Saint of the Day: St. Ephrem of Syria

“Doctor of the Syrians”

Public domain

Deacon and Doctor of the Church (d. 373)

His life

+ Ephrem was born in Nisibis in what is modern-day Turkey.

+ A renowned theologian and preacher, he is celebrated as the greatest poet of the Syrian Church.

+ One of the Church’s earliest hymn-writers, he used his poems and hymns to counter the efforts of local heretical groups who were spreading their teachings through sung verse.

+ Honored for his many sermons and commentaries on Scripture, Ephrem died in 373 and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1920 and is sometimes honored as a special patron of spiritual directors.

For prayer and reflection

“The figure of Ephrem is still absolutely timely for the life of the various Christian Churches. We discover him in the first place as a theologian who reflects poetically, on the basis of Holy Scripture, on the mystery of man's redemption brought about by Christ, the Word of God incarnate. His is a theological reflection expressed in images and symbols taken from nature, daily life and the Bible. Ephrem gives his poetry and liturgical hymns a didactic and catechetical character: they are theological hymns yet at the same time suitable for recitation or liturgical song.”—Pope Benedict XVI

Spiritual bonus

On this day we also remember Blessed Robert Salt. A laybrother in the Carthusian Order, he was arrested and subsequently died of starvation on June 9, 1537, for his refusal acknowledge King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church in England in the early months of the English Reformation. Blessed Robert was beatified with other English martyrs in 1886.

Prayer

Pour into our hearts O Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit,
at whose prompting the Deacon Saint Ephrem
exulted in singing of your mysteries
and from whom he received the strength
to serve you alone.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.