ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY
Saints celebrated on the 5th of January
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| A page of one of Fortunatus Hueber's Saints' books, "Stammenbuch..." (1693) |
Saint Phosterius, a holy abbot, who is mentioned in today's Meneae*, lived "in the Orient," but "the rays of his holiness also illuminate the Occident." Since information about place and time, or any specific clues at all, are completely lacking, one is probably justified to cast doubt on the authenticity of the whole legend, edifying as it is. Given this, we provide the narrative here as we read it there:
Phosterius had climbed a high rock, and there spent his life praying, fasting, and watching. He was graced by God with the miraculous gift and healed various kinds of diseases through his prayer. As long as he lived alone on the rock, an angel of God brought him bread every day; but when he had visitors, there were always as many breads as there were people.
Later, with God's help, he built a monastery, into which many monks were admitted, who procured their food through the work of their hands. Because of a heresy that had arisen at that time, many fathers gathered for a synod, at which Saint Phosterius, too, turned up and spoke. People marvelled at his powerful words, and many converted from heretical error to the truth. He performed countless miracles in life and after death, and died on January 5.
According to another version he was abbot in Gaul.
(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875, pp. 919-20)
*A hagiography source used by the authors
Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Phosterius 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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