St. Ephrem the Syrian
Ephrem the Syrian, deacon and doctor of the Church
June 9, non-binding commemoration
Position: deacon and doctor of the church
Death: 378
Attributes: deacon, book, pillar
CURRICULUM VITAE
He came from Nisibis in Mesopotamia, where he became a deacon and a renowned teacher. From about 363, he continued his vocation in Edessa, where he founded a theological school.
Through prayer, self-denial, reading the Holy Scriptures, and spiritual education, he reached Christian perfection. He showed sinners the path of truth, as a preacher, he defended the faith against heretics, and showed them deeds of love. He was gentle, kind, and a worshipper of the Virgin Mary. He left behind many writings and hymns, all written in Syriac.
CV FOR MEDITATION
TOOL OF GOD
He was born around 306 in Nisibis, now called Nusabin, in Turkey, between the upper reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris. His mother is said to have been a Christian, while his father was an active pagan. Reports of Ephrem’s youth vary and are unreliable, from a good upbringing by his mother through a sinful youth to his expulsion by his father after he became a Christian. Some mention his capricious youth and his innocent imprisonment. He is said to have renewed his spiritual life and strengthened his faith after learning about God’s providence, which he had doubted. His religious upbringing and education are probably due to the prayers of his mother and the Bishop of Nisibis, James, whom Ephrem later remembered with great respect. According to some accounts, he worked in Edessa from the age of 18 and then returned to his hometown to help people in need.
He was interested in Greek philosophy and focused mainly on theology. He wanted to impart theological training to ordinary people and lead them to piety. He is said to have also prepared for his work by leading a hermit’s life and meditating on the texts of Holy Scripture.
He became a deacon to preach the gospel better, and, out of humility, he remained one throughout his life. He wanted to be only an instrument. In 325, he was with his bishop at the Council of Nicaea. In Nisibis, he then became the administrator of a school. As a deacon, he taught, preached, wrote extensively, and was involved in charity. During the time of doctrinal disputes, he zealously defended the true faith. His exceptional learning led the believers and local clergy to want to make him a bishop. At that time, he is said to have begun feigning madness to avoid the rank skillfully.
When Nisibis fell under Persian rule in 363, or shortly thereafter, Ephrem and part of the population fled westward to Edessa (present-day Urfa in southeastern Turkey). This was a city with a larger church community, and Ephrem founded a theological school there, taught, continued his diaconal ministry, and lived in asceticism. He devoted much of the night to prayer and the day to zealous apostolate.
The most frequent topics of his sermons were said to be the last things of man. He also excelled as a writer. He wrote commentaries on the Holy Scriptures and on doctrinal and moral writings and composed church poems and songs. He honored and sang the praises of the Virgin Mary, through whom he hoped to reach the kingdom of heaven. He called her the Reconciliator between heaven and earth, and he himself was called the “harp of the Holy Spirit” or the “harp of God” for the hymns he wrote. Ephrem excelled as an instrument of God in his other writings and throughout his life as a deacon. He also showed us an example of fervent love and respect for the Mother of God, the Church, and all people.
During the severe famine of 372, Ephrem, as a deacon, organized aid to the affected population and treated the plague patients. His life and work overflowed with love for Christ and Mary. He died at about 67, according to the new martyrology, in 378, as Baronius also writes, and there is a reference to the same year that Valencius also died.
The year 378 mentioned in the Martyrology already appears in the Calendarium Romanum (from 1969) – see pp. 94 and 126. This is not an error, but only an uncertainty in determining the year due to a discrepancy between the breviary and other sources. The year 373 mentioned there is based on the so-called Edessa Chronicle, which has become authoritative for most believers. Other working groups prepared the post-conciliar revision of the breviary texts. In conclusion, it can be stated that there is no complete certainty whether Ephrem died in 378 or 373.
St. Ephrem was included in the Roman Missal by Benedict XV, who honored him with the title of Doctor of the Church on October 5, 1920.
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