JULY 21

Day 21: Saint Simon Salot (the idiot) and his friend John (from Homs, Syria).

These two holy men were born toward the beginning of the sixth century in a noble family, most probably in Homs. They acquired a high education, however they disregarded this world and its vanities, and always longed to be totally with God, and strive to be as perfect and holy as their heavenly Father is. They visited the Holy Land, stopping at length in its monasteries. There they were deeply influenced and inspired by its monks, and joined them for a while, walking steadily in the paths of holiness. Then, they moved with the permission of their superior to live by the Jordan’s banks, as solitary hermits, for 29 years.

God willed that they were to be separated, and while John stayed in his hermitage and there ended his life in holiness, Simon turned back with a divine inspiration to the noisiness of the world, leading a very strange life that puzzles us still, and would be inconceivable if it had not been proven by historical documents. Back in Jerusalem he pretended dumbness and stupidity, and people disrespected and humiliated him, as the Jews had treated Jesus. This is why he was known as Simon Salot, which means the idiot or stupid one.

After that he turned back to his hometown Homs, where he led a homeless life, seeking humiliations in the streets. People thought that he was a mentally retarded, and would have pity on him times, and humiliate him other times. The more he was treated like an idiot, the happier he became. He often laughed, facing vulgarity and punches with a remarkable humbleness and gentleness. With such a wired lifestyle, he managed to gain people’s respect, and could help many sinners come back to Christ. With his funny, clownish jokes and performances, he could attract, touch their hearts, and draw them to the life of virtues and shows them the dirtiness of vices. Demons used to exit possessed people just by his showing up. Such was the life of Saint Simon Salot, who beautifully mixed holiness with stupidity.

His personal life was not less strange. His prayers and sacrifices were endless, and God granted him the grace of performing miracles, and the spirit of prophecy.

After his soul flew back to heaven, John the deacon went on telling the people the truth about Simon’s holiness that was covered under his dumbness. The people then, hurried up to his humble shack seeking blessings from his body; which became a source of many graces and miracles. His death was around the year 580. May his prayer be with us. Amen.