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Macarius was born in the early fourth century to a poor family in Alexandria. He is called “the Younger” to distinguish him from an older contemporary Egyptian hermit saint of the same name. The younger Macarius worked as a seller of fruit and confections before rejecting the world and retiring into the desert as a hermit. He sometimes gave counsel, but usually preferred a more solitary way of life, gathering with his fellow hermits only on Saturdays and Sundays for the holy liturgy and sacraments. Even among these great ascetics, Macarius stood out for his severe mortifications. He briefly spent some time in a monastery under St. Pachomius, disguised, until the monks discovered his identity and thanked him for the example he had set. Once he resisted a temptation to go work in the hospitals in Rome, discerning that this was a temptation to be seen and recognized for his piety and works. In the year of Our Lord 375, Macarius the Elder and the Younger were together exiled by the Arians. The younger Macarius died some twenty years later, after his eventual return. He is considered a patron of pastry chefs, due to his original occupation.
THE Octave of St. Stephen, the first martyr.
At Rome, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who, despising the edict of the emperor Diocletian, which ordered that the sacred books should be delivered up, preferred to surrender themselves to the executioners rather than to give holy things to dogs.
At Antioch, the passion of blessed Isidore, bishop.
At Tomis, in Pontus, in the time of the emperor Licinius, three holy brothers, Argeus, Narcissus, and the young man Marcellinus. This last, being enrolled among the new soldiers, and refusing to serve, was beaten almost to death, and for a long time kept in prison. Being finally cast into the sea, he finished his martyrdom; but his brothers were beheaded.
At Milan, St. Martinian, bishop.
In Nitria, in Egypt, blessed Isidore, bishop and confessor.
The same day, St. Siridion, bishop.
In Thebais, St. Macarius of Alexandria, abbot.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.