St. Macarius was one of the famed Desert Fathers, who fled society in the fourth century to live a life of austerity and prayer in the desert.

He was born in northern Egypt around the year 300 and tended cattle as a boy. Even as a young man, he felt a strong call to solitude, so he made his home a small cell where he prayed continually and wove mats.

Once, a woman falsely accused him of assaulting her. He was dragged through the streets and beaten, but he bore these insults with patience. In fact, he sent the woman whatever he earned from his work weaving mats.

When it was discovered that the woman had lied, he became famous for his humility. To escape flatter, he left the city and went into the desert to live—he was about 30 years old. He spent the next 60 years living a harsh life of fasting and prayer.

Inspired by his example, others began to join him in the desert, though he only allowed one other person to live with him—and this disciple’s job was to receive and direct visitors. Others lived in separate hermitages. The bishop asked him to be ordained a priest so that he could serve the other hermits in the area with the Sacraments.

His fasting was excessive—he ate but once a week, and permitted himself very little to drink. People sought him out for his wisdom, which he offered in short sayings. He urged people to pray and to take on habits of silence. “In prayer you do not need to use many or lofty words,” he would say. “Simply repeat with a sincere heart, ‘Lord, show me mercy as you know best;’ or ‘O God, come to my assistance.’”

A group of heretical monks, who denied the resurrection, began taking up residence in the desert as well. It is said that Macarius raised a dead man to life to prove them wrong. He was famous for his patience and mildness.

Macarius died at the age of 90, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica. His image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.

St. Macarius, you were the young man who spent 60 years seeking God in the silence of the desert, pray for us!