From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   July 6th - St. Sisoes the Great of Egypt   
      
   Venerable Sisoes the Great (+429) was a monastic hermit who struggled in the   
   Egyptian desert, in a cave blessed by the struggles of his predecessor, the   
   Venerable Antony the Great. Engaged for 60 years in spiritual struggle in   
   the desert, St. Sisoes achieved great spiritual purity and so grasped the   
   gift of working miracles, that by his prayers, he once even brought a   
   deceased youth back to life.   
      
   Unusually strict with himself, St. Sisoes was very merciful and sympathetic   
   toward his neighbors, and received everyone with love. The Venerable Saint   
   taught his visitors humility. In answer to one desert dweller who asked him   
   how he had managed to achieve constant mindfulness of God, the Saint noted:   
   "This, my son, is but little; most important of all is to consider yourself   
   to be the lowliest of all, for such self-disparagement facilitates one's   
   acquisition of humility." Asked by the monastics whether for a monk who had   
   fallen into sin one year of repentance was sufficient, St. Sisoes replied:   
   "I believe in the mercy of our Man-loving God, and if a man should repent   
   with all his soul, God will accept his repentance in three days."   
      
   As Venerable St. Sisoes lay on his deathbed, the disciples gathered around   
   their elder noticed that his face had become radiant. They asked the dying   
   man what he beheld. Abba Sisoes replied that he was looking upon the Holy   
   Prophets and Apostles. His disciples asked him "With whom are you   
   conversing" He answered that the Angels had come for his soul, and that he   
   was asking them for but a little more time in which to repent. His disciples   
   objected: "Father, you are not in need of repentance." However, with great   
   humility, the Saint replied: "Truly, I do not know whether I have even begun   
   to repent." As soon as he had uttered those words, his face became so   
   radiant that the brethren could not dare look upon it. The Venerable Saint   
   had just managed to relate to them that he beheld the Lord Himself, when his   
   Holy Soul departed for the Heavenly Kingdom.   
      
      
   Troparion - Tone 5   
      
   From your youth you followed the angelic life   
   And were therefore filled with many godly gifts.   
   O Sisoes, emulator of the angels,   
   In the hour of your going forth from this life,   
   You shone resplendently as the sun   
   Revealing your glory and illuminating our souls!   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "Virgin Mother of God: may I bind myself to God and to you, serve your own   
   Lord and serve you too, obey your own Son and so obey you. May I worship Him   
   as my Maker and you as the mother of my Maker. May I venerate Him as the   
   Lord of Hosts and you as the handmaid of the Lord. May I adore Him as my God   
   and you as the mother of my God."   
   -Saint Ildefonsus.   
      
   Bible Quote   
   Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art   
   called and be it confessed a good confession before many witnesses. I charge   
   thee before God who quickeneth all things, and before   
   Christ Jesus who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate, a good confession:   
   (1Tim.   
   6:12-13)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The Responsory in honor of Saint Anthony....   
      
   If you ask for miracles,   
   Death, error, all calamities,   
   The leprosy and demons fly,   
   And health succeeds infirmities.   
      
   The sea obeys and fetters break,   
   And lifeless limbs thou dost restore;   
   Whilst treasures lost are found again   
   When young or old thine aid implore.   
      
   All dangers vanish at thy prayer,   
   And direst need doth quickly flee.   
   Let those who know thy power proclaim-   
   Let Paduans say- these are of thee.   
      
   The sea obeys and fetters break,   
   And lifeless limbs thou dost restore;   
   Whilst treasures lost are found again   
   When young or old thine aid implore.   
      
   To Father, Son, may glory be,   
   And Holy Ghost eternally.   
      
   The sea obeys and fetters break,   
   And lifeless limbs thou dost restore;   
   Whilst treasures lost are found again   
   When young or old thine aid implore.   
      
   V. Pray for us, blessed Anthony:   
   R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.   
      
   Let us pray:   
   Let your Church, O God, be made joyful by the solemn commemoration of   
   blessed Anthony, your confessor and doctor; that the Church may always be   
   defended by your spiritual help and merit to possess eternal joys. Through   
   Christ our Lord.   
   Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)