May It Be Well With You

John the Less of the Thebaid, a disciple of Ammon, was said to have lived for twelve years serving a hermit who was ill, sitting on a mat near him. But the hermit was always cross with him, and although John worked a long time for him, he never said, "May it be well with you."

But when the hermit was on his deathbed, in the presence of the brothers of the place, he held John's hand and said, "May it be well with you. May it be well with you."

The hermit commended John to the others, saying, "He is an angel, not a man."

~~Photo of "Doves" in Assisi by Frank Logue