Word from the Desert

There were two brothers who shared a cell...

wfd — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:54:05 +0000

…and their humility and patience was praised by many of the fathers. A certain holy man, hearing of this, wanted to test them and see if they possessed true and perfect humility. So he came to visit them. They received him with joy, and all together they said their prayers and their psalms, as usual. Then the visitor went outside the cell and saw their little vegetable garden. Seizing his stick, he rushed in with all his might and began to destroy every plant in sight so that soon there was nothing left at all. Seeing him, the two brothers said not one word. They did not even show sad or troubled faces. Coming back into the cell they finished their prayers for Vespers, and paid him honor, saying, “Abba, if you like, we can get one of the cabbage that is left, and cook it and eat it, for it is now time to eat.” Then the elder fell down before them, saying, “I give thanks to my God, for I see that the Holy Spirit rests on you.”

When Abba Romanus was at the point of death...

wfd — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:47:13 +0000

…his disciples gathered around 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.”

Abba Hyperechius said...

wfd — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:46:45 +0000

“Let your thoughts be ever in the Kingdom of Heaven and soon you will possess it as a heritage.”

Abba Poemen said...

wfd — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:22:06 +0000

…If a man remembered that it is written, “By your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:37), he would choose to be silent.

An old man said...

wfd — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:39:00 +0000

…Just as no one can cause harm to someone who is close to the emperor, no more can Satan do anything to us if our souls are close to God, for truly he said, “Draw near to me, and I shall draw near to you.” But since we often exalt ourselves, the enemy has no difficulty in drawing our poor souls into shameful passions.