Feast Day February 9
Saint Maroun, the father of the Maronites, was a 4th century hermit and priest who lived on the Syrian mountain tops. Many flocked to Saint Maroun to receive healing of body and soul, and he set an example of chastity, prayer, meditation, labour and love.
Aside from Theodoret’s biography, the only other source that refers to Saint Maroun is a letter addressed to him from Saint John Chrysostom, which states:
To Maroun, the Monk Priest:
We are bound to you by love and interior disposition, and see you here before us as if you were actually present. For such are the eyes of love, their vision is neither interrupted by distance nor dimmed by time.
We wished to write more frequently to your reverence, but since this is not easy on account of the difficulty of the road and the problems to which travellers are subject, whenever opportunity allows we address ourselves to your honour and assure you that we hold you constantly in our mind and carry you about in our soul wherever we may be.
And take care yourself that you write to us as often as you can, telling us how you are, so that although separated physically we might be cheered by learning constantly about your health and receive much consolation as we sit in solitude.
For it brings us no small joy to hear about your health. And above all please pray for us.
Lord God, You called Your chosen one, Saint Maroun, to the monastic life, perfected him in divine virtues and guided him along the difficult road to the Heavenly kingdom. We ask You, through his intercession, to immerse us in Your love that we may walk in Your path and follow his footsteps. May his holy example resonate throughout our lives so that we may carry Your Gospel throughout the world. Amen.