From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   January 11th - St. Theodocius the Cenobiarch.   
      
   Born in Garissus, Cappadocia, c. 423; died near Bethlehem 529.   
   Theodosius was born and raised in a devout Christian family. While still   
   young,   
   he decided to consecrate himself to God and to become a student of the   
   Scripture. Eventually, he was ordained a reader. In the course of his   
   studies,   
   he was moved by the example of Abraham who "obeyed when he was called to go   
   out   
   to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not   
   knowing   
   where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a   
   foreign   
   country . . . for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose   
   architect and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10). And so it happened that when   
   Theodosius was about 30, he left home to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to   
   the   
   places of the Savior's Passion.   
      
   When he reached Antioch, he visited Simeon Stylites, a living statue of   
   prayer   
   and renunciation, to receive his blessing. Theodosius did not visit Simeon   
   like   
   the curious who came in great numbers to disturb his prayer, or the mockers   
   who   
   came to make fun of the saint; and Simeon, foretelling the future glory of   
   his   
   youthful visitor, called to him, saying: "Theodosius, man of God, you are   
   welcome here." Theodosius climbed upon the pillar of Simeon to receive his   
   advice and blessing.   
      
   Tradition says that Theodosius tried eremitical life and decided that it was   
   not   
   his calling. With some companions he went to a mountain, where they lived in   
   extreme privation, constant prayer, and charitable works. Their fame reached   
   the   
   ears of many young people who came to their monastery asking permission to   
   remain with them. It grew rapidly, its monks being of several peoples and   
   languages.   
      
   Eventually, Theodosius had to undertake the construction of an immense   
   monastery   
   at Catismus, near Bethlehem, that could provide quarters for the throng of   
   pilgrims, religious, and sick. Thereby, he became the founder of monasticism   
   in   
   Palestine, and built a monastery on the shores of the Dead Sea 'like a city   
   of   
   saints in the midst of the desert.' There were four churches-one for each of   
   three different languages and a fourth for penitents-and three hospitals.   
   One   
   hospital cared for the aged, another for the physically ill, and the third   
   for   
   the mentally ill. Greeks, Armenians, and Persians worked and prayed happily   
   together. And no one was ever turned away without a meal and good   
   hospitality-no   
   matter how little the monks themselves had to eat.   
      
   Sallus, patriarch of Jerusalem appointed Theodosius's friend and   
   fellow-countryman, Saint Sabas, head of all hermit-monks in Palestine and   
   set   
   Saint Theodosius over those living in communities: This explains his surname   
   'Cenobiarch,' i.e., chief of those leading a life in common. Theodosius was   
   a   
   staunch opponent of Monophysitism, which led to his being removed from   
   office   
   for a short time by the Emperor Anastasius.   
      
   Emperor Anastasius patronized the Eutychian heresy, and tried to win   
   Theodosius   
   over to his own views. In 513, he deposed Elias, patriarch of Jerusalem,   
   just as   
   he had previously banished Flavian II of Antioch, and intruded Severus into   
   that   
   see. Theodosius and Sabas maintained the rights of Elias, and of his   
   successor   
   John; whereupon the imperial officers thought it advisable to connive at   
   their   
   proceedings, considering the great authority they had merited by their   
   sanctity.   
   Soon after, the emperor sent Theodosius a considerable amount of money, for   
   charitable uses in appearance, but in reality as a bribe. The saint accepted   
   it,   
   and distributed it all among the poor.   
      
   Of course, the emperor thought that he had finally persuaded Theodosius.   
   Anastasius sent the saint a heretical profession of faith, in which the   
   divine   
   and human natures of Christ were confounded into one, and wanted Theodosius   
   to   
   sign it. Our saint responded to Anastasius with apostolic zeal, and for some   
   time the emperor was more peaceable. But soon he renewed his persecuting   
   edicts   
   against the orthodox, dispatching troops to execute them. When Theodosius   
   heard   
   about this, he traveled throughout Palestine urging everyone to stand fast   
   in   
   the faith of the four general councils. Thereupon the emperor banished   
   Theodosius. He was recalled by Anastasius's successor within a short time.   
      
   One of the biographers of Theodosius writes: "He did not punish the brethren   
   with severity, but with a sweet, agreeable, and loving flow of words which   
   penetrated to the depth of the heart. He was at once severe and kind; he   
   consoled and astonished the religious with his kindness; he governed them   
   with   
   such calmness and tranquility that he seemed to be alone in a desert. He was   
   always the same, whether alone or in company, because he learned to keep   
   himself   
   always in the presence of God."   
      
   In his old age, Theodosius was stricken with a long illness that made his   
   skin   
   and body dry like a stone. He suffered a great deal from this, but bore his   
   pains with perfect patience, praying continually, so much so that even at   
   night   
   his lips continued to move while he slept, as if they were saying some   
   prayer.   
   Theodosius died about the age of 105. Patriarch Peter of Jerusalem and the   
   whole   
   country were present at his funeral, which was honored by miracles. He was   
   buried in his first cell, called the cave of the Magi, because the wise men   
   who   
   searched for Christ soon after his birth were said to have lodged in it.   
   Theodosius's reputation for holiness multiplied in the many miracles that   
   followed his death for the benefit of those who begged his intercession   
   (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia, Gill, Walsh).   
      
   In art, Saint Theodosius is an abbot hermit with iron bands on his neck and   
   arms, chains and a money bag near him (Roeder). He is the patron of file   
   makers   
   (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "There is no end to human prudence! It manifests itself in a thousand,   
   thousand   
   ways. And we certainly know that most of our evils come only from this false   
   prudence."   
   -St. Francis de Sales   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and the glory of   
   the   
   Lord is risen upon thee.   
   For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the   
   Lord   
   shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  (Isaias   
   60:1-2)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A set of four ejaculations to the Holy Trinity:   
      
   O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee who art dwelling by Thy   
   grace within my soul.   
      
   O Most Holy Trinity, who art dwelling by Thy grace within   
   my soul, make me love Thee more and more.   
      
   O Most Holy Trinity, who art dwelling by Thy grace within   
   my soul, sanctify me more and more.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)