Celebrating the Feast of St. Seraphim

Wonder-Working and God Bearing Saint Seaphim was a Russian monk and mystic who lived in the 17 & 18 century.

His ascetic way of life and a gift for counseling won him the title “staretz” or spiritual father. He is one of the most renowned monastic figures in Russian Orthodox history.

He became a monk at the monastery at Sarov, Russia in 1777. He was ordained Priest in 1799. After a year of daily serving the Mass and receiving Holy Communion, he withdrew to a solitary life in a forest hut near the monastery where he was a monk.

After 25 years as a hermit, he returned to an active, pastoral ministry in Sarov in 1815, following the direction indicated by a spiritual experience that Seraphim attributed to the Virgin Mary. He served as confessor to a number of the surrounding faithful and to pilgrims and was reputed to work some wonders, including the discernment of thoughts and conscience.

Seraphim taught contemplative prayer directed toward mystical experience. He had a gift for explaining to lay people the traditional monastic method of contemplation. He tautht self-denial to combat vices as well as meditative methods toward ever-deepening prayer.

Seraphim taught that the purpose of the Christian life was to receive the Holy Spirit. He maintained that prayer was not limited to the cloistered mystic but was within the capacity of any Christian. Perhaps his most popular quotation amongst his devotees is “acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved.”

Seraphim died Jan. 2, 1833. He was glorified as a Saint of Our Lord by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1903. The Orthodox world celebrates his feast day on Jan.2 (julian calendar) / Jan. 15 (new calendar)

Here is a great 40-minute narration of Nicholas Motovilov’s conversation with the Saint on the “Aquisition of the Holy Spirit”.

Some more good advice from the Saint