304- Elijah the Prophet Comforting me

St. Pesentaous was born in Shemeer, Armant, Egypt in 568 AD to devout Christian parents who brought him up on Biblical principles. He memorized many Divine books and learnt the church sciences during his childhood. He yearned for the monastic life. Therefore, he left to St. Elijah the great the abbot of St. Pafam monastery on Shama Mount.

He loved reading the Bible. A brother once looked from the window and saw him reading the prophets. He saw that when he read a Book and finished it the prophet who wrote it would come and kiss him.

Once a brother went to visit him, as he was very sick. He found the door of his cell open. As it was the habit of the monks, he said, “Bless me my father.”

As the Abba did not answer, he thought that he was unable to move. He entered the cell to find him talking to someone. The saint blamed him lovingly, “Is that the law of monasticism to enter the cell without taking permission?”

“Forgive me my father. I’ve sinned but I thought you’re sick and unable to stand up.”

The saint sitting with St. Pesentaous said to him, “Let him in for, God allows him to take this blessing for his good deeds.”

Then, the brother kissed the saint’s hand. As the saint left, the brother said to St. Pesentaous, “I beg you father tell me who’s this saint. When I took his hand, kissed it and put it over my face I felt a strange force and joy filling me.”

“God had compassion on me for my weakness and loneliness and sent me my friend Prophet Elijah the Tishbite of Mount Carmel to comfort me with the Divine Words. In the name of spiritual love, don’t reveal this before my death.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: إيليا النبي يعزيني.

+ Reveal to my eyes Your care.

You surround me with a cloud of witnesses.

Your angels and saints support the fighters in the spirit,

And You are the Lord of all dwelling in us.

+ What shall I ask for?

May Your grace accompany me till the last breath,

Until I go to You in Your paradise.

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