The Desert Fathers (and Mothers), Sunday, December 30, 2012

Amma Syncletica said, "There are many who live in the mountains and behave as if they were in the town, and they are wasting their time. It is possible to be a solitary in one's mind while living in a crowd, and it is possible for one who is a solitary to live in the crowd of his own thoughts."

~ Taken from "The Sayings of the Desert Fathers"

(H/T to the New Clairvaux Abbey blog where I found this quote.  Please check out their beautiful web site and blog at http://www.newclairvaux.org/blog.html.)

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, December 16, 2012, Abba Isaac

Bose Monastery: Desert Fathers (Photo credit: jimforest)

"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."

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, December 2, 2012

One day Saint Epiphanius sent someone to Abba Hilarion with this request, ‘Come, and let us see one another before we depart from the body.’ When he came, they rejoiced in each other's company. During their meal, they were brought a fowl; Epiphanius took it and gave it to Hilarion. Then the old man said to him, ‘Forgive me, but since I received the habit I have not eaten meat that has been killed.’ Then the bishop answered, ‘Since I took the habit, I have not allowed anyone to go to sleep with a complaint against me and I have not gone to rest with a complaint against anyone.’ The old man replied, ‘Forgive me, your way of life is better than mine.'

From The Sayings of the Desert Father, Sr Benedicta Ward

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, September 30, 2012

A brother said to a hermit, ‘How does the fear of God come into the soul?’ He said, ‘If there is humility and poverty, and no judgement of others, the fear of God will be present there.

Oblates and the Desert Fathers -- What's the Difference?

Coptic icon of Pachomius the Great, the founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I'm thinking of developing a class on Benedictine spirituality, especially as it applies to oblates, to offer in my parish. I've no idea if they would let me do it or not, nor if anyone would attend. One reason I'd like to do that is to see if I can't interest a few people to look into becoming oblates, at whatever monastery, so that we could support one another in the journey.

Anyway, I thought the class might go 6 weeks, starting with  2 sessions on the history of monasticism, going back to the desert fathers. So, not knowing much about the desert fathers, I started reading. The first book I pulled out of my electronic book bag was Benedicta Ward's book on the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. I was reminded of something interesting.  Here's a quote:

These men and women lived alone as hermits, or with disciples living near by, or, as training became more urgent, in larger groups in monasteries. At the beginning this was a way of life largely unstructured by theological reflection. These people were ordinary Christians who chose to live out their evangelical commitment in terms of the monastic way of life, and in doing so they transformed both Christianity and monasticism in both its details and its ideology.

Monasticism has always been a lay movement that sprang from within the Church. It was driven by ordinary people living their daily lives who wanted to be better prepared for the day, which they expected to come in a short time, very possibly within their lifetime, in which Christ would come. Monasteries were made up of people who wanted nothing but Christ.

What a difference it would make if this were true of more Christians, especially more Catholics. We could truly be the leaven, the light of the world shining before men. I know it would make a difference if I could slow down and be conscious of the goal of living like this would make in my own life. It occurred to be that oblates are, in a sense, trying to recapture that very early monastic spirituality.

Encouraging that could be a very good objective for my course, if I ever do it.

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, August 26, 2012, Macarius



Macarius said to Zacharias, ‘Tell me, what makes a monk?’ He said, ‘Isn’t it wrong for you to be asking me?’ Macarius said to him, ‘I am sure I should ask you, Zacharias my son. There is something that urges me to ask you.’ Zacharias said to him, ‘As far as I can tell, abba, I think anyone who controls himself and makes himself content with just what he needs and no more, is indeed a monk.'

 

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, August 19, 2012, St Anthony of the Desert

Truthfully, my children, I tell you that everyone who delights in his own will and is subdued to his own thoughts, and takes up the things sown in his own heart, and rejoices in them, and supposes in his heart that these are some great chosen mystery, and justifies himself in what he does – the soul of such a man is the breath of evil spirits.

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, July 29, 2012, Abba Agathon

Saint Macarius of Egypt and the Cherub. Venerable Saint Macarius (ca. 300- d. 391, Scetes, Egypt) is one of the most prominent desert Fathers of the Church, known also as Macarius the Great. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 Agothon who is always talking nonsense?' 'I am." Again they said 'Aren't you Agothon 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.

 Abba Agathon

Desert Fathers

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, June 24, 2012, St. John Climacus



English: St. John Climacus Русский: Иоанн Лествичник. Фрагмент новгородской иконы «Иоанн Лествичник, Георгий и Власий». Государственный Русский музей, Санкт-Петербург, Россия. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Repentance is the renewal of baptism. Repentance is a contract with God for a second life. A penitent is a buyer of humility. Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort. Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care. Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair. A penitent is an undisgraced convict. Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins. Repentance is purification of conscience. Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions. A penitent is the
inflicter of his own punishments. Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.  

St. John Climacus

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, June 17, 2012, St. Cyril of Jerusalem



English: Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, fresco at a greek orthodox church (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

O strange and inconceivable thing! We did not really die, we were not really buried, we were not really crucified and raised again, but our imitation was but a figure, while our salvation is in reality. Christ was actually crucified, and actually buried, and truly rose again; and all these things have been vouchsafed to us, that we, by imitation communicating in His sufferings, might gain salvation in reality. O surpassing loving-kindness! Christ received the nails in His undefiled hands and feet, and endured anguish; while to me without suffering or toil, by the fellowship of His pain He vouchsafed salvation.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, May 20, 2012, St John Chrysostom

Christ is Risen, and you (Hades) are annihilated! Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! Christ is Risen and the angels rejoice! Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep… Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Saviour has set us free.

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, May 6, 2013, Kontakia of St. Romanos

The wicked one, on the watch, carried me off as booty as I lazily slept. He led my mind into error; he plundered my spirit and snatched away The wealth of Thy grace, this arch robber. So raise me up, as I am fallen, and summon me, Saviour, Thou who dost will that all men be saved.

Kontakia of St. Romanos, A Prayer.

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, April 15, 2012, St Irenaeus

The Lord of all gave to His apostles the power of the gospel, and by them we also have learned the truth, that is, the teaching of the Son of God - as the Lord said to them, `He who hears you hears Me, and he who despises you despises Me, and Him Who sent Me' [Lk.10:16]. For we learned the plan of our salvation from no other than from those through whom the gospel came to us. The first preached it abroad, and then later by the will of God handed it down to us in Scriptures, to be the foundation and pillar of our faith. For it is not right to say that they preached before they had come to perfect knowledge, as some dare to say, boasting that they are the correctors of the apostles. For after our Lord had risen from the dead, and they were clothed with the power from on high when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were filled with all things and had perfect knowledge. They went out to the ends of the earth, preaching the good things that come to us from God, and proclaiming peace from heaven to all men, all and each of them equally being in possession of the gospel of God.
St. Irenaeus, Against the Heresies, III

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, March 25, 2012, Kontakia of St Romanos

Image via Wikipedia

The wicked one, on the watch, carried me off as booty as I lazily slept. He led my mind into error; he plundered my spirit and snatched away The wealth of Thy grace, this arch robber. So raise me up, as I am fallen, and summon me, Saviour, Thou who dost will that all men be saved.

Kontakia of St. Romanos, A Prayer.

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, March 18, 2012, St Isaac of Syria

Image via WikipediaThe Lord's Day is a mystery of the knowledge of the truth that is not received by flesh and blood, and it transcends speculations.  In this age there is no eighth day, nor is there a true Sabbath.  For he who said that `God rested on the seventh day,' signified the rest [of our nature] from the course of this life, since the grave is also of a bodily nature and belongs to this world. Six days are accomplished in the husbandry of life by means of keeping the commandments; the seventh is spent entirely in the grave; and the eighth is the departure from it.  

St. Isaac of Syria, The Ascetical Homilies.I

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, February 26, 2012, St Gregory The Great

Image via WikipediaHe, therefore, who sets himself to act evilly and yet wishes others to be silent, is a witness against himself, for he wishes himself to be loved more than the truth, which he does not wish to be defended against himself. There is, of course, no man who so lives as not sometimes to sin, but he wishes truth to be loved more than himself, who wills to be spared by no one against the truth. Wherefore, Peter willingly accepted the rebuke of Paul; David willingly hearkened to the reproof of a subject. For good rulers who pay no regard to self-love, , take as a homage to their humility the free and sincere words of subjects. But in this regard the office of ruling must be tempered with such great art of moderation, that the minds of subjects, when demonstrating themselves capable of taking right views in some matters, are given freedom of expression, but freedom that does not issue into pride, otherwise, when liberty of speech is granted too generously, the humility of their own lives will be lost. St. Gregory The Great, Pastoral Care

Early Church Fathers, Sunday, February 12, 2012 St Gregory of Sinai

He, therefore, who sets himself to act evilly and yet wishes others to be silent, is a witness against himself, for he wishes himself to be loved more than the truth, which he does not wish to be defended against himself. There is, of course, no man who so lives as not sometimes to sin, but he wishes truth to be loved more than himself, who wills to be spared by no one against the truth. Wherefore, Peter willingly accepted the rebuke of Paul; David willingly hearkened to the reproof of a subject. For good rulers who pay no regard to self-love, take as a homage to their humility the free and sincere words of subjects. But in this regard the office of ruling must be tempered with such great art of moderation, that the minds of subjects, when demonstrating themselves capable of taking right views in some matters, are given freedom of expression, but freedom that does not issue into pride, otherwise, when liberty of speech is granted too generously, the humility of their own lives will be lost.

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, December 11, 2011 – St Gregory of Nyssa

Image via WikipediaWhen we lay bare the hidden meaning of the history, scripture is seen to teach that the birth which distresses the tyrant is the beginning of the virtuous life. I am speaking of the kind of birth in which free will serves as the midwife, delivering the child amid great pain. For no one causes grief to his antagonist unless he exhibits in himself those marks which give proof of his victory over the other.

The Desert Fathers, Sunday, December 4, 2011 – St Symeon the New Theologian

Image via Wikipedia

When a man walks in the fear of God he knows no fear, even if he were to be surrounded by wicked men. He has the fear of God within him and wears the invincible armor of faith. This makes him strong and able to take on anything, even things which seem difficult or impossible to most people. Such a man is like a giant surrounded by monkeys, or a roaring lion among dogs and foxes. He goes forward trusting in the Lord and the constancy of his will to strike and paralyze his foes. He wields the blazing club of the Word in wisdom.

Desert Fathers, Sunday, November 27, 2011 – St John Chrysotom

Image via Wikipedia

"We must thoroughly quench the darts of the devil and beat them off by continual reading of the divine Scriptures. For it is not possible, not possible for anyone, to be saved without continually taking advantage of spiritual reading. Actually, we must be content, if even with continual use of this therapy, we are barely able to be saved. But when we are struck every day, if we do not use any medical care, what hope do we have of salvation?”