The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

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priesthood, about the year 340, the fortieth of his age, that he might
celebrate the divine mysteries for the convenience of this holy colony.
When the desert became better peopled, there were four churches built in
it, which were served by so many priests. The austerities of St.
Macarius were excessive; he usually ate but once a week. Evagrius, his
disciple, once asked him leave to drink a little water, under a parching
thirst; but Macarius bade him content himself with reposing a little in
the shade, saying: "For these twenty years, I have never once ate,
drunk, or slept, as much as nature required."[4] His face was very pale,
and his body weak and parched up. To deny his own will, he did not
refuse to drink a little wine when others desired him; but then he would
punish himself for this indulgence, by abstaining two or three days from
all manner of drink; and it was for this reason, that his disciple
desired strangers never to tender unto him a drop of wine.[5] He
delivered his instructions in few words, and principally inculcated
silence, humility, mortification, retirement, and continual prayer,
especially the last, to all sorts of people. He used to say, "In prayer,
you need not use many or lofty words. You can often repeat with a
sincere heart, Lord, show me mercy as thou knowest best. Or, assist me,
O God!"[6] He was much delighted with this ejaculation of perfect
resignation and love: "O Lord, have mercy on me, as thou pleasest, and
knowest best in thy goodness!"[7] His mildness and patience were
invincible, and occasioned the conversion of a heathen priest, and many
others.[8] The devil told him one day, "I can surpass thee in watching,
fasting, and many other things; but humility conquers and disarms
me."[9] A young man applying to St. Macarius for spiritual advice, he
directed him to go to a burying-place, and upbraid the dead; and after
to go and flatter them. When he came back, the saint asked him what
answer the dead had made: "None at all," said the other, "either to
reproaches or praises." "Then," replied Macarius, "go, and learn neither
to be moved with injuries nor flatteries. If you die to the world and to
yourself, you will begin to live to Christ." He said to another:
"Receive, from the hand of God, poverty as cheerfully as riches, hunger
and want as plenty, and you will conquer the devil, and subdue all your
passions."[10] A certain monk complained to him, that in solitude he was
always tempted to break his fast, whereas in the monastery, he could
fast the whole week cheerfully. "Vain-glory is the reason," replied the
saint; "fasting pleases, when men see you; but seems intolerable when
that passion is not gratified."[11] One came to consult him, who was
molested with temptations to impurity: the saint, examining into the
source, found it to be sloth, and advised him never to eat before
sunset, to meditate fervently at his work, and to labor vigorously,
without sloth, the whole day. The other faithfully complied, and was
freed from his enemy. God revealed to St. Macarius, that he had not
attained the perfection of two married women, who lived in a certain
town: he made them a visit, and learned the means by which they