SAINT FEAST DAY 27 OCTOBER: ST ELESBAAN

SAINT ELESBAAN, KING AND CONFESSOR

Saint Elesbaan, King of the Axumite, who were a powerful 6th century nation, during the reign of Justin the Elder, in all his actions and designs had no other desire than to procure in all things the happiness of his people, and the divine glory.

The mildness and prudence of his government was a sensible proof how great a blessing a people enjoy in a king who is free from inordinate passions and selfish views, to gratify which princes so often become tyrants.

HE GOVERNED WITH MILDNESS AND PRUDENCE

This good king, however, was obliged to engage in a war. But his motives were justice and religion; and the exaltation of both was the fruit of his victory.

The Homerite Arabians dwelt upon the eastern coast at the bottom of the Red Sea, in Arabia Felix. Dunaan, a Jew who had usurped the sovereignty in Arabia Felix, persecuted the Christians. St Gregentius, who was an Arabian by birth, and archbishop of Taphar, the metropolis of this country, was banished by him in 520.

HE MADE USE OF HIS VICTORY WITH GREAT CLEMENCY

The Emperor Justin the Elder, whose protection the persecuted Christians had implored, engaged St Elesbaan to transport his forces into Arabia, and drive away the usurper Dunaan. The zealous prince complied with this just desire, and having by the divine blessing defeated the tyrant, made use of his victory with great clemency and moderation, re-established religion, recalled St Gregentius, and rebuilt the church at Taphar; and, by laying the first stone, would be himself the first architect.

HE RETIRED INTO A MONASTERY

Nonnus, in his Legation testifies in 527, several years after this war, that Elesbaan then resided at Axuma, a very great city, capital of Ethiopia. At length, this good king, leaving his dominions to a son who was heir of his zeal and piety no less than of his kingdom, sent his royal diadem to Jerusalem, put on sackcloth, and retired secretly in the night out of the palace and city to a holy monastery situated on a solitary mountain, where he took the monastic habit, and shut himself up in a cell for the remaining part of his life.

THE CONTEMPLATION OF HEAVENLY THINGS

His food was only bread, with which he sometimes took a few dry herbs; he never drank any thing but water. He would not allow himself the least distinction above the last among his brethren, and was the first in every duty of his new state. No seculars ever had access to him, and his whole employment consisted in the exercises of penance, the contemplation of heavenly things, and conversing with God, by whom he was at length called, by a happy death, to reign eternally with Christ. His name occurs in the Roman Martyrology.

Excerpts from Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Elesbaan may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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