Page 88 - Saints of the Month: February

Saints of the Month: February

years, and then, finding himself drawn to a
more solitary life, passed into Palestine,
where he spent a similar period in the
severest penance, till ill health obliged him
to moderate his austerities. He then made
his home in Jerusalem, and in spite of his
ailments visited the Holy Places every day;
thinking, says his biographer, so little of his
sickness that he seemed to be afflicted in
another body, and not his own. About this
time God put it into his heart to sell all he
had and give to the poor, and then in reward
of the sacrifice restored him by a miracle to
perfect health. In 393 he was ordained
priest and intrusted with the care of the
relics of the true cross; three years later, in
spite of all the resistance his humility could
make, he was consecrated Bishop of Gaza.
That city was a hotbed of paganism, and
Porphyry found in it an ample scope for his
apostolic zeal. His labors and the miracles
which attended them effected the
conversion of many; and an imperial edict
for the destruction of the pagan temples,
obtained through the influence of St. John
Chrysostom, greatly strengthened his
hands. When St. Porphyry first went to
Gaza, he found there one temple more
splendid than the rest, in honor of the chief
god. When the edict went forth to destroy
all traces of heathen worship, St. Porphyry
determined to put Satan to special shame
where he had received special honor. A
Christian church was built upon the site,

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