Third Century
His life
+ Pachomius was born in Egypt and converted to Christianity after witnessing the charity of local Christians.
+ After living under the guidance of an elderly hermit, he founded several monasteries, laying the foundation for monastic life as we know it today: a balance of prayer, solitude, and work.
+ Saint Pachomius died around the year 346.
Spirit bonus
Saint Basil the Great visited Pachomius and his monks and adopted many of the spiritual values he learned from them, incorporating them into his own monastic rule—The Rule of Saint Basil—which is the guiding document for all monks and nuns of the Eastern Church.
Quote
“It is patience that reveals every grace to you, and it is through patience that the saints received all that was promised to them.”—Saint Pachomius
Prayer
Let the blessed abbot Pachomius intercede for us O Lord. May his prayers win us your help, since our own actions cannot merit it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from Benedictine Supplement:Proper Masses for the Use of the Benedictine Confederation)
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Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...