Around the year 525, John Scholasticus was born in Syria. He decided to leave the world behind at the age of 16 and he sought out a Christian monk to train him for holiness. He travelled to a hermitage where for the next 40 years he studied the saints and lived a life of severe asceticism and virtue. When he was 75 he was asked by monks of a monastery in Sinai to be their abbot, and even St. Pope Gregory the Great wrote him letters asking for his prayers. He is most remembered for his spiritual masterpiece, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, and it is from this book’s title that he is remembered forever as “St. John Climacus”. After only four years as abbot, he retired to his hermitage and died there in 606.
CHALLENGE
St. John Climacus recognized that pride is the biggest obstacle to growing in the spiritual life. He said, “Humility is the only virtue no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could make angels out of demons.” Today, recite the Litany of Humility. Then, recite it every day until you notice a change in your life.
Have you ever wondered: “How did society get so messed up?” Recipient of a Catholic Writer’s Guild 2022 Seal of Approval, Rebellion answers that question using fast-paced storytelling style, telling you the riveting true story of the war between good and evil that started in the Garden of Eden.
