December 5: Saint Sabas
After the death of Saint Euthymius, a relaxation of discipline crept into that monastery; on which account Sabas, sensible that a religious house in such a condition is like a general shipwreck, in which every one must save himself as he can, retired into a desert toward the East, in which Saint Gerasimus lived. , from Butler's Lives of the Saints , After he had lived there five years, several resorted to him, desiring to serve God under his direction. ...
Basically this saint was seeking the best way to save his soul, but did not find it in a lax monastery. How many of us live in lax monasteries , because our homes should also be religious houses . Although we do not follow the rules monks or nuns do, in our homes there must be a rule of conduct, by which our homes are kept happy and holy. Without holiness, happiness in a home is impossible. Saint Sabas went on to form a holy home, a monastery with good rules, which were not only made but enforced. Let us read what happened to him:
Saint Sabas met with persecutors among the monks, to whom his virtue seemed too scrupulous a severity; and these men were long insensible to his mild remonstrances and holy instructions, animated by the example of his admirable sanctity. How easily do men blind themselves, and even canonize their more subtle vices! And how difficult is it for such sinners to be reclaimed! It us much easier to convert a notorious sinner than one who is falsely just. ...We must often suspect and narrowly examine our own hearts, which are frequently the greatest cheats with which we can have to deal. We are often imposed upon by other men, but a thousand times more often by ourselves.
How many of us canonize our vices, that is make them out to be virtues. This is the most serious form of lying there is, lying to ourselves about the true state of our soul. If we lie in this way, we shall certainly arrive in the home of liars, hell.
PRAYER: Saint Sabas, help us all to do God's will, no matter how difficult it may be. Amen.
