Daniel the Stylite
My sister and I decided to travel to Constantinople from our native Syria, in the footsteps of the saint we had been hearing so much about, Daniel the Stylite. Our increasing devotion to the faith and word of Christ prompted us to undertake the journey. For us, Daniel was the primary example of piety and saintliness, of one who was wholly willing to deny himself the pleasures of the flesh for the greater treasures of the heavenly kingdom. We elected to follow Daniel in particular because of his unwavering courage and bravery, even in light of the persecution and ridicule he encountered as a seeker of truth.
On route to Constantinople, my sister and I met people who, like us, sought the truth in the teachings of Christ. However, some were less than pious and cavorted with prostitutes and got drunk at night in the camps. My sister and I moved on when we encountered such impure motives and forged on, hoping to ally ourselves with those who, like us, hoped to follow the ascetic example of Daniel.
Like Daniel himself, my sister and I were ridiculed and on one occasion, we were stoned. Walking through a small village, the pagan people mocked us and mocked the sacred relics we carried with us en route to Constantinople, in honor of the saint with whom we aspired to be near. Although we saw no miracle along the way, the transformation of our souls was momentous enough. After spending two days without food and only a few drops of water from puddles and streams, my sister and I experienced erratic religious visions. I believe these visions brought us closer to God and to the truth that we sought.
It is now time for us to head home, and we shall take a different route than the one we took so that we can spread the word of Christ and the message of Daniel the Stylite. We carried with us a simple stone cross that fit in my sack. Each night my sister and I would pray as we held it. Our relic, though not nearly as lavish as those belonging to the imperial court, meant the world to us and helped us secure safe passage home.
Jesus' Teachings, Prayer, & Christian Life "He (Jesus) Took the Bread. Giving Thanks Broke it. And gave it to his Disciples, saying, 'This is my Body, which is given to you.'" At Elevation time, during Catholic Mass, the priest establishes a mandate for Christian Living. Historically, at the Last Supper, Christ used bread and wine as a supreme metaphor for the rest of our lives. Jesus was in turmoil. He was