File:Lives and legends of the great hermits and fathers of the church, with other contemporary saints (1902) (14783113352).jpg

Identifier: cu31924020507939 (find matches)
Title: Lives and legends of the great hermits and fathers of the church, with other contemporary saints
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: D'Anvers, N., d. 1933
Subjects: Saints Saints Christian art and symbolism Painting
Publisher: London : G. Bell & sons
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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at the command of the saint. A good deal of confusion has arisen between two greathermits named Macarius, which signifies happy,who both livedin the fourth century, and, though not related to each other,were for some little time associated in banishment. To dis-tinguish them they are called the Elder and the Younger,although authorities differ greatly as to the date of the birthof both of them. St. Macarius the Elder is generally represented praying orworking in his cell, with a lantern hanging above his oratory, intoken of his having withdrawn to a remote district to communealone with God. He is said to have been a herdsman who lefthis flocks to take care of themselves, and retired with a fewcompanions to the desert of Scet6 when he was about twentyyears old. There he grew in holiness, and became a verysuccessful opponent of the devil, whom, according to tradition,he worsted in many a conflict. It is related that one of thedisciples of St. Macarius the Elder, meeting a heathen priest
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^ ^ ^ O ^ ST. MACARIUS THE ELDER 19 hastening along as if he were running in the Bacchanalianfestival, called out to him, Where are you running to, demon ?a question which so enraged the priest that he beat the inquirernearly to death with a heavy stick. This incident beingmiraculously revealed to St. Macarius, he sought out the priest,and, instead of reproaching him, said to him in a gentle voice : Good-day. You have been taking a great deal of trouble ; youmust be very tired. At a loss to understand what was meantthe priest entered into conversation with the monk, who sotouched his heart that he fell on his knees before the holyman, entreating his forgiveness, and promising to retire to thedesert himself if only St. Macarius would receive him as aChristian convert. The hermit gladly consented, and the twowent together to pick up the poor victim of the priests rage,and carried him to the retreat of St. Macarius, where he wastenderly nursed back to health. The

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