A layman who had a son...

…came to see Abba Sisoes on Abba Anthony‚s mountain. On the way, it happened that his son died. He was not troubled by this but brought him with confidence to the old man and bowed down with his son, as though making prostration, so that he would be blessed by the old man. Then the father stood up, left the child at the old man‚s feet and went outside. The old man, thinking that the boy was bowing to him said, “Get up, go outside.” For he did not know that he was dead. Immediately the boy stood up and went out. When he saw it, his father was filled with amazement and went back inside. He bowed before the old man and told him the whole story. When he heard it the old man was filled with regret, for he had not intended that to happen. So the disciple asked the father of the child not to speak of it to anyone before the old man’s death.

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A brother asked Abba Sisoes the Theban, “Give me a word,” and he said, “What shall I say to you? I read the New Testament, and then I turn to the Old.”

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Abba Ammoun of Rhaithou asked Abba Sisoes, “When I read the Scriptures, my mind is wholly concentrated on the words so that I may make elaborate comments and so to prepare myself to answer questions on it.” The old man said to him, “That is not necessary; it is better to enrich yourself through purity of spirit and to be without anxiety and then to speak simply.”

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Abba Sisoes said, “Let yourself be despised, cast your own will behind your back, and you will be free from care and at peace.”

St. Sisoes the Theban, commemorated 6 July