Tahsas 10 — December 19

Saint Severus and the Boat That God Helped

Saint Severus (say it SEV-er-us) was an archbishop, a leader who takes care of many churches. He lived in a faraway city called Antioch and loved God dearly.

After Saint Severus died, a kind, rich man who loved God wanted his body carried by boat to a holy resting place near the great city of Alexandria, in Egypt. Trusty friends set out on the river with him.

But the river grew shallow, and there was not enough water to float the boat. The sailors pushed and pulled with all their might. The boat would not budge. They felt sad and worried.

Then God helped them. The same God who once opened a path through the Red Sea for His people let the little boat sail slowly and safely until it reached the right place. All Egypt was filled with joy. In many ways God showed how dearly He loved Saint Severus.

One of Saint Severus's teeth had fallen out while he was alive. A monk wrapped it gently in soft silk cloth. When sick people touched it, God made them well. How happy they were to be healed.

God, who once opened a path through the Red Sea, opened a path for the little boat too.

Abba Theophanius the Shepherd

On this day we also remember a holy church father named Abba Theophanius (say it Thee-oh-FAN-ee-us). He led the church in the great city of Alexandria.

For more than four years he cared for God's people, like a good shepherd looking after his sheep. Then his life on earth ended, and he went home to be with God. We ask this kind father to pray for us.

Saint Nicholas, the Secret Gift-Giver

Saint Nicholas (you may know him as Saint Nick!) was born in a city called Mira. His parents loved God dearly, but for a long time they had no children, and that made them sad. They prayed and prayed, and at last God gave them a baby boy, Nicholas. What a happy gift he was.

Even as a little boy, Nicholas loved God. He learned the Bible quickly and prayed often. When he grew up, he chose the quiet, prayerful life of a monk, and later he became a priest. God gave him a special gift: when he prayed, sick people got well.

One day Nicholas heard about a poor father who had no money at all and four grown daughters he could not care for. The family was about to fall into trouble. So Nicholas did something secret and kind. At night he tied up gold coins in a cloth and quietly tossed them through the man's window, once, twice, and a third time. With the gold the daughters were saved and could be happily married.

The grateful father caught Nicholas on the third night and thanked him with all his heart. But Nicholas only wanted to help. He never wanted to be praised.

Once Nicholas blessed a little bit of bread, and God made it enough to feed a great crowd, with plenty left over. Later he became a bishop, just as God had shown him in a dream where our Lady Mary and Jesus Himself gave him gifts.

A cruel king named Diocletian put Nicholas in prison for loving Jesus, but God kept him safe and strong. When a good and fair king named Constantine came, he set Nicholas free, and Nicholas went home in peace. He taught people the true faith for many happy years, living to be eighty years old.

Your reward will be great in heaven, for you saved me from trouble and from doing wrong.— the thankful father

Brave Talases and Lazarus

Talases (say it TAL-a-sees) and Lazarus were two brave men who loved God. A king wanted them to stop worshiping the true God and bow to false gods instead. But they would not.

Talases said kindly but firmly that he would worship only the Lord his God, and Lazarus felt exactly the same. Even when things were hard, they stayed faithful and trusted God to take care of them. They became martyrs, staying true to God even though it cost them their lives, and they went home to heaven. They were not afraid, because they knew God was with them.

I worship the Lord my God, and to Him alone I give my heart.— Saint Talases

Saint Surset, Who Gave Herself to God

Saint Surset (say it SUR-set) was the daughter of an important family. Her parents wanted her to marry, but deep in her heart she had already promised to give her whole life to God.

Her father let her travel to pray at the holy places. There she met a wise old monk and handed him her gold to share with people who were poor. She became a nun, a woman who gives her quiet days to prayer, and she traded her fine clothes for plain ones.

For many, many years Surset lived quietly in a small cave home, praying to God every day. A kind monk named Silas found her by following footprints in the hills. She told him her whole story, and then she peacefully went home to God. All her life long, she had loved Him with her whole heart.

Abba Tewashi and the New Christian

Abba Tewashi (say it Teh-WAH-shee) was a gentle monk who lived a life of prayer. One day, while walking to Alexandria, he came upon a woman crying. She told him she wished to become a Christian and follow Jesus.

Kind Abba Tewashi helped her and baptized her, and together they went about asking for help for people in need. But some folks misunderstood. They thought he was doing something wrong, and they treated him unfairly.

Then God sent a dream to a wise leader named Abba John, showing him that the monk had done nothing wrong. Abba John was very sorry. He made things right and was kind to Abba Tewashi. The monk forgave everyone and went back to his monastery, where he served God faithfully until he went home to heaven. God always knows the truth in our hearts.

Remembering Milases, Tawfya, and Paul

On this day we also remember two more friends of God named Milases and Tawfya, who loved Him faithfully.

We remember Paul too, a holy man who lived simply in the desert. He did not care for money or fancy things. He was rich in love for God, and that is the very best kind of treasure to have.