July 3: Saint Phocas, Gardener
Let us read from Butler's Lives of the Saints, about this holyman:
Saint Phocas lived near the gate of Sinope, a city of Pontus, and lived by cultivating a garden, which yielded him a handsome subsistence, and wherewith plentifully to relieve the indigent. In his humble profession he imitated the virtue of the most holy anchorets, and seemed in part restored to the happily condition of our first parents in Eden. To prune the garden without labor or toil was their sweet employment and pleasure. Since their sin, the earth yields not its fruit but by the sweat of our brow.
No work is more natural or necessary to us and better for us, than that of gardening. No part of the universe is more beautiful than a well kept garden with its beautiful flowers, rich produce and the variety and sweetness of its fruit.
Eventually this well-known charitable gardener was martyred. Let us pray to Saint Phocas to inspire us as we till our gardens, that we may do so for the love of God and our neighbor as Jesus commanded.
PRAYER: Saint Phocas, lead us to appreciate the peace of gardening and meditating on holy things. Amen.
