Память блаженной отроковицы Музы

Saint Gregory the Dvoeslov, Pope of Rome 3269, told his archdeacon Peter the following legend about the blessed youth Muse (according to Provos, Muse’s brother): “When Muse was still a young girl, the Most Holy Theotokos Ever-Virgin Mary appeared to her in a dream at night; The Mother of God was accompanied by many young women of the same young age as the Muse. The Mother of God asked the Muse: “Don’t you want to live with these young women and always follow Me?” “I wish it very much, my Lady.” Then the Mother of God told the Muse to abstain from children's games and from everything unpleasing, since in thirty days the Muse would come to Her and join the ranks of other young virgins. From that time on, Muse changed her life: leaving childhood games and amusements, she completely devoted herself to a life pleasing to God. Seeing such a change in the life of their daughter, Muse’s parents were very surprised. When they asked her about the reason for such a change, the Muse told them that she saw the Most Holy Theotokos in a dream; told them about the commandment that the Mother of God gave her; She also told about the day on which she would depart from this life and join the host of other virgins accompanying the Mother of God. When the twenty-fifth day arrived after the appearance of the Mother of God to the Muse, the young woman fell into a serious illness; she was all ablaze as if on fire. On the thirtieth day, when the time for the repose of the blessed youth approached, Muse again saw the Mother of God, who came to her, accompanied by the same youths. The Mother of God began to call the Muse to Her. The blessed young woman answered Her in a quiet voice: With these words, the blessed Muse gave up her soul into the hands of the Most Holy Theotokos and, leaving this earthly life, settled in the eternal abodes with the other virgins who accompanied the Mother of God” 3270. When Archdeacon Peter listened to this story, he asked Saint Pope Gregory: “I would like to know, honest lord, whether the souls of the righteous can be received in heaven before they are separated from the body?” Saint Gregory answered: – We cannot say about all righteous people without exception that their souls will be accepted in heaven; in the same way we cannot say whose souls will not be accepted in heaven. But there are probably righteous people whose souls are, as it were, at some distance from the Kingdom of Heaven. The reason for this should be seen precisely in the fact that those people, during their earthly life, did not achieve a certain perfection in a virtuous life. As for the fact that the souls of the righteous who lived godly on earth, when they renounce union with the flesh, then settle in the abodes of heaven, this truth is clearer than the light of the sun itself, for our Lord Jesus Christ Himself says: “for where the corpse is, there the eagles will gather” (Matthew 24:28), that is, where our Lord Jesus Christ will be with our human flesh taken upon Himself, Without any doubt, the souls of the righteous will be there. And the holy Apostle Paul greatly desired to “be loosed and be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23). Anyone who believes that the Lord is in heaven must also believe that Paul’s soul is in heaven with Christ. The same Apostle clearly testifies to everyone that the souls of the righteous, after separation from the body, will be established in the heavenly fatherland, for he says: “We know that when our earthly house, this hut, is destroyed, we have from God a dwelling in heaven, a house not made with hands, eternal” (2 Cor. 5:1). May glory, honor and worship be given to our God, now and forever. Amen. Saint Gregory the Great (Dvoeslov) is a famous teacher of the Western Church who lived in the 6th century. Of his works, the following are especially remarkable: “Dialogue on the Life of the Italian Fathers” (for this work, written in a dialogical, i.e., conversational form, Saint Gregory received the nickname Dvoeslov); “The Pastoral Rule,” which contains discussions about what a shepherd should be like and how he should fulfill his duties; Rite of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts; conversations on the Gospel and the book of the prophet Ezekiel, etc. - His memory is celebrated in St. Church on March 12 The death of the holy youth Muse followed in the 5th century. You might be interested in: