he year 1624. See his life
written by the monk Onulf, and abridged by Everhelm, abbot of Hautmont,
in Bollandus, p. 673, and Martenne, Amplis. Collectio, t. 2, Praef. p.
17.

ST. APOLLO, ABBOT IN THEBAIS.

AFTER passing many years in a hermitage, he formed and governed a
community of five hundred monks, near Heliopolis. They all wore the same
coarse white habit, all received the holy communion every day, and the
holy abbot made them also a daily exhortation with admirable unction. He
entertained them often on the evils of melancholy and sadness, saying,
that spiritual joy and cheerfulness of heart are necessary amid our
tears of penance; as being the fruit of charity, and requisite to
support the fervor of the soul. He was known to strangers by the joy of
his countenance. By humility he ranked himself among the goats, unworthy
to be numbered among the sheep. He made it his constant and earnest
petition to God, that he might know himself, and be preserved from the
subtile snares and illusions of pride. It is said that the devil left a
possessed person at his command, crying out that he was not able to
withstand his humility. The saint received a visit from St. Petronius,
afterwards bishop of Bologna, in 393, being then near eighty years old,
which he did not long survive. See Sozom. l. 6, c. 29. Rufin. l. 2.
Tillem. t. 10, p. 35. The Greek menaea and Bollandus on this day.

ST. PUBLIUS, ABBOT

NEAR ZEUGMA, UPON THE EUPHRATES,

IS honored by the Greeks. He was the son of a senator in that city, and
sold his estate, plate, and furniture, for the benefit of the poor; and
lived first a hermit, afterwards governed a numerous community in the
fourth age. He allowed his monks no other food than herbs and pulse, and
very coarse bread; no drink but water: he forbade milk, cheese, grapes,
and even vinegar, also oil, except from Easter to Whitsuntide. To put
himself always in mind of advancing continually in fervor and charity,
he added every day something to his exercises of penance and devotion:
he was remarkably solicitous to avoid sloth, being sensible of the
inestimable value of time. Alas! what would not a damned soul, what
would not a suffering soul in purgatory give, for one of those moments
which we unthinkingly throw away. As far as the state of the blessed in
heaven can admit of regret, they eternally condemn their insensibility
as having lost every moment of their mortal life, which they did not
improve to the utm