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One of the fathers said, 'While I was sleeping one night, the Enemy came and smote me, and said to me, ' Go to the world and work righteousness; why do you shut yourself up like a beast in a cave?' And knowing the wickedness of the Enemy, who regarded me with an evil eye, I made the sign of the Cross, and he fled from me. Then, having waited a few days, he came and smote me on the neck in a bantering fashion, saying, 'Now that you have become a righteous man, go to the world that I may not destroy you'; and when I prayed and made the sign of the Cross over my face he departed from me. And after a short time he came again, and he took up a seat upon my neck, and then I bade my soul to be of good cheer, and stood up, and made the sign of the Cross, the symbol of merit, before him, and he disappeared again, for he was not able to stand before me.' Now these things took place and happened in this wise in very truth, and we may therefore know and understand the conduct wherein God rejoices, and there is, even as this [story shows], no reason for fearing the devils and all the evil spirits. Whosoever holds in contempt humility, and penitence of the mind, and the subjugation of the body, and remoteness from the care for the things which are seen, falls into the inclination of the world, and despises the good riches of the fear of God, and his hope for the inheritance of holy men is cut off, and for the delights of heaven which neither pass away nor are dissolved. May we, through the grace and mercy of Christ, be held to be worthy of these things! Amen.
Martyrologium  St. Alexander | St. Amator | St. Augusta | St. John of Egypt | St. Rupert | St. Matthew of Beauvais | St. Philetus |
Support for Persecuted Christians. - That persecuted Christians may be supported by the prayers and material help of the whole Church. |