Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/60

48 48 ST. MARY St. Mary (m) of Egypt, April 2, called the Gipsy, la Jfissiennef Egyptiaca, Begiptiaca, lived in the 4th century. Generally represented with long black or gray hair, often as a wasted old woman; and sometimes with a large roimd hat and holding a vase of perfumes. Towards the year of our Lord 305, there dwelt in Alexandria a woman, whoso name was Mary, and who in the infamy of her life far exceeded St. Mary Magdalene. After passing seventeen years in every species of vice, it happened that one day, while roving along the seashore, she beheld a ship ready to sail and a large company preparing to embark. She inquired where they were going. They said, ** To Jerusalem, to celebrate the feast of the true Cross." She was seized with a sudden desire to accom- pany them ; and as she had no money, she paid the price of her passage by selling herself to the sailors and pilgrims, whom she allured to sin by every means in her power. On their arrival at Jeru- salem, she joined the crowds of worship- pers who had assembled to enter the church that stood on the spot where Helen (3) had found the cross of Christ. All Mary's attempts to pass the thres- hold were in vain ; whenever she thought to enter the porch, a supernatural power drove her back in shame and terror. Struck by the remembrance of her guilt, and filled with repentance, she humbled herself and prayed for help, vowing that if she might look upon the cross of Christ, which was exposed to view in the church, she would never more be guilty of those sins to which she had been addicted. The unseen hindrance was removed, and she entered the church of God, crawling on her knees. Thence- forward she renounced her shameful life. She bought at a baker's three small loaves, and wandered forth into solitude, and never stopped or reposed until she had penetrated into the deserts beyond the Jordan. Here she remained in severest penance, living on roots and fruits and drinking water only; her garments dropped away in rags piece- meal, leaving her unclothed; and she prayed fervently not to be left thus exposed. Suddenly her hair grew so long as to form a covering for her whole person ; or, according to another version, an angel brought her a .garment from heaven. Thus she dwelt in the wilder- ness, in prayer and penance, supported only by her three small loaves, which, like the widow's meal, failed her not. After the lapse of forty-seven years she was discovered by a priest, named Zozi- mus. Of him she requested silence, and that he would return at the end of a year and bring with him the elements of the holy sacrament, that she might confess and communicate before she was released from earth. Zozimus ebeyed her, and returned after a year. As he was not able to pass the Jordan, the penitent, su|)ernaturally assisted, passed over the water to him; and having re- ceived the sacrament with tears, she desired the priest to leave her once more to her solitude and to return in a year from that time. When he returned ho found her dead, her hands crossed on her bosom. He wept greatly, and looking round, he saw written in the sand, these words: "01 Father Zozimus, bury the body of the poor sinner, Mary of Egypt Give earth to earth, and dust to dust for Christ's sake." He endeavoured to obey this last command; but being full of years and troubled and weak, his strength failed him, and a lion came out of the wood and aided him, digging with his paws until the grave was sufBciently large to receive the body of the saint. Yillegas plac.es her date in the sixth century, but Papebroch says her story is very much older than is commonly sup- posed. The legend is of much earlier date than that of Mary Magdalene, and it is known by contemporary evidence that a woman lived a hermit's life for many years in the desert beyond Jordan at that time. B.M. AA,SS. Sylva Anachoretica. Le'gende Doree. Villegas. Pilgrimcufe of the Ilu88ia7i Ahh(4 Daniel, Leggeiidario. St. Mary (31), the Penitent, Oct. 20. 4th, oth, or 6th century. Niece of the hermit St. Abraham of Chidane, in Mesopotamia, and confided to his care at the age of seven. He built a cell for her close to his own, and through a little window between the cells, he