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On
His Life
 St.
John lived in the eighth century. He was born in the city of
Damascus of a good Christian family. When his father died, he
became the governor of Damascus. At this time, the emperor made
a law. It forbade Christians from having statues or pictures of
Our Lord and the saints. St. John Damascene knew the emperor was
wrong. He joined with many others to defend this practice of the
Christians. The pope himself asked John to keep telling people
that it is a good thing to have statues and holy pictures. They
make us think of Our Lord, the Blessed Mother and the saints.
But the emperor would not give in to the Holy Father. He
continued to forbid statues to be put in public places. St. John
bravely wrote three letters. He told the emperor to give up his
wrong ideas.
The
emperor became so furious that he wanted revenge. John decided
he should resign as governor. He gave away all his money to the
poor and became a monk. He kept on writing marvelous books to
defend the Catholic religion. At the same time he did all kinds
of humble work in the monastery. One day he even went to sell
baskets in the streets of Damascus. Many of those who had known
him before were mean enough to laugh at him. Here was the man
who had once been the great governor of the city now selling
baskets. Imagine how St. John must have suffered. But he knew
that the money received would be put to good use at the
monastery. He thought of Jesus, the Son of God, who wanted to be
born in a stable. Then he felt happy to imitate Our Lord's
humility.
Saint John Damascene is the Icon and Image
Doctor. He is most famous as one who defended and favored the
veneration of sacred images, holy pictures, statues and icons.
His writings in the Eastern Church are what the Summa of St
Thomas Aquinas are to the West. John guarded the Church's faith
and traditions zealously. His dedicated life of prayer afforded
him to put his literary and preaching talents at the service of
God. He was a recipent of many miracles. Praying changed
everything into beauty for him. St Damascene spent all his life
under Moslem rule and, like all the doctors, had an
extraordinary devotion to the Mother of God. It was reported
that John received a total healing from a wound inflicted on him
through the intercession of St. Mary. |
