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Here is a story that will prove that ANYONE can change their ways, if they truly desire. Society, today, tells us to go for what we want, when we want it, with no second thoughts afforded for consequences. If it feels good, then go for it. Therefore, we can easily relate to Saint Mary of Egypt. A saint who's bold story is so humbling and beneficial to our souls that it is read, in its entirety, the 5th Sunday of The Great Fast Living in Egypt during the 5th century, Mary ran away from home at the age of twelve to Alexandria. She was a lover of passions who sought after men with an insatiable zeal. She did not do this for money, which would have made her a prostitute, but rather out of her sheer desire to satisfy her flesh. For seventeen years she lived this life. One day she saw crowds walking towards the sea and was curious as to their destination. She asked someone where everyone was running to and was told that they were headed to Jerusalem for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Seeing the many men gathered, she thought nothing of the feast but only of the flesh before her and she wanted to partake of it. She asked to come with them, to which they asked how she would pay. As she had no money to pay for her journey, she instead bought her way, gladly, through sexual favors. Upon reaching Jerusalem, she continued her behavior for several days. Then came the Feast day and everyone gathered toward the church. Many passed by and entered in. Mary pushed her way through the crowds, anxious to be part of the festivities. However, upon reaching the doorstep, Mary was invisibly restrained from proceeding. Everyone else walked freely through but she was unable to enter. She couldn't understand why this was happening and tried repeatedly until she was exhausted. She walked over and stood to the side and pondered the situation. She became painfully aware that her life of filth and fornication was the thing that was keeping her from entering the church. She was reminded of salvation in the depths of her soul and she began to weep and beat her breasts. Upon seeing the icon of the Theotokos, the Mother of God, she prayed from the depths of her heart. She begged for the Theotokos to be a witness to Her Son of the repentance she was spilling forth, that he may have mercy on her. She promised the Mother of God that she would turn her back on all of her worldly ways and go in any direction given to her, if only she could be afforded entry to see the life-giving cross. She then went again to the doorway and, this time, walked through easily. She witnessed the Cross and glorified God. Upon leaving she went back to the spot where she had made her promise and asked for direction from the Theotokos so that she could fulfill the vow she had made. She then heard a voice stating, "If you cross the Jordan, you will find glorious rest " A stranger offered her three coins with which she bought three loaves of bread and set off for her journey after partaking of the Holy Mysteries in the Church of Saint John the Baptist She crossed the river Jordan in a small boat and prayed for further direction. Now after forty-seven years, there happened to come her way a priest-monk who had been Divinely inspired to cross her path in order that he benefit from her story. He had fallen into vainglory, believing that there was no monk as pious as he was. But our God always finds a way to show us our sinfulness, if we only open our eyes to see. He came across Mary, walking naked in the desert. Her holiness showed when she knew his name without him offering it. Therefore, this elder, Zosimas, realizing that he was conversing with a living saint, sat with her and learned of her story. She retold the events to him with the utmost humility and shame. She divulged the torments that she had endured during her ascetic life in the desert. How she came to be in the desert where she did not see anyone but only prayed, having only eaten from the three loaves which she had brought. Upon conclusion, she begged Zosimas to dare not tell anyone of her story until after her repose. She also asked that the following year he bring her Holy Communion for she had not partaken of the sacrament for the entire length of her stay in the desert. She asked that he wait for her at the banks of the Jordan. Then she left him, asking him to pray for her. He agreed to honor her request When she left him, he fell to his knees and glorified God. He returned the next year, having told no one of her. Upon arriving at the Jordan, he wondered how she would cross to get to him. However, seeing her on the other side of the river, he watched as she made the sign of the cross over the waters and walked to him. He stood in awe of the miracle and was reminded of Christ's promise that all who purify themselves can become like Him. She asked him for his blessing. Then he read prayers and offered her the Holy Mysteries. After, she asked him to return the following year to the place in the desert where they had met. She stated that this was God's Will. He left, realizing that he hadn't even asked her name. The following year he returned. Praying for the Lord to guide him to her once again, he glimpsed her on the other side of the river, lying dead. Her arms were crossed and she was facing East. He wept and kissed her feet. He saw a note from her written to him on the ground asking that he bury "the humble Mary" who had died the previous year, on April 1st, after receiving the Holy Mysteries. He was comforted in knowing her name and in seeing the miracle of the previous year. He wondered how he would bury her and tried with a piece of wood to dig. However, the ground was too hard and would not give. Exhausted and upon nearly giving up, he saw nearby a lion standing over the reposed saint, licking her feet. After initial fear, he crossed himself and placed his faith in the saint that lie near him. The lion calmly approached him and it became clear that God was granting him this creature as a tool to help him dig so that he may bury Mary. Zosimas petitioned the help of the lion and while still speaking, the lion began to use he great claws to remove the earth for Zosimas. He once again wept on the feet of the saint and begged for her prayers and then lowered the saint and covered her with the earth. The lion departed and the elder returned to his monastery, glorifying Christ Upon his
return, he divulged the story to the brothers of the monastery. They
all marveled in the miracles and passionately kept the memory of the
saint alive. |
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