Every April we remember Santa María de Egyptfemale figure of great importance for a time when there were generally men who retired from the world to lead a life of prayer and spiritual effort. Maria reached the heights of holiness after having lived, by her own will, to the claws of lust. It is thanks to Sofronio, patriarch of Jerusalem, that we know about his life.
A terrible weight in the soul
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Maria was probably born around the year 344. At age 12 she left her house and traveled to Alexandria, where for more than 17 years she exercised prostitution.
Later, coinciding with the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the party of the exaltation of the Holy Cruz, he embarked towards Palestine, not with the intention of pilgrimage, but with the desire to make more money during the holidays.
While in the city, one day Maria tried to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but an invisible force seemed to be prevented. After trying to enter three or four times he gave up and retired to the side, with a tremendous weight in the soul, which he did not know well and turned into regrets. At that moment he posed his eyes in a statue of the Blessed Virgin and began to cry inconsolably, apologizing to God.
A soul that found joy
Having stayed there for a long time, he stood up and with his regretful soul tried to enter the Church again and this time it was allowed.
Days later Maria approached the presbyter and asked for help. At the same time he received communion in the monastery of San Juan Bautista on the banks of the Jordan River. That same day he went into the desert that extends towards Arabia. There would spend the next 47 years dedicating themselves to prayer, meditation and penance.
In the desert he met a priest named Zósimo, who made him promise that they would be in the Jordan on the night of Holy Thursday of the following year, and that he took the sacred sacrament.
And so it was. The following year Mary of Egypt received the Eucharist and raised her hands towards the sky shouting aloud Simeon’s words: “Now you can have your servant in peace, oh Lord, according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation.” Then, the priest left her.
The Holy of Egypt died on the night of that day of the year 421.
MODELICAL WOMAN
When Zósimo traveled the following year to visit her he found at the entrance of a parchment that prayed: “Zózimo, I have gone to eternity on Good Friday, the day of the death of the Lord, happy to have received her holy body in the Eucharist. Pray for this poor sinner and return to the earth this body that is dust and powder has to become.”
Zózimo told the monks the history of the life of Mary of Egypt. Soon in the place where it was buried, miracles and wonders began to work. His fame and veneration extended throughout the region.
If you want to know more about Santa María de Egypt, we recommend you read this article of the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/Santa_María_de_Egipto.
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Central writing
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