October 28th - St. Salvius
Seer of Heavenly Mysteries
THE FEELING OF REVERENCE which I have for him compels me to say something
about
St. Salvius. He often used to tell how, during his years as a layman,
while
he
was occupying himself with worldly affairs he never permitted himself to
be
ensnared by the carnal desires which so frequently fill the minds of young
people. When the Holy Spirit finally found a place in his heart, he gave
up
the
struggle of worldly existence and entered a monastery. As one now
consecrated to
Almighty God, he understood that it was better to serve the Lord in
poverty
and
to humble oneself before Him, rather than to strive after the wealth of
this
transient world. He spent many years in his monastery and observed the
rule
instituted by the Fathers.
When the time came for the abbot of this monastery to die, Salvius took
over
the
charge of feeding the flock, for he had by then reached the fullness of
his
physical and intellectual powers. Once he had been given this appointment,
it
was his duty to be more with the brethren, in order to maintain
discipline;
but
instead he became even more withdrawn, and chose for himself a cell which
was
still more remote. Once he was elected abbot, he lived just as ascetically
as
before, devoting all his time to reading and prayer. He was persuaded that
it
was more fitting for him to remain secluded among his monks, than to
appear
in
public and be addressed as abbot. Being thus persuaded, he bade farewell
to
the
monks. He became a recluse, and in the solitude of his cell he subjected
himself
to even greater abstinence than before. At the same time he took good care
to
observe the law of Christian charity, offering up prayers for all who came
to
visit the monastery, and giving them the bread of offering with abundant
grace.
Again and again those who came with grave afflictions went away healed.
One day when Salvius lay in bed, gasping for breath and weakened by a high
fever, his cell was suddenly filled with a bright light and the walls
seemed
to
shake. He stretched out his hands to heaven, and as he gave thanks he
breathed
forth his spirit. The monks, together with his own mother carried his dead
body
out of the cell with lamentation; then they washed it, vested it and
placed
it
upon a bier. They passed the long night in weeping and singing psalms.
When morning came and all was ready for the funeral, the corpse began to
move on
the bier. Salvius' cheeks became flushed, he stirred himself as if
awakened
from
a deep sleep, opened his eyes, raised his hands and spoke: "Oh merciful
Lord,
why hast Thou done this to me? Why hast Thou decreed that I should return
to
this dark place where we dwell on earth? I would have been much happier in
Thy
compassion on high, rather than having to begin once again my profitless
life
here below." Those around him were in perplexity. When they asked him the
meaning of the miracle which had occurred, he gave no reply. He rose from
the
bier, feeling no ill effects from the illness which he had suffered, and
for
three days he remained without food or drink.
On the third day he called the monks, together with his mother. "My most
dear
friends," he said, "hear what I am about to say. You must understand that
all
you see in this world is entirely without value. All is vanity, exactly as
the
prophet Solomon proclaimed. Blessed is he who behaves in such a way in
this
earthly existence that he is rewarded by beholding God in His glory in
heaven."
As he said this, he wondered whether he should say more or stop with this.
He
was silent for a while, but the monks begged him to tell them what he had
seen.
"When my cell shook four days ago," he continued, "and you saw me lying
dead, I
was raised up by two angels and carried to the highest peak of heaven,
until
I
seemed to have beneath my feet not only this miserable earth, but also the
sun
and moon, the clouds and stars. Then I was conducted through a gate that
shone
more brightly than the light of the sun and entered a building where the
whole
floor shone with gold and silver. The flight was impossible to describe.
The
place was filled with a multitude of people, neither male nor female,
stretching
so far in all directions that one could not see where it ended. The angels
made
a way for me through the crowd of people in front of me, and we came to
the
place towards which our gaze had been directed even when we had been far
away.
Over this place there hung a cloud more brilliant than any light, and yet
no
sun
or moon or star could be seen; indeed, the cloud shone more brightly than
any of
these with its own brilliance. A voice came out of the cloud, as the voice
of
many waters. Sinner that I am, I was greeted with great respect by a
number
of
beings, some dressed in priestly vestments and others in ordinary dress;
my
guides told me that these were the martyrs and other holy men whom we
honor
here
on earth and to whom we pray with great devotion. As I stood here there
was
wafted over me a fragrance of such sweetness that, nourished by it, I have
felt
no need of food or drink until this very moment."
"Then I heard a voice which said: 'Let this man go back into the world,
for
our
churches have need of him.' I heard the voice, but I could not see who was
speaking. Then I prostrated myself on the ground and wept. 'Alas, alas, O
Lord!'
I said. 'Why hast Thou shown me these things only to take them away from
me
again? Thou dost cast me out today from before Thy face and send me back
again
to a worldly life without substance, since I am powerless to return on
high.
I
entreat Thee, O Lord: turn not Thy mercy away from me. Let me remain here,
I
beseech Thee, lest, falling once more to earth, I perish.' The voice which
had
spoken to me said: 'Go in peace. I will watch over you until I bring you
back
once more to this place.' Then my guides left me and I turned back through
the
gate by which I had entered, weeping as I went."
As he said this, those who were with him were amazed. The holy man of God
wept.
Then he said: "Woe to me that I have dared to reveal such a mystery! The
fragrance which I smelled in that holy place, and by which I have been
nourished
for three days without food or drink, has already left me. My tongue is
covered
with sores and has become so swollen that it fills my whole mouth. It is
evident
'that it has not been pleasing in the eyes of my Lord God that these
mysteries
should be revealed. Thou knowest well, O Lord, that I did this in the
simplicity
of my heart, and not in a spirit of vainglory. Have mercy on me, I beseech
Thee,
and do not forsake me, according to Thy promise." When he had said this,
Salvius
became silent; then he began to eat and drink.
As I write these words, I fear that my account may seem quite incredible
to
some
of my readers; and I am mindful of what the historian Sallust wrote: "When
we
record the virtue or glory of famous men, the reader will readily accept
whatever he considers that he might have done himself; anything which
exceeds
these bounds of possibility he will regard as untrue." I call Almighty God
to
witness that everything that I have related here I have heard from the
lips
of
Salvius himself.
Many years later Saint Salvius was forced to leave his cell in order to be
elected and consecrated bishop against his will. According to my
reckoning,
he
had held this position for 'ten years when the plague broke out in Albi
and
most
of the people died of it. Only a few of the citizens remained alive, but
Saint
Salvius, as a good shepherd, refused to leave his city. He stayed there,
exhorting those still among the living to pray without ceasing, not to
grow
faint in their vigils, and to concentrate their minds and bodies on doing
only
what was good. "Always act in such a way," he would say, "that if God
should
decide to call you from this world, you may enter not into His judgment,
but
into His peace."
After a certain council which Salvius and I attended together, I was about
to
depart for home when I realized that I could not leave without bidding
farewell
to Salvius and embracing him. I found him and told him that I was about to
leave. We went a little way outside the house and stood there conversing.
"Look
at the roof of 'that building," he said; "do you see what I see?" I
answered, "I
see only the new tiling which the King has had put there not too long
ago."
"Can
you see nothing else?" he asked. "No," I replied, "I can see nothing." I
began
to think that he was mocking me. "Tell me if you can see something else,"
I
said. He sighed deeply and said: " I see the naked sword of the wrath of
God
hanging over that house." He was not wrong in his prophecy. Twenty days
later
the two sons of King Chilperic died.
When the time came that God revealed to Salvius the nearness of his own
death,
he prepared his own coffin, washed himself carefully, and put on his
shroud.
He
died in blessed contemplation, with his thoughts turned towards heaven. He
was
an extremely holy man. He had no desire at all for possessions and refused
to
accept money; if anyone forced him to accept it, he would immediately give
it to
the poor.
While he was bishop, the patrician Mummolus carried into captivity many of
the
inhabitants of Albi, but Salvius followed him and persuaded him to free
them
all. The Lord gave him such influence over these people that the captors
accepted a reduction in the ransom which they had asked and even gave
presents
to Salvius. In this way he liberated the people of his own diocese and
restored
them to their former condition.
I have heard many other edifying stories about him. He died in the ninth
year of
the reign of King Childebert (584 A.D.).
This Version Taken From:
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/death/stsalvius.aspx
Saint Quote:
Nothing but self-will can separate us from God
-St. Alphonsus Liguori
Bible Quote
1 Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of
the
saints. (Psalms 149:1)
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QUESTIONING HEART
Mary is crying!
I care...do you?
Jesus is bleeding anew,
And I care...do you?
Do you ever say "I love You?"
He cares for you-
Will you love Him till the end time?
There's Heaven then for you!
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