The Guardian Angel: Eucharistic Miracle 6th Century, St. Mary of Egypt
Our Eucharistic Miracle we will look at today is from the 6th Century, St. Mary of Egypt. I want to take a moment and remind us of some things we all need to be reminded of at times and if you are solid, God be with you and keep you, share it with others. But as we add more and more people that receive these teachings and Miracles, it becomes necessary from time to time to focus and refocus for love of Jesus, Mary, and those put into our path. So it goes, a short summary of some things to keep in mind:
Our faith is not founded on Eucharistic miracles, but on the proclamation of the Lord Jesus, received with faith through the action of the Holy Spirit. We believe because we have believed in the preaching. It says in Romans, 10:17, "Faith depends on hearing and hearing by the word of Christ; and, in turn, preaching depends on the word of Christ." then listen to what the great Angelic Doctor of the Church says in St. Thomas, Summa Theologiae, "Believing is an act of the will moved by God through grace, gives its consent to divine truth".
With that in mind, you know that our faith in the Eucharist has as its center Christ. Who during His preaching foretold the institution of the Eucharist and then actually instituted It during the celebration of the Last Supper with His Apostles on Holy Thursday.
No Christian is obliged to believe in any private revelation, not even those approved by the Church. But in principle, however, the believer must not exclude the possibility that God may intervene in an extraordinary way in any given moment, place, event or person.
The difficulty is discerning whether, in an individual case, the authentic extraordinary intervention of God has taken place. This is one of the reasons the Church is so prudent in the face of extraordinary phenomena like Eucharistic miracles. I have also taken this opportunity and will in future times, bring you a little information from not only early church fathers, but great theologians of the church.
Please take time to read these short summaries of those who went before us, and before reading the Miracle that follows. Love and prayers in Christ to your family. To Jesus through Mary, GregoryMary
ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH
St. Ignatius became the third bishop of Antioch, succeeding St. Evodius, who was the immediate successor of St. Peter. He heard St. John preach when he was a boy and knew St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. Seven of his letters written to various Christian communities have been preserved. Eventually, he received the martyr's crown as he was thrown to wild beasts in the arena.
"Consider how contrary to the mind of God are the heterodox in regard to the grace of God which has come to us. They have no regard for charity, none for the widow, the orphan, the oppressed, none for the man in prison, the hungry or the thirsty. They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, the flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His graciousness, raised from the dead."
"Letter to the Smyrnaeans", paragraph 6. circa 80-110 A.D.
"Come together in common, one and all without exception in charity, in one faith and in one Jesus Christ, who is of the race of David according to the flesh, the son of man, and the Son of God, so that with undivided mind you may obey the bishop and the priests, and break one Bread which is the medicine of immortality and the antidote against death, enabling us to live forever in Jesus Christ."
-"Letter to the Ephesians", paragraph 20, c. 80-110 A.D.
"I have no taste for the food that perishes nor for the pleasures of this life. I want the Bread of God which is the Flesh of Christ, who was the seed of David; and for drink I desire His Blood which is love that cannot be destroyed."
-"Letter to the Romans", paragraph 7, circa 80-110 A.D.
"Take care, then who belong to God and to Jesus Christ - they are with the bishop. And those who repent and come to the unity of the Church - they too shall be of God, and will be living according to Jesus Christ. Do not err, my brethren: if anyone follow a schismatic, he will not inherit the Kingdom of God. If any man walk about with strange doctrine, he cannot lie down with the passion. Take care, then, to use one Eucharist, so that whatever you do, you do according to God: for there is one Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup in the union of His Blood; one altar, as there is one bishop with the presbytery and my fellow servants, the deacons."
-Epistle to the Philadelphians, 3:2-4:1, 110 A.D.
Eucharistic Miracle 6th Century, St. Mary of Egypt
This Eucharistic miracle is related in the life of St. Mary of Egypt who lived in the desert for 47 years. The account of her life was written by the Bishop Sofronio of Jerusalem in the 6th century. St. Mary is said to have walked on the Jordan River to reach the opposite bank and receive Communion from the Monk Zosimus.
St. Mary of Egypt was a typical girl many today can relate too. St. Mary was a twelve year old girl who found herself bored with life. She became a runaway leaving behind her family and loved ones because she wanted to be a singer and an actress. She loved to perform so she left for Alexandria Egypt where she became a prostitute. How tragic this is as we see this happening today.
We are told that when St. Mary was 12 years of age she left her parents and went to Alexandria.
At some point in her young life, her lifestyle was taking a heavy toll on her life and she began to cry out for help. Do we not see this today? People just hide themselves in drugs and other things that helps them cope with their lifestyle. St. Mary, after about 17 years of this lifestyle she left Alexandria and found herself wondering in Palestine looking for answers, looking for help when she noticed a large crowd of people gathering. At first, Mary thought she might be able to find customers to help her find food and drink.
There she led a very dissolute life for 16 years. At some point in her young life, her lifestyle was taking a heavy toll on her life and she began to cry out for help. Do we not see this today? People just hide themselves in drugs and other things that helps them cope with their lifestyle. St. Mary, after about 17 years of this lifestyle she left Alexandria and found herself wondering in Palestine looking for answers, looking for help when she noticed a large crowd of people gathering.
At first, Mary thought she might be able to find customers to help her find food and drink. One day she came upon a ship about to set sail with different groups of passengers. She inquired who they might be and where they were going. She was told they were pilgrims sailing toward Jerusalem for the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. She decided to join them.
But this crowd was different from then men she had known for so long, this particular day was a major feast celebrating the Holy Cross of Christ. Mary goes into the Church and coming upon an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, something tremendous takes place within her. Just like the woman Jesus spoke to at the well, Mary found herself thirsting for that water that will never run dry. Like the woman caught in adultery, Mary found herself among Jesus family and she too wanted that forgiveness. Like the woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears and dried Jesus feet with her hair, Mary found forgiveness through the Sacraments of the Catholic Church.
When on the feast day she tried to enter the church, she was seized by a mysterious force. Fearfully she raised her eyes to an image of the Holy Virgin and was overcome with a deep sorrow for the sinful life she had led until that day. Only then was she able to make her way into the church and worship the True Cross.
Mary being overcome with remorse and sorrow for her sin, she prayed to Our Lady asking for guidance. The Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Our Mother as well, loved her wayward child who just found her way home. The Virgin Mary told Mary, “If you cross the Jordan River, you will find peace.”
The following day, day after her confession and Communion, St. Mary did cross the Jordan river to the desert of Arabia. Mary ran into St. Zosimus who had been living there for almost 50 years. It was like the Virgin Mary was sending St. Mary to St. Zosimus which leads to a greater point. Like St. Zosimus, it is important for us to be accountable and ready should the Lord send someone our way to teach then and show them the truth. St. Mary did indeed find peace as she fell more and more in love with Our Lord and His Mother.
St. Zosimus was in the desert following a Lenten penance when St. Mary called out to him asking him to met her at this place next year and to bring her Jesus in the Eucharist for her. A year did pass when St. Zosimus did come by the rivers edge, but St. Mary was still on the other side of the river without a means to cross over. There was no boat, nor was there a bridge nearby, so St. Mary took a leap of faith. She did the sign of the cross and began to walk across the water, what a great sign and wonder that even St. Zosimus was praising God as he gave St. Mary Holy Communion.
With such a great experience the two Saints made another agreement to meet again the following year. Being a hermit, St. Zosimus kept socializing to a minimum, but he came to love this young woman who grew to love Jesus so much.
One year Zosimus arrived with the Eucharist, but Mary did not show. In great sorrow Zosimus prayed: “Lord, my God, King and Creator of all, do not deprive me of my desire, but grant that I may see this holy woman.” Then he thought, “Now what will I do if she appears, there is no boat around to get me across? I will not achieve my wish.” While he gave into these thoughts, Mary appeared on the opposite shore and Zosimus was consoled. Then he saw her make the sign of the Cross over the water and walk out on it as though it were dry land. With such a site and miracle, the two made the agreement to meet the following year.
When 12 months had passed Zosimus returned as before, St. Zosimus made good his promise to meet St. Mary once again but when he came to see her, he found her dead, the Lord just took her, but he did find a note for him to bury her.
As St. Zosimus began to bury St. Mary, a lion came out of the desert and assisted digging her grave. Revelation 5:5 states, “Then one of the elders said to me, “Weep not; lo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Jesus is the “Lion of Judah, the Son of David, who has victory over the grave. The Story of St. Mary is a great reminder that we can overcome sin and death through the mercy and forgiveness of God.
This is a great story as we are celebrating this year of jubilee, the Jubilee of Mercy and St Mary offers her example for all those today who find themselves lost and forsaken. Jesus loves you and will forgive you through your Confession and repentance.
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.Hebrews 12:1
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous. Hebrews 13:1-3
