[]April 3
Saints of the Day
 

Saint Mary of Egypt, 344-421, Maria Aegyptica
The rich prostitute for 17 years who became a hermit for 50 years

     Beautiful, spoiled, cynical, disenchanted, rich child who was the center of her family's pride, and repaid them by running away at age 12. Ran to Alexandria, Egypt where she worked as a dancer, singer, and prostitute for 17 years. Took ship on a pilgrimage to Palestine, hoping to ply her trade among the pilgrims, and then in Jerusalem.

    On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross she moved with the crowds to the church, looking for customers. At the church door she found herself repelled, unable to open the door; she was overcome with remorse for her life and exclusion from the Church. She repented, and asked for Our Lady's guidance; a voice told that to find rest, she should cross the Jordan River. The next day she crossed the river, wandered into the desert, and took up the life of a hermit for nearly 50 years as penance.

She lived on herbs, berries, and whatever came to hand. She met Saint Zosimus of Palestine. She once told him to come back exactly one year from that day; when he did, he found she'd died; with a lion help, he dug her grave. Zosimus later wrote a biography of her, and her life was a popular story in the Middle Ages.

    http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm22.htm

Born c.344 in Egypt
Died c.421 in the desert near the River Jordan of natural causes; relics at Rome, Naples, Cremona, and Antwerp
Memorial 3 April; 1 April in the Greek Church
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Saints of April 3:
 http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0403.htm

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