Author Topic: The Fathers of the Desert (Read 53466 times)

poche · « **Reply #15 on:** November 10, 2015, 11:39:43 PM »

A brother asked one of the elders, "How does it penetrates the fear of God in man? "And the Elder said," If it is humble, poor and does not judge his neighbor, the fear of God be in him. "

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poche · « **Reply #16 on:** November 11, 2015, 11:29:16 PM »

One day, several brothers left the monastery to visit the hermits who lived in the desert. They found one who received them with joy and who, seeing their fatigue, invited them to eat before the usual time and gave them any food. But at night, when they should sleep, the hermit heard cenobites say them: "These hermits eat more than we monks. "

Now, at dawn, they went to see another hermit, and when taking leave, their host said, "Make him my regards and this message: do not water the vegetables. "Arriving at their destination, they told it message. And the second hermit understood what he meant. He asked visitors to sit, made them weave baskets, and, settling among them, worked himself without interruption. And in the evening when it was time to light the lamp, he added some additional psalms to those he usually recited, then he said, "We do not eat every day in the desert, but since you are here, it should be a little dinner for a change. "He gave them bread and salt, adding:" This is a special treat, in your honor. "And making a sauce with vinegar, oil and salt, he distributed them. After the meal, they resumed reciting psalms and prayers almost until dawn; the hermit said, "Come, we will not complete our usual prayers, because your journey has tired you. Relax a little. "

From the first hour of the day, they all expressed the desire to leave the hermit, but he refused to let them go, saying, "Stay with me a little. I can not let you go so fast; charity requires that I keep you two or three days. "

But the monks, hearing these words, waited until night and fled under cover of darkness.

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poche · « **Reply #17 on:** November 13, 2015, 12:10:33 AM »

An elder said, the life of the monk is to obey, to meditate, to not judge others, not spread in insults nor complain. For it is written, you who love the Lord hate evil. So here is what should the monk should not agree with the unjust man, nor judge evil as does this one, nor indulge in curiosity nor examine or listen to other people's business. It does not take ownership, but rather to give. His heart is not to be proud, and he must not think ill of his neighbor. He must avoid filling his stomach and conduct themselves at all with discretion. It's all those things you recognize the man.

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poche · « **Reply #18 on:** November 13, 2015, 11:38:34 PM »

An elder said: avoid the rash confidence, control your tongue and your stomach, and abstain from wine. If someone tells you about any subject whatsoever, never discuss. If he speaks with wisdom, approve it. Otherwise, tell him, "You know what you say," but do not argue with him. Thus your mind will be at peace.

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poche · « **Reply #19 on:** November 18, 2015, 05:00:25 AM »

The Abbot Antoine said: just as fish die if they are on dry land, so the monks, if they leave their cells or live with men, lose the will to persevere in solitary prayer. Therefore, as the fish must return to the sea, we must return to our cells, lest living outside we forget to watch us inwardly.

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poche · « **Reply #20 on:** November 18, 2015, 11:33:32 PM »

The Abbé Arsène while he still lived at the King's palace, prayed to the Lord, saying: Lord, show me the way to salvation. And a voice was heard saying: "Arsene, flee men and you will be saved. "When he embraced the monastic life, he made the same prayer. And he heard a voice saying: "Arsene, flee, shut up, rest in prayer: these are the roots of purity. "

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poche · « **Reply #21 on:** November 20, 2015, 12:38:28 AM »

A brother went to Abbot Moses at Skete, requesting a good word. And the Elder said, "Go and rest in your cell; it will teach you everything you need to know. "

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poche · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2015, 12:46:40 AM »

One of the abbas saw someone who laughed and said: "In the presence of the Lord of heaven and earth, we will have to answer for our lives, and you laugh? "

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poche · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2015, 11:14:58 PM »

It is said that the Abbot Agathon kept for three years a pebble in his mouth to learn to be silent.

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poche · « **Reply #24 on:** November 23, 2015, 01:00:37 AM »

One of the brothers asked the Abbot Isidore, one of the elders of the Skete, and asked: "Why are the demons so afraid of you? "The elder replied:" Since I became a monk, I fought that anger does not come up to my lips. "

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poche · « **Reply #25 on:** November 25, 2015, 12:15:24 AM »

The Abbot Anastasius had a book copied on the beautiful parchment which was worth eighteen solidi under the New and Old Testaments in full. One day a brother came to see him, and, seeing the book, temptation prevailed. That same day, when the Abbot Anastasius wanted to read this book, he found that it was gone and knew that the brother had stolen it. But he sent someone to ask for him, lest the brother ajoutât perjury to theft.

But he went to the next town to sell the book, which he asked sixteen solidi. The buyer said, "Give me the book so I can see if it is worth that price. "And the buyer reported to St. Anastasius, saying:" Father, please look at this book and tell me if you think I should buy it for sixteen solidi. Is it worth the price? "The Abbot Anastasius replied:" Yes, it's a beautiful book, it is that price. "

The buyer came back to find the brother and said, "Here's your money. I showed the book to Father Anastasius, who found that it is beautiful and believes in at least sixteen solidi. "The brother then asked," Is that all what he said? Did not he have any other comments? - No, replied the buyer, not a word. - Well, said the brother, I've changed my mind; I do not want to sell this book. "Then he hurried to the Abbot Anastasius and begged tearfully to receive his book; but the Abbot refused, saying: "Go in peace, my brother, I will give it to you as a gift. "But the brother replied:" If you do not take it back I will never have peace. "And the brother spent the rest of his life with the Abbot Anastasius.

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poche · « **Reply #26 on:** November 26, 2015, 12:31:16 AM »

The Abbot Hyperichios saying: better to eat meat and drink wine than to devour the flesh of your brother by denigrating him.

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poche · « **Reply #27 on:** November 26, 2015, 10:57:50 PM »

One someone brought a bottle of new wine to Skete so that the brothers might taste it, each one had his cup. One brother came, and seeing that they had distributed the wine, he ran to hide in the cellar..The cellar collapsed. Hearing the noise, the monks ran, found half dead brother and began to rebuke him, saying, "It is well done because you were conceited. "But the Abbot admirably nursed and said," Pardon my son, for he has done well. And as sure as God exists, this winery will not be rebuilt in my lifetime, so that the world knows that due to a glass of wine cellar collapsed at Skete. "

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poche · « **Reply #28 on:** November 28, 2015, 12:31:02 AM »

A monk met during a trip, a group of nuns of the Lord. And, when he saw them, he left the road and walked away as he could. But the Abbess said: "If you were a perfect monk, you would not have even looked at us carefully enough to recognize that we are women. "

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poche · « **Reply #29 on:** December 01, 2015, 05:00:07 AM »

A brother who renounced the world and give to the poor what he possessed, kept some things for him. He went to see the Abbot Antoine. When the Elder heard this he said, "If you want to be a monk, go to the village to buy meat, place it on your naked body and come back here. "When the law was obeyed, dogs and birds of prey tore her body. On his return, Elder asked if he had executed his orders, and the brother showed his body lacerated him. Then Abbot Anthony said: "Those who, having renounced the world, want to keep some possessions are attacked and torn apart by demons as much as you. "

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