St. John of Egypt, Saintly Recluse (ca. 304-394 A.D.) and Sts. Gundleus and Gwladys, Hermits (sixth century)
After learning the lives of two European solitaries, St. Conrad of Piacenza (Italian), and St. Nicholas of Flüe (Swiss), we now look at the life of a saintly recluse from the East, St. John of Egypt, and two Welsh hermits, Sts. Gundleus and Gwladys, who lived in the sixth century. St. John of Egypt lived in the fourth century and his spirituality is a good example for the penitential season.
John's birth and early life
John was born at Lycopolis (Asyut), lower Egypt, where he grew up to become a carpenter. At the adult age of twenty-five, he became a hermit under the spiritual guidance of an old anchorite. He retired to a mountain near his birthplace, where for ten years, he was trained by the old anchorite in obedience and self-surrender.
A spiritually-gifted hermit
Upon the death of his spiritual guide, St. John spent several years visiting various monasteries. Then he built a hermitage on a hill near Lycopolis. This hermitage was walled up except for a single small window. John spent five days every week in prayer and meditation, and the weekends he would devote to guiding spiritually male visitors who came to seek his advice. Soon, he began to draw huge crowds with his reported miracles, wisdom, and prophecies (he was able to prophecy with success, the victories of Emperor Theodosius, against the Emperor's foes in 388 A.D., and then in 392 A.D.). St. John of Egypt also had the ability to read men's minds and look into their souls. He became one of the famous hermits of the desert of Egypt.
The death of St. John of Egypt
St. John died in his hermitage, while praying on his knees. He died at the very ripe old age of ninety. His hermitage was soon discovered in 1925 A.D. The Church celebrates his feast every March 27.
Sts. Gundleus and Gwladys
After John of Egypt, we again return to the European peninsula and now look at the life of a married Welsh couple in the sixth century, who converted from their sinful lives and sought the Lord in the solitary life. Sts. Gundleus and Gwladys are good models for many who live in a turbulent and violent environment, but who also feel the call of God to leave all these behind, and turn to Him in prayer and peace.
Their story
Gundleus was a Welsh chieftain who wanted to marry Gwladys, the daughter of King Brychan of Brecknow. King Brychan refused to give his daughter in marriage to Gundleus. But Gundleus kidnapped Gwladys and married her. In their married life, the couple led a violent life, engaging in riotous banditry. However, their son, St. Cadoc (who became a monk), convinced and influenced the two to abandon their sinful life and to adopt a more Godly life. Gundleus and Gwladys thus followed a religious life together at Newport, Montmouthshire. Later on, the two agreed to separate and to each lead a life of prayer, austerity, and detachment from the world as hermits. St. Gwladys eventually lived at Oencarnau, Bassaleg. The Church celebrates the feast of these two Welsh hermits every March 29.
St. Cadoc
As to the son of Sts. Gundleus and Gwladys - the one instrumental for his parents' conversion, he became a monk, founded a religious house at Llancarfan, and founded a church at Llanspyddid. Some stories say that this son of the Welsh hermits was killed near Weedon fighting the invading Saxons.
Although the spiritual movement of Christians to the desert had originated in the East, as the faith spread to many parts of the world, especially in the West, the charism slowly became part of the institutes of Western monasticism. And as these monasteries spread all areas Europe, they influenced many Catholic faithful - and calling some to embrace a solitary life. The majority of those who follow this spirituality of the desert, often lead the life of a solitary only as a stage in their vocation. An example is St. Francis of Paola.
St. Francis of Paola, Hermit (1416-1507 A.D.)
Francis was born at Paola, in southern Italy, in 1416 A.D. He was named after St. Francis of Assisi. He obtained his education from the Franciscan friary at San Marco. At age thirteen, he lived for a year with the Franciscans, but then decided to live as a hermit in a cave overlooking the sea. He was soon joined by two friends in 1436 A.D. and they began a community - calling themselves the hermits of Brother Francis of Assisi. Their neighbors helped the three brothers by building a chapel and three cells. Soon, others came to know about them, and also joined the small community. As the community grew, a monastery was built and St. Francis of Paola set a Rule for his followers. In this Rule, he emphasized the following: penance, charity, humility, poverty, chastity, obedience, and fasting and abstinence from meat. Francis also wrote a Rule for nuns (Second Order) and for tertiaries (Third Order).
Approbation of the community
What is highly distinctive about this community's spirituality is their perpetual Lenten fast. They also had a special devotion to the Five Wounds of Christ and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Francis and his companions received papal approbation in 1474 A.D. In 1492, Francis changed the community's name to Friars Minims to indicate that its members were the least among all the religious communities. The Friars Minims reached a peak in its membership in the first half of the sixteenth century.
A miracle-worker
St. Francis of Paola was renowned for his miracles and his prophecies. He also had the gift of insight into men's hearts. His fame was such that at the request of French King Louis XI (who was dying), Pope Sixtus II ordered him to go to France. Francis helped the French King prepare for his death. Because of the presence of Francis, the King died peacefully in the Lord. The King's son, Charles VIII, was so comforted by what Francis had done that he became friends with St. Francis of Paola and endowed his communities with several monasteries in France. It was in one of these monasteries that St. Francis spent the rest of his life.
Death and sainthood
Francis died at Tours on April 2, 1507 A.D. at the age of 91. He was beatified six years later and then canonized in 1519 A.D. St. Francis of Paolo has many devotees in Italy, France and Mexico. He is depicted in the paintings of Murillo, Velasquez, and Goya. He is also the subject of a sonata by Franz Liszt and is in Victor Hugo's "Torquemada". The Church celebrates his feast every 2nd of April.
To be continued.
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