wealthy family near Edessa. Although Saint Abraham felt called to the religious life, he bowed to the wishes of his parents to marry. Immediately after the wedding feast, which led up to the ceremony, he informed his bride of his vocation, and fled from a life of privilege and a promising marriage to live as a hermit in the nearby desert. His friends, who searched for him for 17 days, found him in his cell at prayer. He begged them to leave him there. When they agreed, he walled up the door to his cell, except for a small window through which he could receive the food needed for sustenance.
He spent his whole
time in adoring and praising God, and tearfully imploring his mercy. He sole
earthly possessions consisted of a cloak, a piece of sackcloth which he wore,
and a little vessel out of which he both ate and drank. He lived alone in this
penitential state for fifty years, daily drawing renewed vigor from them and
growing in wisdom. Eventually he attracted many who sought his spiritual
guidance. Ten years after he had retired to the desert, his parents died
leaving him their great estates. Abraham commissioned a virtuous friend to
distribute the revenues to the poor.
At the entreaty of
his bishop, Abraham was ordained a priest and appointed as a missionary
preacher to Beth-Kiduna, a pagan hold- out. After enduring ill-treatment at the
hands of the towns inhabitants, he succeeded in completely converting them to
Christianity through his prayers, tears, and patient endurance after three
years. He was always afraid of getting too involved in the world, so after a
year of instructing the neophytes and ensuring they were supplied with priests
and other ministers, he went back to his cell.
A popular cultus
sprang up immediately upon his death. His life was written by Saint Ephrem, who
was his personal friend and admirer. The episodes connected with his niece
Saint Mary are now considered spurious (Attwater2, Benedictines, Encyclopedia,
Farmer, Husenbeth).
Saint Abraham is
painted as an old man with a flowing beard, clothed in skins. At times, he may
be shown in his cell with his niece, Saint Mary, in the adjoining cell
(Roeder).
March 15
St.
Abraham, Hermit
From his life
written by his friend, St. Ephrem, Op. t. 2. p. 1. Ed. nov. Vatic. See other
acts of St. Abraham, given in Latin by Lipoman, 29 Oct., and by Surius, 16
March, mentioned in Greek by Lambecius, Bibl. Vind. t. 8. p. 255. 260. 266. and
by Montfaucon, Bibl. Coislin. p. 211. Two other kinds of Greek Acts are found
among the MSS. at the abbey of Saint Germain-des-Prez, at Paris, Bibl. Coisl.
ib. See also Jos. Assemani, Bibl. Orient. t. 1. p. 38 and 396, from the
Chronicle of Edessa: likewise Kohlius, Introductio in historiam et rem
literariam Sclavorum, p. 316. Altonaviæ, A.D. 1729.
About the Year
360
[And his niece,
St. Mary, a penitent.] ST. ABRAHAM was born at Chidana, in
Mesopotamia, near Edessa, of wealthy and noble parents, who, after giving him a
most virtuous education, were desirous of engaging him in the married state. In
compliance with their inclinations, Abraham took to wife a pious and noble
virgin: but earnestly desiring to live and die in the state of holy virginity,
as soon as the marriage ceremony and feast were over, having made known his
resolution to his new bride, he secretly withdrew to a cell two miles from the
city Edessa; where his friends found him at prayer after a search, of seventeen
days. By earnest entreaties he obtained their consent, and after their
departure walled up the door of his cell, leaving only a little window, through
which he received what was necessary for his subsistence. He spent his whole
time in adoring and praising God, and imploring his mercy. He every day wept
abundantly. He was possessed of no other earthly goods but a cloak and a piece
of sackcloth which he wore, and a little vessel out of which he both eat and
drank. For fifty years he was never wearied with his austere penance and holy
exercises, and seemed to draw from them every day fresh vigour. Ten years after
he had left the world, by the demise of his parents, he inherited their great
estates, but commissioned a virtuous friend to distribute the revenues in
alms-deeds. Many resorted to him for spiritual advice, whom he exceedingly
comforted and edified by his holy discourses.
A large country
town in the diocess of Edessa, remained till that time addicted to idolatry,
and its inhabitants had loaded with injuries and outrages all the holy monks
and others who had attempted to preach the gospel to them. The bishop at length
cast his eye on Abraham, ordained him priest though much against his will, and
sent him to preach the faith to those obstinate infidels. He wept all the way
as he went, and with great earnestness repeated this prayer: “Most merciful
God, look down on my weakness: assist me with thy grace, that thy name may be
glorified. Despise not the works of thy own hands.” At the sight of the town,
reeking with the impious rites of idolatry, he redoubled the torrents of his
tears: but found the citizens resolutely determined not to hear him speak.
Nevertheless, he continued to pray and weep among them without intermission,
and though he was often beaten and ill-treated, and thrice banished by them, he
always returned with the same zeal. After three years the infidels were overcome
by his meekness and patience, and being touched by an extraordinary grace, all
demanded baptism. He staid one year longer with them to instruct them in the
faith; and on their being supplied with priests and other ministers, he went
back to his cell.
His brother
dying soon after his return thither, left an only daughter, called Mary, whom
the saint undertook to train up in a religious life. For this purpose he placed
her in a cell near his own, where, by the help of his instructions, she became
eminent for her piety and penance. At the end of twenty years she was unhappily
seduced by a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a wicked monk; who resorted often to the
place under colour of receiving advice from her uncle. Hereupon falling into
despair, she went to a distant town, where she gave herself up to the most
criminal disorders. The saint ceased not for two years to weep and pray for her
conversion. Being then informed where she dwelt, he dressed himself like a
citizen of that town, and going to the inn where she lived in the pursuit of
her evil courses desired her company with him at supper. When he saw her alone,
he took off his cap which disguised him, and with many tears said to her:
“Daughter Mary, don’t you know me? What is now become of your angelical habit,
of your tears and watchings in the divine praises?” &c
Seeing her
struck and filled with horror and confusion, he tenderly encouraged her and
comforted her, saying that he would take her sins upon himself if she would
faithfully follow his advice, and that his friend Ephrem also prayed and wept
for her. She with many tears returned him her most hearty thanks, and promised
to obey in all things his injunctions. He set her on his horse, and led the
beast himself on foot. In this manner he conducted her back to his desert, and
shut her up in a cell behind his own. There she spent the remaining fifteen
years of her life in continual tears, and the most perfect practices of penance
and other virtues. Almighty God was pleased within three years after her
conversion, to favour her with the gift of working miracles by her prayers. And
as soon as she was dead, “her countenance appeared to us,” says St. Ephrem, “so
shining, that we understood that choirs of angels had attended at her passage
out of this life into a better,” St. Abraham died five years before her: at the
news of whose sickness, almost the whole city and country flocked to receive
his benediction. When he had expired, every one strove to procure for
themselves some part of his clothes, and St. Ephrem, who was an eye-witness,
relates, that many sick were cured by the touch of these relics. SS. Abraham
and Mary were both dead when St. Ephrem wrote, who died himself in 378. 1 St. Abraham is named in the Latin, Greek, and Coptic
calendars, and also St. Mary in those of the Greeks.
St. Abraham
converted his desart into a paradise, because he found in it his God, whose
presence makes Heaven. He wanted not the company of men, who enjoyed that of
God and his angels; nor could he ever be at a loss for employment, to whom both
the days and nights were two short for heavenly contemplation. “Whilst his body
was employed in penitential manual labour, his mind and heart were sweetly
taken up in God, who was to him All in All, and the centre of all his desires
and affections. His watchings were but an uninterrupted sacrifice of divine
love, and by the ardour of his desire, and the disposition of his soul and its
virtual tendency to God, his sleep itself was a continuation of his union with
God, and exercise of loving him. He could truly say with the spouse, I sleep, but my heart watcheth. Thus Christians, who are placed in
distracting stations, may also, if they accustom themselves, converse
interiorly with God in purity of heart, and in all their actions and desires
have only his will in view. Such a life is a kind of imitation of the Seraphim,
to whom to live and to love are one and the same thing. “The angels,” says St.
Gregory the Great, “always carry their Heaven about with them wheresoever they
are sent, because they never depart from God, or cease to behold him; ever
dwelling in the bosom of his immensity; living and moving in him, and
exercising their ministry in the sanctuary of his divinity.” This is the
happiness of every Christian who makes a desert, by interior solitude, in his
own heart.
Note 1. Bollandus, Papebroke, and Pagi pretend that St.
Abraham the hermit lived near the Hellespont, and long after St. Ephrem: but
are clearly confuted by Jos. Assemani, Bibl. Orient. t. 1. and Com. in Calend.
Univ. t. 5. p. 324. ad 29 Oct. The Chronicle of Edessa assures us that he was a
native of Chidana, and was living in the year of the Greeks, 667; of Christ,
356. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume III: March. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
Voir aussi : http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j213sd_AbrahamKiduna_03_16.html
