Saint of the Day – 1 July – St Simeon Salus (Died c570) Confessor, Monk, Hermit, Apostle of the poor and needy, Miracle-worker known as “The Holy Fool”
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Emesa, St Simeon, surnamed Salus, Confessor, who feigned to be an idiot for Christ but God manifested His high Wisdom by great miracles,”
Born in Syria, at the age of 30 Simeon entered the Monastery of Abbot Gerasimus in Syria. He spent the next 29 years in a desert near the Dead Sea. He felt inspired to move to Emesa to help the poor of that City without any formal recognition.
He came to learn that the best way to be humble was to love humiliation, so he took it upon himself to act foolishly. Only the truly wise could see Simeon’s sanctity.
By simulating simplicity, he saved many souls and brought them to Christ. He was also able to heal many possessed people by his prayer, fed the hungry, preached the Gospel,and helped the poor and needy of the Town. Most of Simeon’s good deeds were done secretly.
Simeon did not play a fool with his friend John, Deacon of the Church in Emesa. Simeon once saved John from being executed when he was falsely accused. Shortly before his death, Simeon told John:
“I beg you, never disregard a single soul, especially when it happens to be a Monk or a beggar. For your charity knows that His place is among the beggars, especially among the blind, people made as pure as the sun through their patience and distress …Show love of your neighbour through almsgiving. For this virtue, above all,, will help us on the Day of Judgment.”
Simeon died in c570 and was buried by the City’s poor in a potter’s field. While the Saint’s body was carried there, people heard a choir singing though none could be found anywhere.
AnaStpaul 