December 4: Saint John Damascene

“The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God, as John the theologian and evangelist says: ‘But as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....’ Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death, so that we may also share their crowns of glory.”


Today, December 4, we celebrate the feast day of Saint John Damascene (John of Damascus, 676-749), hymn-writer, defender of icons, and Doctor of the Church. Saint John is considered the last of the four fathers of the Eastern Church. He devoted himself to religious poetry, theological arguments in defense of Church doctrine, and refutation of heresies. A prolific writer, many of his works remain, including beautiful canons on the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother, Easter, and the Ascension. His eloquent defense of icons and Christian art earned him the title, “The Doctor of Christian Art.” Saint John is famous for having had said:

”Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith.”

John was born in Greece to a Christian family who lived amongst the Saracens. His father was a civil authority who one day stumbled upon a group of Christian captives, sadly sitting in the town square. Among the group was an Italian priest who had been condemned to slavery. John’s father ransomed the priest, employing him as John’s tutor. Almost immediately it was apparent that John was of incredible intellect, and with the guidance of the ransomed priest, made extraordinary progress in his studies. John mastered grammar, philosophy, rhetoric, mathematics, music, poetry, and astronomy. His love, encouraged by both his tutor and his father, however, was theology. John quickly became renowned for his considerable—nearly complete—knowledge of theology and the theological method.

Upon the death of his father, the caliph who had employed him, appointed John as his principle advisor, the Grand Vizier. When his father died, the caliph made of him his principal counselor, his Grand Vizier. Saint John vigorously opposed the ferocious Iconoclast persecution instigated by the Emperor of Constantinople, Leo the Isaurian. He distinguished himself, with Saint Germain, Patriarch of Constantinople, in the defense of the veneration of sacred images, saving many from destruction.

Emperor Leo was unaccustomed to such vocal opposition, and found himself quite irritated with the learned and holy man. The emperor hatched an elaborate plot, which eventually convinced Saint John’s caliph that he was a traitor. It was ordered that his right hand be cut off in the public square, and the severed hand be attached to a post for all to see. This was done without ceremony or complaint by Saint John, who had not been allowed to defend himself against the charges. However, Saint John later acquired the severed hand, and prayed to the Blessed Virgin that he might be able to continue writing the praises of Her Son and Herself. Upon awaking the following morning, he found his hand re-attached, with no trace of pain. A permanent score about his wrist remained the rest of his life, marking the site of the miracle.

This miraculous healing convinced all that John had been telling the truth, and he was re-instated to his position. However, the miracle had also convinced John that his calling was in service to the Church through his writings. He promptly gave all he had to those who needed, and retired to the Monastery of Saint Sabas near Jerusalem. The remainder of his years were spent in prayer, composition of hymns and poems, and apologetics. Included in these works was “The Fountain of Wisdom,” the first real compendium of Christian theology. He died at the monastery at the age of 104, and was buried near the doorway of the church.

Saint John Damascene had great faith—a faith grounded in the theology and doctrine of the Church. One of the Church’s greatest defenders, he drew upon his God-given intellect to defend not only the teachings of the Church, including the Assumption of Our Blessed Mother, but to expand the manner in which we worship and praise the Lord—through poetry, through hymns, and through adapting music to use during the Liturgy. The faith of Saint John, evidenced by the miraculous healing of his hand, reminds us that all things are possible with the Lord, through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.

Confirm our minds, O Lord, in the mysteries of the true faith, set forth with power by your servant John of Damascus; that we, with him, confessing Jesus to be true God and true Man, and singing the praises of the risen Lord, may, by the power of the resurrection, attain to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for evermore.




Year 2: Day 338 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Courageous lives of faith centered on the Lord.
Requested Intentions: Financial security for a mother (M); Health, finances, successful marriage (A); Successful resolution of court case for son (K); Continued sobriety (N); Healing of a chronic health condition (B); Successful employment (A): Peace in a family, recovery of a niece from substance use (L); Blessings on a marriage, healing of a husband (P); For the health and recovery of sisters (B); For a daughter and granddaughter (D); Blessings on overseas employment (M); Healing of mother (L); Successful employment for husband (G); Successful employment, personal fulfillment (C); Health and recovery of ill sister (A); Resolution of legal issues; Grace and protection (E); Successful and meaningful employment (S); Restoration of a marriage (A); Peace and tolerance in a family, support for those with Parkinson’s Disease (M); For the restoration of a daughter’s marriage, end to debt (S); Employment and continued strength (K); Successful examinations for a son (J); Employment and blessings of a child (S); Employment and financial security (F); Successful work placement, continued health (A); Grace and healing for a family (P); Healing of a father (M).