This is the presentation of the Saint of the day for April 2, Saint Mary of Egypt by Catholic Lectionary.
Life of Saint Mary of Egypt
O Christian Soul, St Mary of Egypt ran away from home at the age of 12 and ventured into prostitution and sold her body for money and other worldly things for 17 years.
What on earth will ever make a child desert her family and never return? St Margaret of Cortona also ran away from home at the age of 13 because of the ill treatment her step-mother gave her.
St Germaine Cousin received very hard and cruel treatment from her step-mother, yet she didn’t run away from home. Why did she remain and never complained?
Ponder on this during meditation, God may tell you why. Concerning Mary of Egypt, God allowed her to run away so as to encounter her in a special way. As a professional prostitute, St Mary made her way to Jerusalem with other pilgrims, for it was the Feast of Exaltation of the Cross.
Her intention was not to venerate the Cross of Christ, but to meet new victims whom she might allure into sin. When she wanted to enter the church door which other people were passing freely, she suddenly felt herself barred from entering the church by a secret force. She tried to enter about 3 or 4 times more, but was held back.
She saw a statue of the Blessed Virgin outside and went before it in tears. She told the Mother of God that if she allowed her to enter the church, she would change from her sinful life.
When she tried entering the church again, she passed freely. She venerated and kissed the Cross of Christ with great devotion and remorse for her sins.
That same day, Mary sought a priest, went for confession and received Holy Communion. The next morning, she crossed the River Jordan on foot, entered the desert, and lived absolutely alone for 47 years, praying and doing penance to repair for her past sinful life till she died a holy death, that to St Zozimus, her spiritual who accompanied her spiritually in her journey heavenward.
Reflection
O Christian Soul, what have you done to repair for the sins of your past life?  Â
Call for Meditation
‘Do you want to be happy, my friends? Fix your eyes on Heaven’ [St John Mary Vianney].
This day Jesus, my true Happiness, I give You my all. Possess me entirely Lord. Amen.
Having gone through this piece about saint of the day for April 2, Saint Mary of Egypt make effort O Christian soul to amend your life. Peace of Christ be with you.
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