Saint Who?
Saints Who Took Detours in Life
Saint Pachomius the Great
Abbot († 347)Feast: May 9
Pachomius was a young soldier serving in the Roman army. As he and the other members of his unit traveled down the Nile River, they had to endure wretched living conditions. When they passed through Letopolis, the Catholics of that city recognized the soldiers’ misery and selflessly offered them food and comfort. Pachomius, a pagan, pondered the disinterested charity of those Christians throughout the rest of his army assignment. As soon as he was released from service, he returned home, found the nearest Catholic church, and asked to become a catechumen.
Pachomius did not merely seek baptism. He wanted to become a soldier of Christ, so he placed himself under the direction of a hermit in the Egyptian desert. In time, Pachomius developed a reputation of holiness due to his life of constant prayer and mortification. This inspired other men to become his disciples.
The first monastery he founded became two, then three monasteries. He developed a rule of life for his monks, apparently after receiving a vision of an angel, who gave him instructions about monastic life. By the time of Pachomius’ death, he governed nine monasteries and a total of three thousand monks, which is why he was called “the Great” even during his lifetime.
Father of the poor, may all Christians be sensitive
to the suffering of those in need
and find practical ways to help them.
