St Nilus The Younger Research Paper

Saint Nilus of Rossano (Nilus the Younger) Nilus the Younger (c. 905-1005) was one of the Fathers of Greek monasticism in Italy, founding many abbeys, including the Abbey of Grottaferrata, the center of monasticism in Italy to this day. Although Basilian Monasticism had been declining in Italy, in part because of frequent Muslim attack, Saint Nilus revitalized, despite the many dangers involved. He had several other religious accomplishments, including supporting Pope Gregory V against antipope John XVI, and writing some liturgical poetry. However, he was not always such a pious man. Until his thirtieth year, Nilus (whose baptismal name was Nicholas) was fairly lukewarm about his religion, and lived a licentious youth. It is believed that he lived with a woman whom he was not married to, that bore him a daughter. His conversion came when his daughter and her mother died from illness. From then, he became a hermit, trying to mimic early Church Fathers. Eventually, after living at several

The Lord could have used a man who had followed the ways of Christianity all his life to revitalize monasticism in Italy. Instead, He enacted a change in the amoral young Nilus, whose sinful ways had just caught up to him. God never works in ways humans would expect. The greatest propagator of Christianity, Saint Paul began as a strict Pharisee who would arrest professors of Christianity. The same could be said of Saint Nilus; no one who knew him as a young man could possible fathom him as a Saint of the Catholic Church. However, by using Nilus in His divine plan, God is reaffirming what He said on earth, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7,