Today July 13

Today is the feast of yet another Desert Father, St. Serapion, (fourth century). It seems to me we covered him not long ago, but perhaps his story is similar to others, or that he, like so many other saints, has TWO feast days (one old and one new) and perhaps it was longer ago than I think.

With holy audacity, Serapion approached a notorious prostitute and said, "Expect me this evening, for I should like to come and spend the night with you." "Very well, Father," she said. When he arrived, he said, "Do you have the bed ready?" "Yes, Father," she said. "Wait a bit," he replied, "for we have a rule of prayer and I must fulfill it." Then he began the office and after every psalm he said a prayer for the girl that she might be converted, and she started trembling. Then he started reading some from the letters of St. Paul and when he was finished, she fell to the floor as if dead. Arising, she realized he had not come to her to commit sin but to save her immortal soul, so she said, "Father, do me this kindness and take me where I can please God." And St. Serapion took her to a nunnery where she lived, did penance and "pleased God all the rest of her life." -- Sayings of the Desert Fathers.

St. Serapion was both practical AND idealistic. He was for social justice, but in ways that definitely would NOT please the intellectual elite. Seeing a brother whose shelves were full of books, he said, "What shall I say to you? You have taken the living of the widows and orphans and put it on your shelves."

He used the homely analogy of soldiers in the emperor's camp: they single-mindedly look only to him, gazing neither to the right nor to the left. And they are considered brave. Indeed, there is no room in their heart for fear of the enemy. The men who stand before God are the same way.

And finally, he was a good psychologist. When a brother came to him and was invited to pray with him, he begged off, saying he was unworthy and a sinner. Likewise when St. Serapion wanted to wash his feet, he said he was unworthy. Then they ate and while eating, Serapion said, "My son, if you want to make progress, stay in your cell and pay attention to yourself and your manual work; going out is not so profitable for you as remaining at home." At that the young man's face fell, so much so that Serapion could not but tell that he was greatly offended. So he said, "Up to now you have called yourself a sinner and accused yourself of being unworthy, but when I admonished you lovingly, you were extremely put out. If you want to be humble, learn to bear generously when others unfairly inflict upon you and do not harbor empty words in your heart." It worked; the young man was struck to the heart and left greatly edified.