Oblates of St. Benedict » Desert Wisdom

Attain Perfection in Your Profession

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:10:39 +0000

Therefore it is beneficial and proper for each person, in accordance with the orientation that he has chosen and the grace that he has received, to strive most zealously and diligently to attain to perfection in the work that be has undertaken. He may praise and admire the virtues of others, but he should never depart from the profession that he has once chosen, knowing that, according to the Apostle, the body of the Church is indeed one, although its members are many, and that it has, gifts differing according to the grace which has been given to us; whether prophecy, in proportion to our faith; or service, in our serving; or he who teaches, in teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation. Some members cannot claim for themselves the ministries of other members, for the eyes cannot perform the function of the hands nor the nose of the ears. Therefore not all are Apostles, not all are Prophets, not all are teachers.

John Cassian
Conferences, 14:5

What is humility?

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:30:31 +0000

Humility is to look on oneself as dust and ashes. The humble says, "Who am I? And who considers me to be anything? Who am I to deal with people for I am powerless?" He does not say, "What" or "What is this?" but walks submissively in his ways, never deeming himself equal to others. And if he is despised and rejected he does not get angry.
Humility is to hold oneself as guilty and to find that one has done nothing good before God. It is to maintain silence, looking on oneself as nothing. It is to reject one's inclinations, to look down to the ground, bearing death before his eyes., safeguarding himself from lying. It consists in not speaking, falsehood or arguing with someone who is older than you are, enduring insults joyfully, detesting comfort and training oneself in hardship, never distressing anyone.

Abba Isaiah

On Humility

admin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:23:44 +0000

After praying that God would take away his passions that he might become free from care, Abba John the Dwarf went and told an old man; 'I find myself in peace, without an enemy,' he said. The old man said to him, 'Go beseech God to stir up warfare so that you may regain the affliction and humility that you used to have, for it is by warfare that the soul makes progress.' So he sought God and when warfare came, he no longer prayed that it might be taken away, but said 'Lord, give me the strength for the fight.'

Abba Poeman

That for which I was sent is accomplished

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:09:24 +0000

Moses, the Libyan, was a very gentle and exceedingly lovable man who was accounted worthy of the gift of healing. He told me: When I was a youth in the monastery, we dug a large cistern twenty feet across. Eighty of us had been digging away there for three days and we had gone about a cubit farther than usual. We had expected to find a spring but had not found water. Deeply disappointed, we were considering giving up the task. Abba Pior happened along then from the Great Desert at the sixth hour, in the heat of the day, and the old man was wearing a cloak. He greeted us and then said, "Why have you become faint of heart, O ye of little faith? For since yesterday I have seen you losing heart."

And he went down into the pit of the cistern on a ladder and prayed along with them. He took up the pickaxe and said while striking the third blow, "O God of the holy Patriarchs, do not bring to naught the labor of your servants, but send them the water they need." And at once water spouted forth so as to sprinkle them. Then he said another prayer and left. They tried to get him to eat, but he did not accede to their wishes, however, but said, "That for which I was sent is accomplished. I was not sent for this."

Palladius,

Historia Lausiaca, 39

Truly, this is the way of love

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:10:30 +0000

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."