St. Calogerus the Anchorite
by VP
Posted on Tuesday June 18, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
VICTORY OVER THE DEMON.- During the reign of Theodosius the Younger, that is, in the first part of the fifth century, a holy hermit, whose real name has not reached us, but who is known under the designation of "Calogerius," meaning "the good old man," came from Constantinople to seek an asylum in Sicily. This island and the Lipari isles were still involved in paganism, and, just as with every country into which the Gospel has not penetrated, there existed numerous cases of persons possessed by the Devil. Calogerius had been promoted to the order of "Exorcist," and had moreover been invested, at his own prayer, by the successor of St. Peter, with full authority to act. Armed with these powers, in conjunction with austere fasting and earnest prayer, he undertook to vanquish the demon, and succeeded in achieving a complete victory. At a word, he cured the demoniacs, and laid bare the trickery of the oracles and vain power of the idols. Sicily and the neighbouring isles were won over to the faith. The holy hermit fasted every day, excepting Sundays, and all the time which was not spent by him in apostolic labours was devoted to prayer. Holiness of life was the groundwork of his eloquence.
MORAL REFLECTION. - Jesus Christ told His disciples:
"There are demons that can go out by nothing, save by prayer and
fasting.". (Mark ix. 28.)" Pictorial half Hours with the Saints by Fr. LeCanu
PRAYER: All you legions and choirs of Angels, please make haste to come to the aid and defense of our One Holy Roman Catholic Church. Led by St. Michael, may She be protected from destruction within by all modernistic attempts that try to diminish the true presence of God and take away His proper and due respect! In particular, come to the aid of my parish (name your parish) that it may remain or be remade to be a place of reverence and a stronghold from which the One True Triune God may continue to lead and strengthen us. Amen.
