An inspiring example of patience...
“5. Under the portico by which you enter the church of the Blessed Clement there used to be a certain man of the name of Servulus, whom many among you, like myself, will remember; a man poor in the things of this world, but rich in merit, whom long illness had enfeebled. From an early age until he died he lay completely paralysed. Not alone could he not stand, he could not even sit up in his bed, nor raise a hand to his mouth, nor turn from one side to the other. He was cared for by his mother and his brother, and by their hands he distributed to the poor whatever he would receive in alms.
He could not read; but he purchased for himself codices of the Sacred Scriptures, and he was wont to ask religious-minded persons who came to see him to read them to him. And in this way he became fully acquainted with the Word of God, in as far as it was possible to him; for as I have said he was wholly illiterate. In the midst of his continuous infirmity he strove fervently at all times to give thanks to God, and to fill his days and nights with hymns and praise of God. As the time drew near for his great patience to be rewarded, pain returned to the vital parts of his body. When he knew himself near to death he would exhort all who came to visit him to stand and recite with him the psalms in expectation of his going forth.
And as he lay dying, and while they were reciting the psalms, of a sudden he hushed the voices of the singers, and they were awed at the strength of his voice as he said to them: “Be silent. Can you not hear what glorious praises are resounding from heaven?” And while he lay there listening to these same praises, which he was hearing within his own heart, this sanctified soul was delivered from the weariness of the flesh. And at his going forth, such was the fragrance of the odour that was diffused about him, that all who were present were filled with its wondrous sweetness; and by this sign they understood that the praises heard by him had greeted his soul as it entered paradise. One of our monks, who is still with us, was present at this happening, and is still wont with tears to tell us, that until the body was placed in the grave the fragrance of the odour was never absent from their nostrils.
Behold in what manner he departed this life, who while in it bore his afflictions with patience. And so, according to the word of the Lord, the good earth has “brought forth fruit in patience;” which having been broken up by the ploughshare of trial, came at length to the reward of the harvest.”
CALL TO ACTION: As we journey through life, accept our trials as God’s most holy Will and bear them with patience.
Source: Quote above from "The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers" (St. Gregory's Sermon for Sexagesima Sunday on "Christian Moderation"), Volume I, page 402; Henry Regnery Company (copyright 1955); Imprimatur: Cornelius Ep. Corcagiensis; Nihil Obstat: Jacobus Canonicus Bastible, Censor Deputatus
Photo by Jacob Kiesow