St. John was born in the city of Damascus of a good Christian family. When his father died, he became the Governor of Damascus. At this time, the Emperor Leo made a law forbidding Christians to have statues or pictures of Our Lord and the Saints. St. John Damascus knew the Emperor was wrong and he joined with many others to defend this practice of the Christians. The Pope himself asked John to keep telling the people that it is a good thing to have statues and holy pictures. They made us think of Our Lord, our Blessed Mother and the Saints. But the Emperor would not give in to the Holy Father, and he again forbade statues to be put in public places. St John bravely wrote three letters, telling the Emperor to give up his wrong ideas.
The Emperor became so furious that he wanted revenge. The Saint was condemned to have his right hand cut off. but the Blessed Mother attached it to his arm again in answer to his prayer.
This miracle made John decide to resign as Governor, give away all his money to the poor and become a monk. He kept on writing marvellous books to defend the Catholic religion, and at the same time he did all kinds of humble work in the monastery. One day he even went to sell baskets in the streets of Damascus. Many of those who had known him before were mean enough to laugh at him. Here was the man who had once been the Governor of the city now selling baskets that nobody wanted to buy! Imagine how St. John must have suffered! Yet he thought of Jesus, Son of God, who wanted to be born in a stable, and then he felt happy to imitate Our Lord's humility.
At the end of a long life full of merits, St. John died a peaceful, happy death.
Do we have nice pictures or statues of Our Lord, the Blessed Mother, and the Saint's? Let us look at them often. They will remind us to pray to them and to ask their help.
The Emperor became so furious that he wanted revenge. The Saint was condemned to have his right hand cut off. but the Blessed Mother attached it to his arm again in answer to his prayer.
This miracle made John decide to resign as Governor, give away all his money to the poor and become a monk. He kept on writing marvellous books to defend the Catholic religion, and at the same time he did all kinds of humble work in the monastery. One day he even went to sell baskets in the streets of Damascus. Many of those who had known him before were mean enough to laugh at him. Here was the man who had once been the Governor of the city now selling baskets that nobody wanted to buy! Imagine how St. John must have suffered! Yet he thought of Jesus, Son of God, who wanted to be born in a stable, and then he felt happy to imitate Our Lord's humility.
At the end of a long life full of merits, St. John died a peaceful, happy death.
Do we have nice pictures or statues of Our Lord, the Blessed Mother, and the Saint's? Let us look at them often. They will remind us to pray to them and to ask their help.
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