Quotes from the Desert Fathers

[odhiambo]

"One day Abba Isaac went to a monastery.  He saw a brother committing a sin
and  he condemned him.  When he returned to the desert, an angel of the Lord came
 and stood in front of the door of his cell, and said, "I will not let you
enter."  But he persisted saying, "What is the matter?"  And the angel
replied, "God has sent me to ask you where you want to throw the guilty
brother whom you have condemned."  Immediately he repented and said, "I have
 sinned, forgive me."  Then the angel said, "Get up, God has forgiven you.
But from now on, be careful not to judge someone before God has done so."

[odhiambo]

He (Abba Anthony) also said, 'God does not allow the same warfare
and temptations to this generation as he did formerly, for
men are weaker now and cannot bear so much.'

[odhiambo]

He (Abba Anthony) also said, 'God does not allow the same warfare
and temptations to this generation as he did formerly, for
men are weaker now and cannot bear so much.'

Abba Anthony was talking about then, but what about now?
Are we weaker spiritually that earlier Christians?

[odhiambo]

I do not remember reading the particular saying from the desert fathers which I am going to post.
I hope that it has not been posted already.

A brother once went out on a pilgrimage from the monastery of Abba
Poemen, and came to a hermit, who lived in love towards all and received
many  visitors.  The brother told the hermit stories of Abba Poemen.  And when he
heard of Poemen's strength of character, he longed to see him.
     The brother returned to Egypt.  And after some little time, the hermit
rose and went from his country to Egypt to see the brother who had visited
him: for he had told him where he lived.  When the brother saw the hermit,
he was astonished, and very glad.  The hermit said to him, "Of your charity
towards me, take me to Abba Poemen."  And the brother rose up and showed him
the way to the old man.
     And the brother told Abba Poemen this about the hermit, "A great man
of much charity, and particular honor in his own province, has come here
wanting to see you."  So the old man received him kindly.  And after they
had  exchanged greetings, they sat down.
     But the hermit began to talk of the Holy Scripture, and of the things
of the spirit and of heaven.  But Abba Poemen turned his face away, and
answered nothing.  When the hermit saw that he would not speak with him, he
was distressed and went out.  And he said to the brother who had brought him
there, "My journey was useless.  I went to the old man and he does not deign
to speak to me."
     The brother went to Abba Poemen, and said, "Abba, it was to talk with
you that this great man came here, a man of much honor in his own land.  Why
did you not speak to him?"  The old man answered, "He is from above, and
speaks of the things of heaven.  I am from below, and speak of the things of
the earth.  If he had spoken with me on the soul's passions, I would
willingly have replied to him.  But if he speaks of the things of the spirit, I know
nothing about them."
     So the brother went out and told the hermit, "The reason is that the
old man does not easily discuss Scripture.  But if anyone talks to him about
the soul's passions, he answers."
     Then the hermit was stricken with penitence, and went to the old man
and said, "What shall I do, Abba?  My passions rule me."  And the old man
gazed at him with gladness and said, "Now you are welcome.  You have only to
ask and I will speak with understanding."  And the hermit  was much
strengthened by their discourse, and said, "Truly, this is the way of love."
And he thanked God that he had been able to see so holy a man, and returned
to his own country."

[Shin]

He (Abba Anthony) also said, 'God does not allow the same warfare
and temptations to this generation as he did formerly, for
men are weaker now and cannot bear so much.'

Abba Anthony was talking about then, but what about now?
Are we weaker spiritually that earlier Christians?

I think we weaker, but it feels like the times are harder too!

It's ok to repeat quote and extracts sometimes.

This extract above makes me think of all the people who discuss high matters carelessly, without the reserve and reverence necessary. But it is even something to simply discuss them with sufficient reverence..

St. Poemen pray for us..

[George]

This reminded me of a few verses from Sirach.

My son, perform your tasks in meekness;
then you will be loved  more than the giver of gifts.
The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;
so you will find favor with God.
There are many who are noble and renowned,
but it is to the humble that He reveals His mysteries.
For great is the might of the Lord
he is glorified by the humble.
Seek not what is too difficult for you,
nor investigate what is beyond your power.
Reflect upon what has been assigned to you,
and do not be curious about many of His works,
for you do not need to see with your eyes
what is hidden.
Do not meddle in what is beyond your tasks,
for matters too great for human understanding
have been shown to you.
For their hasty judgment has led many astray,
and wrong opinion has caused their thoughts to slip.
Sirach 3:17-24

[odhiambo]

Abba Xanthias said,
"The thief was on the cross and he was justified by a
single word; and Judas who was counted in the number of the apostles lost
all  his labor in one single night and descended from heaven to hell.  
Therefore let no one boast of his good works, for all those who trust in themselves fall."

[Shin]

Sirach is a true favorite of mine.

 

I've been thinking about meekness and smallness a more lately. How to do it though?

[Brigid]

Sirach is a true favorite of mine.

 

I've been thinking about meekness and smallness a more lately. How to do it though?

St. Therese is wonderful in teaching that, I think. (Now if I could only do it!)

[George]

Sirach is a true favorite of mine.

 

I've been thinking about meekness and smallness a more lately. How to do it though?

I agree Sirach is a favorite of mine too.
Meekness is a real struggle for me. I need to pray a lot.

[odhiambo]

    When Abba Romanus was at the point of death, his disciples
gathered round him and said, "How ought we to conduct ourselves?"
The old man said to them, "I do not think I have ever told one of
you to do something, without having first made the decision not to
get angry, if what I said were not done; and so we have lived in
peace all our days."

[odhiambo]

  "  Now it happened one year that the Nile did not rise enough to
water all our fields, and a multitude of the poor came to Abba Aaron
weeping and saying, "Our holy father, we and our children are going to
die because the waters have not risen!" He said to them,"Believe in God
and He will deliver you.  As it is written, 'The prayer of the poor man
who is downhearted, he pours out entreaty before the Lord.' Again it
says, 'The Lord has heard the desires of the poor.'"  He quoted them
numerous other passages from scripture and explained them to them,
and he comforted them, and in this way they departed from him praising
God.  Now the holy man Aaron was not unconcerned about their distress,
and he would go to the river each evening and immerse himself in the
water up to his neck and he would pray to God, saying, "My good Christ,
compassionate one, have compassion upon your image and likeness."
Indeed, he continued this practice until God had compassion for his
tears and made the waters of the Nile flow over the face of the whole
country"
Paphnutius, Life of Abba Aaron.

[Shin]

I remember reading once how important the Nile is, and was.

Truly it whether the Nile flooded the lands or not determined everything about the future for folks, because it was the difference between starvation or not if the fields were properly irrigated.

[odhiambo]

I remember reading once how important the Nile is, and was.

Truly it whether the Nile flooded the lands or not determined everything about the future for folks, because it was the difference between starvation or not if the fields were properly irrigated.

That is true. The Egyptian farmers reportedly planned all their activities round the floods.

[odhiambo]

It was said concerning Abba Agathon that some monks came to find him,
having heard tell of his great discernment.
 Wanting to see if he would lose his temper, they said to him,
"Aren't you that Agathon who is said to be a fornicator and a proud man?"
  "Yes, it is very true," he answered.
 They resumed, "Aren't you that Agathon who is always talking nonsense?" 
"I am." 
Again they said, "Aren't you Agathon the heretic?"
But at that, he replied, "I am not a heretic."
 So they asked him, "Tell us why you accepted everything we cast you, but repudiated
this last insult."  He replied, "The first accusations I take to myself, for that is good for my soul.  But heresy is separation from God.  Now I have no wish to be separated from God."  At this saying they were astonished at his discernment and returned, edified.

[odhiambo]

Abba Mark said to Abba Arsenius,
"Why do you avoid us?' The old man said to him, 'God knows that I love
you, but I cannot live with God and with men. The
thousands and ten thousands of the heavenly hosts have but
one will, while men have many. So I cannot leave God to
be with men."
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