March 30th - St. John Climacus, Abbot (RM)
(Also known as John Scholasticus)
Born in Syria or Palestine; died on Mount Sinai on March 30, c. 650 (many
older scholars place his death as early as 600).
"God does not insist or desire that we should mourn in agony of heart;
rather, it is His wish that out of love for Him we should rejoice with
laughter in our soul. Take away sin and tears become superfluous; where
there is no bruise, no ointment is required. Before the fall Adam shed no
tears, and in the same way there will be no more tears after the
resurrection from the dead when sin has been destroyed. For pain, sorrow,
and lamentation will then have fled away." A learned Syrian abbot and
spiritual director, Saint John authored "The Ladder to Paradise" or
"Ladder
of Perfection", from which he acquires the appellation, "Climacus," which
is
Greek for "ladder." John's early life is hidden in obscurity. Farmer says
that he was married and became a monk at the death of his wife. He joined
the monastery of Mount Sinai when he was only 16. His novitiate was spent
in
a hermitage near the monastery under the discipline of Martyrius. By
silence, he learned to curb the insolent need to discuss everything, an
ordinary vice in learned men, but usually a mark of pride and
self-sufficiency. Instead he adopted humility and obedience, and never
contradicted or disputed with anyone. After four years of training with
the
ancient anchorite, he was professed.
From the age of 35, after the death of Martyrius, John spent many years as
a
hermit at Thole at the foot of Mount Sinai, where he studied the
Scriptures
and the lives of the Fathers of the Church. He practiced the normal
austerities of the desert monks: frequent fasting, nights of prayer, and
abstinence from meat and fish. He is another of the saints who exhibited
the
gift of tears. Because he became a popular spiritual advisor, who was
especially known for his ability to comfort the distraught, he often
sought
solitude in a nearby cave. When some who were jealous of his gifts accused
him of spending too much time in vain discourse, he kept complete silence
for a year until the accusers begged him to resume giving counsel. He went
to the monastery only to celebrate the Eucharist with his brother monks on
Saturdays and Sundays.
When he was about 70, he was elected abbot of the monks of Mount Sinai
over
his objections. Soon after his election, there was a severe draught in
Palestine. The people beseeched him to storm the gates of heaven in
intercession for rain. He earnestly begged God on their behalf and it
immediately began to rain. John's contem****ary, Pope Saint Gregory the
Great
wrote to the holy abbot asking his prayers, and sent him beds, other
furniture, and money for his hospital near Mount Sinai for pilgrims. He
governed the monastery until four years before his death in his hermitage
on
Mount Sinai.
At the request of the abbot of Raithu, John wrote his masterpiece, which
uses the vehicle of a spiritual ladder with thirty rungs-one for each year
of Christ's earthly life until His baptism-to discuss monastic
spirituality
and the pursuit of apartheia (passive disinterestedness), which was
regarded
as a perfect state. This work was enormously popular during the Middle
Ages
and was published in English in 1959 under the title "The ladder of Divine
Ascent". The book was the source of the Byzantine iconographic theme of
the
ladder to heaven, which is seen at Mount Athos and elsewhere.
In describing a monastery of 330 monks, which he had visited near
Alexandria, Egypt, John mentions one of the principal citizens of that
city,
named Isidore, who, petitioning to be admitted into the house, said to the
abbot: "As iron is in the hands of the smith, so am I in your hands." The
abbot ordered him to remain outside the gate and to prostrate himself at
the
feet of every passerby, by begging their prayers for his soul struck with
a
leprosy. Thus, he passed seven years in profound humility and patience. He
told Saint John that during the first year he always considered himself as
a
slave condemned for his sins, and sustained violent conflicts. The second
year he passed in tranquillity and confidence; and the third with relish
and
pleasure in his humiliations. So great was his virtue, that the abbot
determined to present him to the bishop in order to be promoted to the
priesthood, but the humility of the holy penitent prevented it-he begged
respite and died within 10 days.
John also admired the cook of this community, who seemed always
recollected,
and generally bathed in tears amidst his continual occupation. When asked
how he nourished so perfect a spirit of compunction in the midst of his
busy
work, the cook replied that, in serving the monks, he considered that he
was
serving not men but God in his servants. Additionally, the fire that
always
burned before his eyes reminded him of that fire which will burn souls for
all eternity. (Attwater, Attwater2, Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney,
Farmer,
Encyclopedia, Husenbeth). Inevitably, Saint John is ****trayed in art as
an
abbot carrying a ladder or having a vision of monks climbing one (Roeder).
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Here are some of the spiritual maxims from Saint John's book:
"Rule your own heart as a king rules over his kingdom, but be subject
above
all to the supreme ruler, God Himself." "A person is at the beginning of
a
prayer when he succeeds in removing distractions which at the beginning
beset him. He is at the middle of the prayer when the mind concentrates
only
on what he is meditating and contemplating. He reaches the end when, with
the Lord, the prayer enraptures him."
"Without weapons there is no way of killing wild animals. Without humility
there is no way of conquering anger." "It is not without risk that one
climbs up a defective ladder. And so with honor, praise, and precedence
which are all dangerous for humility."
"In an instant many are pardoned for their mistakes, but no one, in a
moment's time, acquires calmness of the soul which requires much time,
much
trouble and a great deal of help from God." "The one who is dead can no
longer walk. The one who despairs can no longer be saved."
"A small fire is enough to burn down an entire forest; a little hole may
destroy an entire building." "Just as clouds hide the sun so bad thoughts
cast shadows over the soul."
"Birds which are too heavy cannot fly very high. The same is true of those
who mistreat their bodies." "A dried-up puddle is of no use for the pigs
and a dried up body is of no use to the devils."
"A tool which is in good condition may sharpen one which is not in good
condition, and a fervent brother may save the person who is only lukewarm
about his faith." "The one who says he has faith and continues to go
against
it resembles a face without eyes"
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Three Prayers to Christ in His Passion and Death
Hail, sweet Jesus! Praise, honor, and glory be to Thee,
O Christ, who of Thine own accord didst embrace death,
and, recommending Thyself to Thy heavenly Father,
bowing down Thy venerable head, didst yield up Thy spirit.
Truly thus giving up Thy life for Thy sheep,
Thou hast shown Thyself to be a good shepherd.
Thou didst die, O only-begotten Son of God. Thou didst die,
O my beloved Saviour, that I might live forever.
O how great hope,
how great confidence have I reposed in Thy death and Thy Blood!
I glorify and praise Thy Holy Name,
acknowledging my infinite obligations to Thee.
O good Jesus, by Thy bitter death and Passion,
give me grace and pardon.
Give unto the faithful departed rest and life everlasting. Amen.
DOM AUGUSTINE BAKER (1575 - 1641)
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