This saint gave up being a bishop for solitude

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	St. John the Silent When: c. 452-558 Where: Italy What: Monk Feast: May 13

One haunting story in Scripture tells of a rich young man who approached Jesus and asked him what he must do to possess everlasting life. Jesus told him that he must obey the commandments. The man said he did that. Then, Jesus said, sell all you own, give the money to the poor and follow me. The man turned and went away sad, because he owned much (Mt 19:16-22).

That young man certainly wasn't St. John the Silent, who gave up everything - more than once - to serve God.

John was born in the mid-5th century at Nicropolis, Armenia, to a distinguished family. After his parents died, when he was 18, John built a monastery and became the superior. He then led a simple, austere life.

Despite John's protests, in 481, he was named bishop of Colonia, Armenia, when he was only 28. As bishop, he denied himself as much as possible so he could help the poor.

Nine years later, in 491, John decided to give all that up and went to Jerusalem seeking solitude. In a vision he saw a bright cross in the air, which a voice told him to follow.

It led him to the monastery of St. Sabas, which was home to 150 monks. At first, he carried water and stones for the workers building a hospital. Next, he became the guestmaster.

Sabas was impressed by John's holiness and let him have his own cell, where he stayed five days a week praying and fasting. On Saturday and Sunday he joined in public worship. He lived this way for three years before becoming the monastery's steward.

Four years later, Sabas asked Patriarch Elias to ordain John, who privately told the patriarch he had once been a bishop, but gave it up because of his sins. The patriarch respected John's wish for privacy and would not tell Sabas why he couldn't ordain John.

Because of a split at the monastery in 503, Sabas was forced to leave. John also left, spending the next six years in a neighboring desert, returning only when Sabas did.

For the next 40 years, John lived in his cell at the monastery. Despite his solitude, others sought him out for spiritual advice until he died after more than a century of life.

St. John the Silent did what the rich young man of the Gospel could not do - he followed Jesus and gave both his material and spiritual riches to help those in need.