Advent: December 5th
Monday of the Second Week of Advent
Other Commemorations: St. Sabbas, Abbot (RM)
MASS READINGS
December 05, 2005 (Readings on USCCB website)
COLLECT PRAYER
God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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The Lord is waiting to show you favor, and he rises to pity you; for the Lord is a God of justice: blessed are all who wait for him! O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out (Isaiah 30:18-19).
Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was the feast of St. Sabbas, a famous hermit of the 5th century who was one of the chief orgainzers and luminaries of monasticism in Palestine. His rule had a great influence on Eastern monachism. Devotion to him was introduced to Rome in the 6th century by eastern monks who were refugees from the invasions of the Arabs.
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St. Sabbas
Saint Sabbas the Sanctified was born in the fifth century in Cappadocia, in the pious Christian family of John and Sophia. His father was a military commander. Journeying to Alexandria on military matters, his wife went with him, but they left their five-year-old son in the care of an uncle. When the boy reached eight years of age, he entered the monastery of St. Flavian, located nearby. The gifted child quickly learned to read and became an expert on the Holy Scriptures. In vain did his parents urge St. Sabbas to return to the world and enter into marriage. At seventeen years of age he received monastic tonsure, and attained such perfection in fasting and prayer that he was given the gift of wonderworking. After spending ten years at the monastery of St. Flavian, he went to other monasteries. St. Sabbas lived in obedience at this monastery until the age of thirty.
He was later blessed to seclude himself in a cave. On Saturdays, however, he left his hermitage and came to the monastery, where he participated in divine services and ate with the brethren. After a certain time St. Sabbas received permission not to leave his hermitage at all, and he struggled in the cave for five years. After several years, disciples began to gather around St. Sabbas, seeking the monastic life. As the number of monks increased, a lavra sprang up. When a pillar of fire appeared before St. Sabbas as he was walking, he found a spacious cave in the form of a church.
St. Sabbas founded several more monasteries. Many miracles took place through the prayers of St. Sabbas: at the Lavra a spring of water welled up, during a time of drought there was abundant rain, and there were also healings of the sick and the demoniacs. The saint surrendered his soul to God in the year 532.
Symbols and Representation: Abbot with an apple; man holding the rule of his monastery in his hand; man seated at the edge of a cliff; man praying in a cave with a lion nearby
Highlights and Things to Do:
- Learn about the icon of the Mother of God called the "Milk-Giver" and its connection to St. Sabbas.
- Make preparations for the feast of St. Nicholas. Tonight many families put out their shoes or stockings for St. Nicholas to fill. Also many families celebrate with a party on St. Nicholas Eve.
- Don't forget to pray "Hail and Blessed be the hour...", the Christmas Anticipatory Prayer every day until Christmas.
- Read more about St. Sabas:
- Read this longer biography of St. Sabas to find out why he is pictured with an apple.
- Read St. Sabbas the Sanctified and his Holy Lavra.
- Visit this site to learn more about the ancient monastery established in the 5th century by St. Sabas.
