Stories of the Saints and Holy men and women

The Desert Fathers and Mothers

Insults in praise of God

As their fame grew, a Greek philosopher came to the desert to learn from the Desert Fathers. He encountered a monk who insulted him, then demanded payment for it. After three years of this treatment (!), the philosopher, fed up with it, returned to Athens. Upon arrival, he encountered a street bum who was insulting people. The philosopher approached the man and was insulted thoroughly. To the man's surprise, rather than reacting in anger, the philosopher laughed at him. "What are you laughing at," the man demanded. "For three years I paid for insults," replied the philosopher, "and you just gave away one for free!"

The bum stood, bowed, and declared to the philosopher, "Behold, the keys to the city are yours!"  

Sell what you have

A monk was given a manuscript of the Gospels. He read it, and when he got to the words, "Sell what you have and give to the poor," he stopped reading, sold the book. and gave the money to the poor.

Our Father...

Whenever a certain Desert Mother commenced the Our Father prayer, she would become so overwhelmed by the beauty and meaning of God as "our Father" that she would weep and contemplate those two words for days, unable to complete the prayer.

Brigands, robbers, and other scoundrels confronted by Saints

Saint John Cantius & the repenting brigands

When brigands assaulted the Polish Saint John Cantius (Jan Kanty) and took his possessions, they asked him if he had anything more. He replied he did not, and they let him go on his way. Shortly after, he realized that he did have more, coins sewn into his cloak. He ran after the brigands and told them he had not spoken in error and offered the coins to them. Astonished, they refused the coins and gave back what they had taken from him before.

This occurred on one of St. Cantius' four pilgrimages to Rome by foot -- from Poland, carrying his own bags. He also went to Jerusalem after having contemplated the Passion for nights without sleep.

Saint Gabriel Possenti & the expert shot

Saint Gabriel Possenti (1838-1862) was an ambitious, gregarious, charming young man who was an expert swordsman. Falling severely ill, he promised Our Lady that he would become a priest if she would cure him. She did, and he shocked his family and friends by entering the Seminary. That didn't last long, and he went back to his ways. He was injured by a stray bullet during a hunt and made the same promise again-- and forgot about it. He fell ill again and upon recovery kept his promise, finally. Another story has it that he as he watched a procession carrying a large banner and picture of "Our Lady, Help of Christians," Mary's eyes stared at him and he heard her say, "Keep your promise." He repented and joined the Passionists order. He died of tuberculosis at age of 23 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

During the Italian Revolution a band of "Red Shirts," attacked a village and threatened a young girl. Saint Gabriel grabbed a revolver from one of the attackers, and threatened to shoot anyone who would touch her. A brigand sneered, "You have six bullets, and there are 300 of us!" Saint Gabriel turned and shot dead a small lizard that scampered across the road. "Now I have five bullets," he retorted. They turned away.

Sources:

• Patron Saint of Handguns? St. Gabriel Possenti — Catholic Faith On the Move