SAINT OF THE DAY
TUESDAY, 5 DECEMBER, 2023
SAINT SABBAS THE SANCTIFIED
ABBOT CONFESSOR
(439 – December 5, 532)
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.
7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SAINT SABBAS THE SANCTIFIED
1. HE ENTERED THE MONASTERY AT AGE EIGHT
Sabbas suffered an unhappy childhood and was frequently abused. He ran away from home several times and by the time he was eight years old, he ended up in a monastery.
His two uncles fought for custody of the young boy and his estate, and planned to arrange marriage for him. But God had other plans for the future saint's life.
Even though his family attempted to convince him to come back home many times, Sabbas' time in the monastery left an impression. He decided to become a monk. Even though he was the youngest brother at the monastery, many were astounded at his virtue.
2. HE SWORE OFF OF APPLES
One day when Sabbas was working in the monastery garden, he saw an apple tree with fruit ripe for the picking. He picked an apple from the tree, but stopped to reflect on the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Realizing the temptations of the devil in his own life, he threw the apple on the ground and stomped on it. To help himself resist the temptations of the devil, he made a vow to never again eat an apple as long as he lived.
The young monk also devoted himself to prayer, nightly devotions, sleeping only as much as he needed, and never interrupting his work with distractions so as to offer even his labor up to God.
3. A PILGRIMAGE TO JERUSALEM CHANGED HIS LIFE
After ten years in the monastery, eighteen year old Sabbas traveled to Jerusalem. He was hoping to learn more about the practice of living in solitude. He spent the winter with the holy Abbot Elpidius.
The monks in Jerusalem hoped that the young monk would settle into life with them, but his search for solitude inspired Sabbas to desire discipleship with Saint Euthymius.
Euthymius rejected Sabbas' desire based on his age. Instead, Sabbas went to live in a monastery in the valley below. In that monastery, he served the sick and helped all his brothers with their daily tasks.
Sabbas was finally granted his wish for solitude when, at age 30, he took a five day silent retreat which he spent in prayer.
4. HE DRANK FROM A MIRACULOUS SPRING
After years of monastic life in the valley, Sabbas was chosen to go on retreat with Euthymius in the deserts of Rouban, where they believed Christ performed his 40 day fast before his passion.
During the retreat, Sabbas became so dehydrated that he was close to the point of death. Euthymius prayed that the Lord would take pity on the young monk. He stuck his staff into the earth. Immediately, a spring of water came forth and Sabbas was able to recover his strength for the rest of the retreat.
5. SABBAS WAS CALLED OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE
When Euthymius died, the monastery sank into laziness. Sabbas moved further into a desert cave, leaving behind the monastery. The only way to reach his remove cave home was by a rope, and Sabbas dined mainly on herbs.
Because of his holy example, Christian men seeking guidance found Sabbas in the desert. Before long, his followers numbered more than 150. Each one of them built a small hut around a remote church, called a laura.
When Sabbas was fifty, his local bishop asked him to discern priesthood so that he could better lead the men who journeyed into the desert to follow him. Sabbas agreed, but every Lent he would leave the community for a forty day silent retreat.
6. SABBAS INSPIRED HIS MOTHER'S VOCATION
After his father died, Sabbas' mother joined him in the desert and gave her life to God.
With the money her deceased husband had left her, Sabbas' mother helped the future saint build three hospitals and two monasteries.
7. HE CONVERSED WITH LIONS AND CONVERTED BANDITS
One day, Sabbas went into the desert to find a cave to pray in. The one he chose was actually a lion's den, and Sabbas encountered the lion around midnight. When the lion saw Sabbas, he dragged him out of the cave by the hem of his garment. But Sabbas wasn't afraid.
He recited the book of Psalms to the lion, and reminded the lion that the cave was big enough for two. The lion heard Sabbas' words and left the cave, not bothering Sabbas again.
When local thieves came across Sabbas in his cave, his holy example persuaded them to leave behind their life of sin and embrace a penitential life.
PRAYER: May the intercession of the blessed Abbott Sabbas help us, we pray You, Lord, so that we may obtain by his patronage what we cannot receive by our own merits. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who being God, lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.