St. Mary of Egypt (344 - 421) was a Egyptian who went to Alexandria when she was twelve years old and lived as an actress and courtesan for seventeen years. She once visited a icon (picture) of the Blessed Virgin and came to the realization of her evil life and as per Mother Mary's direction went to a desert which was to the east of Palestine, where she lived as a hermitess for forty-seven years, not seeing a single human being and forgave all kinds of temptations and remained in prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was discovered about 430 by a holy man named Zosimus, who was impressed by her spiritual knowledge and wisdom. He saw her the following Lent, but when he returned, he found her dead and buried her. When he returned to his monastery near the Jordan, he told the brethren what had happened and the story spread. An account of her is also mentioned by St. Cyryacus.
St. Mary help us to see our own souls sins in the light of God and pray for our conversions.
Patron of: Chastity (warfare against the flesh; deliverance from carnal passions); Demons (deliverance from); Fever; Skin diseases; Temptations of the flesh.
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