"I never hammered a nail without the permission of the Blessed Virgin Mary"

Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833) shone as a bright light in the Russia of his time. Jesus said to him: "Acquire inner peace and thousands of souls will find salvation with you", and that's what happened! A hermit for some ten years, he led the life of an ascetic, spending 1,000 nights in prayer, standing on a rock. This long spiritual ascent was accompanied by apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

Returning to the monastery out of obedience, Seraphim requested seclusion in a small cell. One day, a nun saw the Mother of God enter his cell and converse with him, in the company of Peter of Alexandria and Saint Clement of Rome. At the Virgin's request, Seraphim finally opened the door of his cell to "pour out on others" the light that illuminated his spirit.

His life, "mysterious and hidden in God until then", suddenly burst forth in a great cry of Love for humanity. Priests, monks, nuns, emperors, all came to pay homage to the holy starets, this "earthly angel" who called each of his visitors "my joy". All came to him for physical healing and inner enlightenment. Seraphim is the most famous Russian saint in the world, and his strong spirituality, both traditional and modern, makes him a privileged bridge between East and West. At the end of his life, he said: "I never hammered a nail without the permission of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

Marian Encyclopedia