Читать книгу A Daily Catholic Moment - Peter Celano - Страница 11

[Jesus said,] “[W]henever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.” —Matthew 6:6a (NRSV)

During a time of intense persecution of Christians, “St. Paul the First Hermit fled to the mountainous regions of the desert … making a virtue of necessity. He came at last to a rocky mountain, at the foot of which was a small cave. Removing the stone that blocked the cave’s entrance, he began to explore more eagerly. Inside, he found a large room, open to the sky and covered by the spreading branches of a palm tree…. Paul fell in love with the dwelling as if God had offered it to him. He spent the rest of his life there in prayer and solitude. The palm tree provided him with food and clothing. In case anyone should think this impossible, I call Jesus and the holy angels to witness that in some parts of the desert I have seen monks, one enclosed for thirty years, living on barley bread and muddy water. Another monk survived in an old well, living on five dried figs a day. These things will appear incredible only to those who do not believe that everything is possible for those who believe.” —St. Jerome

I will find my own “mountain” or “cave” this year, as I recommit myself to a life of prayer.