May 9 - St. Pachomius
Born: 292
Died: 348
Nationality: Egyptian
Vocation: Religious Life
Canonization: Pre-congregation
Though St. Anthony of the Desert is commonly thought to be the founder of Western monasticism, it was St. Pachomius who first introduced a rule and an organization to religious communities.
When he was 20 years old, he enlisted in the Roman Empire’s army. The kindness of Christians he experienced during this time ultimately led to his conversion to Christianity after he was discharged.
He then became the disciple of a hermit, Palemon, under whom he took the habit. They led a life of total austerity and sacrifice. One day, during prayer, Pachomius received instructions from the Lord to build a monastery for followers who desired to live a life of sacrifice, but not one of solitude. At the time, this was a radical move - every other holy man who had gone to live in the desert had done so in isolation.
In a short time however, some hundred people traveled out into the desert to join Pachomius. Soon, more and more came. Pachomius built ten more monasteries for men and two for women. By his death in 346, there were seven thousand religious living in these houses. The rule Pachomius wrote for religious was said to have been dictated to him by an angel. It is the first rule ever written for religious and inspired all rules that came after, including the Rule of St. Benedict.