S. JONAS THE GARDENER, MONK.
(4TH CENT.)
[Roman Martyrology, not to be confounded with the S. Jonas, monk, commemorated by the Greeks on Sept 21st. Authority:—Mention in the Life of S. Pachomius.]
In the monastery of Muchon, in Egypt, lived an old monk who acted as gardener. For eighty-five years he cultivated the fruits of the monastery garden, and gathered them, and gave of them to the monks, and to guests, and to travellers, as much as they would, but in all those years he never tasted so much as a grape, a date, or a fig; but lived on raw herbs with a little vinegar. Now, there stood in the midst of the monastery a very fruitful fig-tree, and the boys were in the habit of climbing it to gather and eat the luscious figs. And when S. Pachomius came one day to inspect the monastery, he saw that this fig-tree was a cause of self-indulgence and gluttony to some of the younger aspirants after an ascetic life. So he said to Jonas the gardener, "Cut that tree down!" Then the gardener lifted up his hands in dismay, and when Pachomius saw how greatly it would grieve the good man, he let him spare it. But lo! on the morrow the fig-tree was withered away, and Jonas knew that he had acted wrongly in opposing his will to the command of his superior. Jonas wore a dress made of three sheep-skins sewn together, and over this he cast a linen surplice without sleeves,[35] when he approached the Divine Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; but as soon as he had communicated, he laid it aside. Jonas, after supper, was wont to retire to his cell, sit on his chair weaving rushes in the dark, reciting passages of Scripture, till the midnight call to the monks to rise for the night office. Then, when that was concluded, he returned to his seat, and slept seated till dawn. And one day he was found dead in his chair with the rushes in his stiff hand. Then the monks buried him as he sat, with the half-plaited mat on his knees.
S. LAZARUS, B. OF MILAN.
(ABOUT A.D. 449.)
[Roman Martyrology. He died on March 14th, but as by the Milan use no saint is commemorated in Lent, his festival has been there thrown back to Feb. 11th; and adopted thence into the Roman Martyrology. His life from scattered notices is given by Bollandus.]
Of the acts of this saint, who was bishop of Milan before 440, but in what year consecrated is unknown, we have scarcely any records. He lived in the stormy time of the Gothic invasion of Italy. It is disputed whether he or S. Mamertus, bishop of Vienne, was the first to institute the use of litanies. It is certain that Bishop Lazarus ordered their use for three days in succession in all the principal churches of Milan.
S. EUPHROSYNE, V.
(ABOUT A.D. 470.)
[Roman Martyrology on Jan. 1st, but anciently on Feb. 11th; with great solemnity by the Greeks on September 25th. She is sometimes erroneously called Euphrosia or Euphrasia by martyrologists. The life of S. Euphrosyne is found inserted in the Vitæ Patrum. The authors of some of these lives are known, as S. Ephrem, S. Jerome, Sophronius of Jerusalem, Paulus Diaconus, but it is not known by whom the life of S. Euphrosyne was written. In gravity and purity of style it is not behind any of the others. That after her death a Greek life was written, which was translated into Latin, seems probable, from the extension of her cultus in the ancient Latin Church. Her life exists in an ancient Greek ode, and in a Latin heroic poem; another life is given by Simeon Metaphrastes, in all particulars of importance agreeing with that in the Lives of the Fathers, but without its freshness and ring of antiquity.]
The history of S. Euphrosyne, as given in the "Lives of the Fathers of the Desert," written, apparently, shortly after her death, is told so simply and beautifully by the ancient historian, that it shall be given here, somewhat abbreviated, but otherwise literally translated.
There was a man of Alexandria named Paphnutius, honourable, and observing the commandments of God. He married a wife worthy of his race, and of honest manners, but she was barren. Thereat the man was troubled much and sorrowful, likewise his wife was sore afflicted, seeing the distress of her husband. And after some time he told a certain abbot his desire; and he, compassionating him, besought the Lord to give him a child. Then God heard the prayers of these twain, and gave to Paphnutius a daughter. After that, Paphnutius brought his wife to the monastery, that she should be blessed by the abbot and the brethren. And when the little girl was seven years old, she was baptized, and called Euphrosyne, and her parents rejoiced over her, because they had received her of the Lord, and she was comely of face. Now when she was twelve years old, her mother died, and she lived with her father, who taught her her letters, and to read, and all the rest of the world's knowledge. The good report of her spread through the town, for she was wise in knowledge, and very comely, and composed in face and spirit. Thus many desired to mate her with their sons, and tried to come to terms with the father, but could not gain their point; for he said, "God's will be done." But one man excelled all in wealth and honour, and he sought the father and asked him to give his daughter to his own son in marriage; and he consented; so the usual betrothal gifts were made.