OrthodoxFathers.org » The Desert Fathers http://orthodoxfathers.org Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:42:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 One must be watchful not to judge others http://orthodoxfathers.org/one-must-be-watchful-not-to-judge-others.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/one-must-be-watchful-not-to-judge-others.htm#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:19:18 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=384 A provincial priest went to visit an anchorite to offer the Eucharist for him. Now someone went to the anchorite and spoke against the priest, so when the latter came according to custom to give him communion, the anchorite, who had been shocked, did not let him in, and the priest went away. Then, behold, a voice came to the anchorite, saying, “Men have taken jugdment away from me.” The anchorite was as though in ecstasy, and he saw a well of gold and a rope of gold and a jug of gold and much water of surpassing quality. Then he saw a leper draw the water and pour it out, and he would gladly have drunk but could not because he who drew the water was leprous. Again a voice came to him saying, “Why do you not drink the water? What does it matter if he who draws it is leperous? he only draws it and pours it out.” Returning to himself and perceiving the meaning of the vision, the anchorite sent for the priest and let him give him communion as usual.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/one-must-be-watchful-not-to-judge-others.htm/feed 0 The Monastic Ideal http://orthodoxfathers.org/the-monastic-ideal.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/the-monastic-ideal.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:51 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=30 And the old man also said, God saith unto thee thus  ’if thou lovest Me, O monk, do that which I ask, and do not that which I do not desire. For monks should lead lives wherein they act not in iniquity, and a man should not look upon evil things with his eyes, no hear with his ears things which are alien to the fear of God, nor utter calumnies with his mouth, nor plunder with his hands; but he should give especially to the poor, and he should not be unduly exalted in his mind, and he should not think evil thoughts, neither should he fill his belly. Let him do then all these things with discretion, for by them is a monk known.’

The old man also said, ‘These things form the life of a monk: good works, and obedience, and training. A man should not lay blame on his neighbor, and he should not utter calumnies, and he should not complain, for it is written, ‘The lovers of the Lord hate wickedness.’

Originally posted 2006-04-17 20:00:19.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/the-monastic-ideal.htm/feed 0 When to turn to a spiritual father? http://orthodoxfathers.org/when-to-turn-to-a-spiritual-father.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/when-to-turn-to-a-spiritual-father.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:50 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=158

A brother inquired of Abba Pastor saying: "My soul suffers harm from living with the Spiritual Father that I have. What, then, do you command me to do? Shall I go on staying with him?" Now Abba Pastor knew that the brother's soul would be harmed by this other Abba, and he was surprised that he even asked whether he ought to go on staying with him. And he said to him, "If you like, stay with him." The brother went off and remained with that Father. But he came back again, saying to Abba Pastor, "It is a great burden on my soul!" And still Abba Pastor did not tell him to leave the man. Finally the brother came back a third time and said, "Believe me, I am through with him!" Then the elder said, "See! Now you are saved, go, and have no more to do with him." And Abba Pastor told the same brother, "When a man sees that his soul is suffering harm, he has no need to ask advice about it. When it is a matter of secret thoughts, one asks advice, that the elders may test them. But when there are manifest sins there is no need to inquire – you just break off at once."

from Thomas Merton (trans), "The Wisdom of the Desert," (New York: New Directions Publishing Corp., 1970), p. 44

Originally posted 2006-05-05 21:23:42.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/when-to-turn-to-a-spiritual-father.htm/feed 0 On guarding our thoughts & heart http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-guarding-our-thoughtsheart.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-guarding-our-thoughtsheart.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:46 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=227 An old man said, "Many, tempted by bodily pleasures, do not defile their bodies but, committing fornication in thought, they are fornicators in their souls while preserving their bodies unstained.  So it is good, my friends, to do that which is written, that each one should guard his heart with great care."

Originally posted 2007-12-12 20:33:35.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-guarding-our-thoughtsheart.htm/feed 0 How should we pray? http://orthodoxfathers.org/how-should-we-pray.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/how-should-we-pray.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:37 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=154 Untitled document

They asked abba Macarius, "How should we pray?" And the old manreplied, "There is no need to speak much in prayer; often stretchout your hands and say, "Lord, as you will and as you know, have mercy on me." But if there is war in your soul, add, "Help me!" andbecause he knows what we need, he shows mercy on us."

And another… 

Abba Lot went to see abba Joseph and he said to him, "Abba, as far as I can, I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray andmeditate, I live in peace and as far as I can I purify my thoughts.What else can I do?" Then the old man stood up and stretched hishands toward heaven; his fingers became like ten lamps of fire andhe said to him, "If you will, you can become all flame."

And another….

The brothers said, "In what way ought we to pray before God?" The old man said, "For the repentance of sinners, the finding of the lost, the drawing near of those who are far off, friendliness toward those who do us harm, love towards those who persecute us, and sorrowful care for those who provoke God to wrath. And if a man doeth these things truly and with a penitent mind, the sinners will often gain life, and the living soul will be redeemed.

Now the prayer which our lord delivered to us as to the needs of the body, is one which applieth to the whole community, and it was not uttered for the sake of those who are strangers to the world, and with whom the pleasures of the body are held in contempt. He in whose life the kingdom of God and His righteousness are found lacks nothing, even when he asks not."

Originally posted 2006-06-02 10:13:15.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/how-should-we-pray.htm/feed 0 Narratives Leading Us to Endurance and stability http://orthodoxfathers.org/narratives-leading-us-to-endurance-and-stability.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/narratives-leading-us-to-endurance-and-stability.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:36 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=237 An old man lived in the desert in a cell twelve miles from the water. Every time he went to draw water he toiled and said, “What good is this labor? I will go and live close to the water.” Saying this, He turned back and saw someone who was going with him and counting his steps and he asked, “Who are you?” He said, “I am the angel of the Lord, and I have been sent to count your steps and to give you your reward.” When he heard this, the old man was reassured and became more courageous, and he went and settled five miles further off.

Originally posted 2008-08-26 19:44:13.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/narratives-leading-us-to-endurance-and-stability.htm/feed 0 What am I doing wrong, concerning lusts? http://orthodoxfathers.org/what-am-i-doing-wrong-concerning-lusts.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/what-am-i-doing-wrong-concerning-lusts.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:24 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=135 A brother overcome by lust went to see a great old man and besought him, saying, 'Be so good as to pray for me, for I am overcome by lust.' And the old man prayed to God for him. A second time he went to the old man and said the same thing, and once more the old man did not omit to beseech God for him, saying, 'Lord, reveal to me the manner of life of this brother and whence comes this action of the devil, for I have already besought you and he has not found peace'. Then God revealed this to him about the brother: he saw him sitting with the spirit of lust beside him and an angel, sent to his aid, was standing beside him and becoming angry with him because he did not fall down before God but, taking pleasure in his thoughts, delivered up his spirit completely to the action of the devil. So the old man knew that the cause came from the brother, and he told him, 'It is you who are consenting to your thoughts.' Then he taught him how to resist thoughts, and the brother, restored by the old man's prayer and teaching, found rest.

Originally posted 2006-04-30 13:23:03.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/what-am-i-doing-wrong-concerning-lusts.htm/feed 0 Teachings and Life of Avva Pambo http://orthodoxfathers.org/teachings-and-life-of-avva-pambo.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/teachings-and-life-of-avva-pambo.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:20 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=29 There was a monk named Pambo and they said of him that he spent three years saying to God, Do not glorify me on earth. But God glorified him so that one could not gaze steadfastly at him because of the glory of his countenance.

Two brethren came to see Abba Pambo one day and the first asked him, Abba, I fast for two days, then I eat two loaves; am I saving my soul, or am I going the wrong way?? The second said, Abba, every day I get two pence from my manual work, and I keep a little for my food and give the rest in alms; shall I be saved or shall I be lost?? They remained a long time questioning him and still the old man gave them no reply. After four days they had to leave and the priests comforted them saying, Do not be troubled, brothers. God gives the reward. It is the old man’s custom not to speak readily till God inspires him.? So they went to see the old man and said to him, Abba, pray for us. He said to them, Do you want to go away?? They said, Yes. Then, giving his mind to their works and writing on the ground he said, If Pambo fasted for two days together and ate two loaves, would he become a monk that way No. And if Pambo works to get two pence and gives them in alms, would he become a monk that way? No, not that way either. He said to them, The works are good, but if you guard your conscience towards your neighbor, then you will be saved. They were satisfied and went away joyfully.

Four monks of Scetis, clothed in skins, came one day to see the great Pambo. Each one revealed the virtue of his neighbor. The first fasted a great deal; the second was poor; the third had acquired great charity; and they said of the fourth that he had lived for twenty-two years in obedience to an old man. Abba Pambo said to them, I tell you, the virtue of this last one is the greatest. Each of the others has obtained the virtue he wished to acquire; but the last one, restraining his own will, does the will of another. Now it is of such men that the martyrs are made, if they persevere to the end.

Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, of holy memory, begged Abba Pambo to come down from the desert to Alexandria. He went down, and seeing an actress he began to weep. Those who were present asked him the reason for his tears, and he said, Two things make me weep: one, the loss of this woman; and the other, that I am not so concerned to please God as she is to please wicked men.

Abba Pambo said, By the grace of God, since I left the world, I have not said one word of which I repented afterwards.

He also said, The monk should wear a garment of such a kind that he could throw it out of his cell and no-one would steal it from him for three days.

They said of Abba Pambo that as he was dying, at the very hour of his death, he said to the holy men who were standing near him, Since I came to this place of the desert and built my cell and dwelt here, I do not remember having eaten bread which was not the fruit of my hands and I have not repented of a word I have said up to the present time; and yet I am going to God as one who has not yet begun to serve him.

He was greater than many others in that if he was asked to interpret part of the Scriptures or a spiritual saying, he would not reply immediately, but he would say he did not know that saying. If he was asked again, he would say no more.

Abba Pambo said, If you have a heart, you can be saved.

The priest of Nitria asked him how the brethren ought to live. He replied, ?With much labor, guarding their consciences towards their neighbor.

They said of Abba Pambo that he was like Moses, who received the image of the glory of Adam when his face shone. His face shone like lightning and he was like a king sitting on his throne. It was the same with Abba Silvanus and Abba Sisoes.

The said of Abba Pambo that his face never smiled. So one day, wishing to make him laugh, the demons stuck wing feathers on to a lump of wood and brought it in making an uproar and saying, Go, go!? When he saw them, Abba Pambo began to laugh and the demons started to say in chorus, Ha! Ha! Pambo has laughed!? But in reply he said to them, I have not laughed, but I made fun of your powerlessness, because it takes so many of you to carry a wing.

Abba Theodore of Pherme asked Abba Pambo, Give me a word. With much difficulty he said to him, Theodore, go and have pity on all, for through pity, one finds freedom of speech before God.

Originally posted 2006-04-17 19:59:57.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/teachings-and-life-of-avva-pambo.htm/feed 0 Lust http://orthodoxfathers.org/lust.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/lust.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:18 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=230 In Lower Egypt there was an anchorite who was well-known because he dwelt in a solitary cell in the desert. Now by the power of Satan, a shameless woman who had heard of him said to some young men, "What would you give me if I could cause your anchorite to fall?"  They agreed to give her something of value. In the evening she went out and came to his cell as though she had lost her way, and when she knocked the anchorite came out.  When he saw her he was troubled and said, "How have you come here?"  Weeping, she said, "I came here because I have lost my way."  Filled with compassion, he made her come into the entry, and he returned to his cell and shut it, but the unfortunate creature began to cry out, "Abba, the wild animals are eating me." He was uneasy again, but fearing the judgment of God, he said, "What is the source of this hardness of mine?" and he opened the door and made her come inside.  Then the devil attempted to attack him with his arrows.  Pondering the warfare of the enemy, he said, "The ways of the enemy are darkness, whereas the Son of God is light", and he rose and lit the lamp.  Burning with desire, he said, "Those who commit such acts go to the punishment; try then, and see if you can bear the everlasting fire", and put his finger into the lamp and burnt it without feeling it, so extreme was the sensual flame.  he went on doing this until morning, burning all his fingers.  The unfortunate woman, seeing what he was doing, was petrified with fear.  In the morning the young men came to see the anchorite and said to him, "Did a woman come here last night?" He said, "Yes, she is inside, asleep." They entered and found her dead, and they said to him, "Abba, she is dead." Then uncovering his hands, he showed them to them, saying, "Look what the daughter of the devil has done to me; she has destroyed my fingers", and he told them what had happened and said, "It is written, "Do not render evil for evil", and he prayed and awoke her , and she went away an lived wisely the rest of her life."

Originally posted 2008-03-06 19:45:40.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/lust.htm/feed 0 God crowns us for resisting even the small temptations http://orthodoxfathers.org/god-crowns-us-for-resisting-even-the-small-temptations.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/god-crowns-us-for-resisting-even-the-small-temptations.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:43:09 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=293 There was an old man in the Thebaid who lived in a cave and who had an experienced disciple. Now it was the old man’s custom to give him some advice for his benefit every evening and then to say a prayer and send him to bed. One day, knowing the old man’s great ascesis, some devout seculars went to see him and he edified them. When they had gone, the old man sat down again in the evening, according to custom, and admonished the brother, but while he was speaking to him, he fell asleep. The brother waited for the old man to wake up and say the prayer. Having sat for a long time, when the old man did not awaken, he was troubled by the thought of going to rest without being sent, but he did violence to himself, resisted the thought, and remained. Later the same thought assailed him, but he did not go away, and thus he resisted this temptation seven times. After this, the night being well advanced, the old man awoke and found him sitting beside him. He said to him, “Haven’t you gone yet?” He said, “No, abba, for you haven’t sent me.” And the old man aid, “Why did you not wake me up?” He siad “I did not dare to wake you, so as not to disturb you.” They arose and recited the dawn prayers, and after the synaxis the old man dismissed the brother and sat down alone. At that time he was rapt in ecstasy, and someone showed him a wonderful place where there was a throne and on the throne seven crowns. He asked him who was showing, “Whose is that?” He said to him, “It is your disciple’s; God has granted this place and the throne to him because os his obedience; as for the seven crowns, he wore them this night.” When he heard this the old man was filled with wonder, and in his astonishment he called the brother and said to him, “Tell me what you have done this night.” The other said, “Forgive, abba, I have done nothing.” Thinking that through humility he did not want to say anything, the old man said to him, “I will not let you go till you have told me what you have done and what you have thought this night.” The brother, who thought he had not done anything, did not know what to say. So he said to his father, “Abba, I have done nothing except this: Seven times I was oppressed by the thought of going away before you had dismissed me, and I did not go.” When he heard this the old man understood that God had crowned him as many times as he had resisted the temptation. He said nothing to the brother, but he related it to the spiritual Fathers for their benefit, so that we may know that God grants us crowns even for small things. Truly it is good to constrain oneself for God’s sake. In truth the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take possession of it. (Matt 11:12)

Originally posted 2009-02-12 12:49:44.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/god-crowns-us-for-resisting-even-the-small-temptations.htm/feed 0 On The Subject of Discernment http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-the-subject-of-discernment-5.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-the-subject-of-discernment-5.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:42:46 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-the-subject-of-discernment-5.htm One of the Fathers said, “If a hard-working monk lives in a place where there are no other hard-working monks, he cannot make progress: he can only struggle so as not to get worse; but if a lazy monk dwells with hard-working monks, he makes progress if he is vigilant, and if not he does not get get any worse.”

Originally posted 2009-11-18 14:39:09.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-the-subject-of-discernment-5.htm/feed 0 Avva Serapion and the sinful woman http://orthodoxfathers.org/avva-serapion-and-the-sinful-woman.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/avva-serapion-and-the-sinful-woman.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:42:45 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=28 One day Abba Serapion passed through an Egyptian village and there he saw a courtesan who stayed in her own cell. The old man said to her, ?Expect me this evening, for I should like to come and spend the night with you.She replied, Very well, Abba. She got ready and made the bed.

When evening came, the old man came to see her and entered her cell and said, to her, Have you got the bed ready? She said, Yes, Abba. Then he closed the door and said to her, Wait a bit, for we have a rule of prayer and I must fulfil that first.

So the old man began his prayers. He took the Psalter (the book of Psalms) and at each psalm he said a prayer for the courtesan, begging God that she might be converted and saved, and God heard him. The woman stood trembling and praying beside the old man. When he had completed the whole Psalter the woman fell to the ground. Then the old man, beginning the Epistle, read a great deal from the Apostle and completed his prayers. The woman was filled with compunction and understood that he had not come to see her to commit sin but to save her soul and she fell at his feet, saying, Abba, do me this kindness and take me where I can please God.? So the old man took her to a monastery of virgins and entrusted her to the amma and he said, Take this sister and do not put any yoke or commandment on her as on the other sisters, but if she wants something, give it to her and allow her to walk as she wishes.

After some days the courtesan said, I am a sinner; I wish to eat every second day. A little later she said, I have committed many sins and I wish to eat every fourth day. A few days later she besought the amma saying, Since I have grieved God greatly by my sins, do me the kindness of putting me in a cell and shutting it completely and giving me a little bread and some work through the window. The amma did so and the woman pleased God all the rest of her life.

Originally posted 2006-04-17 19:58:58.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/avva-serapion-and-the-sinful-woman.htm/feed 0 Desert fathers on how to deal with the warfare which lust arouses in us http://orthodoxfathers.org/desert-fathers-on-how-to-deal-with-the-warfare-which-lust-arouses-in-us.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/desert-fathers-on-how-to-deal-with-the-warfare-which-lust-arouses-in-us.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:42:34 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=234 One of the old men of the Thebaid used to tell the following story: “I was the son of a pagan priest. When I was small I would sit and watch my father who often went to sacrifice to the idol. Once, going behind him in secret, I saw Satan and all his army standing beside him; and behold, one of the chief devils came to bow before him. Satan said, “Where have you come from?” He answered, “I was in a certain place and made much blood flow, and I have come to tell you about it.” Satan asked, “How long did it take you to do this?” He replied, “Thirty days.” Then Satan commanded him to be flogged, saying, “In so long a time you have done only that?” And behold, another demon came to bow before him. He asked him, “and you where have you come from?” The demon replied, “I was on the sea, and I made the waves rise, and small craft foundered, and I have killed many people, and I have come to inform you of it.” He said to him, “How long did it take you to do this?” and the demon said, “Twenty days.” Satan commanded that he also should be flogged, saying, “That is because in such a long time you have only done this.” Now a third demon came to bow before him. He asked, “and where have you come from?” The demon replied, “There was a marriage in a certain village, and I stirred up a riot, and I have made much blood flow, killing, the bride and groom, and I have come to inform you.” He asked him, “How long have you taken to do this?” and he replied, “Ten days.” And Satan commanded that he also should be flogged because he has taken too long. After this another demon came to bow before him He asked, “And where have you come from?” He said, “I was in the desert forty years fighting against a monk, and this night I made him fall in to fornication.” When he heard this, Satan arose, embraced him, and put the crown he was wearing on his head and made him sit on his throne, saying, “You have been able to do a very great deed. The old man aid, “Seeing this, I said to myself, “Truly, it is a great contest, this contest of the monks.” and with God assisting me for my salvation, I went away and became a monk.

Originally posted 2008-08-26 19:40:17.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/desert-fathers-on-how-to-deal-with-the-warfare-which-lust-arouses-in-us.htm/feed 1 Being Thankful http://orthodoxfathers.org/being-thankful-2.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/being-thankful-2.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:42:06 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/being-thankful-2.htm One of the fathers related this: “Once when I was at Oxyrhyncus, some poor people came on Saturday evening to receive charity. We were lying down, and there was one of them who only had a single mat, half underneath and half on top of him. Now it was cold, and when I went out for my natural needs, I heard his teeth chattering because of the severe cold, and he was encouraging himself, saying, “I thank you, Lord: how many rich people are in prison wearing irons at present; how many more have their feet fastened to wood, not being able so much as to satisfy their bodily needs–whereas I am like a king with my legs stretched out.” When I heard this, I recounted it to the brethern and they were edified.”

Originally posted 2009-11-03 21:27:50.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/being-thankful-2.htm/feed 0 Sin of Lust, Blasphemy and Repentance http://orthodoxfathers.org/sin-of-lust-and-blasphemy-and-repentance.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/sin-of-lust-and-blasphemy-and-repentance.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:42:03 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=231 A brother was attacked by the demon of lust. Now it happened that he went through an Egyptian village where he saw the daughter of a priest of the pagans.  He fell in love with her and said to her father, "Give her to me as my wife." The other replied, "I cannot give her to you without the authority of my god," and he went to the demon and said to him "here is a monk who has come, wanting my daughter.  Shall I give her to him?"  The demon replied, "Ask him if he will deny his God, his baptism, and his promises as a monk."  The monk agreed to this, and immediately he saw, as it were, a dove coming out of his mouth which flew away to the heavens.  Then the priest went to the demon and said to him, "Yes, he has agreed to these three things."  Then the devil replied, "Do not give him your daughter to wife, for his God has not gone from him and continues to help him." The priest went and said to him, "I cannot give her to you, for your God aids you and has not turned from you." When he heard these word, the brother said to himself, "God has shown me so great goodness, wretch that I am, even though I have denied Him, together with my baptism and promises as a monk.  God who is good, continues even now to come to my aid!" So he came to his senses, and became watchful, and went to the desert to visit a great old man to tell him about the affair.  The old man replied, "Stay here with me in the cave, and fast for three consecutive weeks, and I will intercede for you to God." The old man labored for the brother and besought God, saying, "Lord, I beseech you, grant me this soul and receive his repentance", and God heard him.  When one week was over, the old man went to visit the brother and asked him, "Have you seen anything?"  The brother replied, "Yes, I have seen a dove, high up in the heavens, facing towards my head." And the old man replied, "Give heed to yourself and implore God strenuously."  After the second week the old man went to see the brother and asked him, "Have you seen anything?"  He replied, "I Have seen the dove close to my head", and the old man encouraged him, "Be watchful and pray." As soon as the third week was completed, the old man sent to see him once again and asked him, "Have you seen anything else?"  He said, "I have seen the dove coming and standing on my head, and I put out my hand to take her, and the dove took wing and entered into my mouth."  Then the old man gave thanks to God and said to the brother, "See, God has accepted your repentance; henceforth, watch yourself." And the brother replied, "From now on, abba, I shall stay with you till my death."

Originally posted 2008-03-06 20:20:24.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/sin-of-lust-and-blasphemy-and-repentance.htm/feed 0 Gaining forgiveness because of a brother’s love http://orthodoxfathers.org/gaining-forgiveness-because-of-a-brothers-love.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/gaining-forgiveness-because-of-a-brothers-love.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:41:58 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=138 Two brothers went to market to sell the things they had made. The first fell into fornication as soon as he separated from his companion. He met his brother who said to him, 'My brother, let us go to our cell', but he replied, 'I am not going'. The other persisted, saying, 'My brother, why not?' He said, 'Because when you had left me, I fell into fornication.' His brother, wishing to win him over, said to him, 'The same thing happened to me, too, when you left me; come, let us go and do strict penance and God will forgive us.' They went to tell the old men what had happened to them, and the old men gave them commandments for doing penance. Then one of the brothers did penance for the other as though he had sinned himself. But God, seeing the affliction he was giving himself for love's sake, made known to one of the old men, after some days, that because of the great love of the brother who had not sinned, he had forgiven the one who had sinned. See what it is to give one's soul for one's brother

Originally posted 2006-04-30 13:57:25.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/gaining-forgiveness-because-of-a-brothers-love.htm/feed 0 Lustful Temptations http://orthodoxfathers.org/lustful-temptations.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/lustful-temptations.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:41:43 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=229 The old men used to say that the temptation to lust is like a hook.  If it is suggested to us and we do not let ourselves be overcome by it, it is easily cut off; but if, once it is presented, we take pleasure in it and let ourselves be overcome, it transforms itself and becomes like iron and is difficult to cut off.  Thus discernment is needed about these thoughts, because for those who allow themselves to be seduced there is no hope of salvation, whereas crowns are prepared for the others.

Originally posted 2007-12-12 20:44:04.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/lustful-temptations.htm/feed 0 Why do ascetics avoid certain things? http://orthodoxfathers.org/why-do-ascetics-avoid-certain-things.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/why-do-ascetics-avoid-certain-things.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:41:37 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=185

There was a certain old man who lived a life of such strict self-denial that he never drank wine. And when I arrived at his cell we sat down to eat. Dates were brought and he ate, and he took water and drank. And I said unto him laughingly, "So you are angry with absinthe, Father? Since you have eaten dates and have drank water, why do you not drink wine?"

And he answered and said unto me, "If you take a handful of dust and throw it on a man, will it hurt him?" And I said unto him, "No." And he said unto me, "If you take a handful of water and throw it over a man, will he feel pain?" And I said unto him, "No." And he said unto me, "And again, if you take a handful of chopped straw and throw it over a man, will it cause him pain?" And I said unto him, "No."

Then he said unto me, "But if you bring them all together and mix them, and knead them well, and dry them, you may throw the mass on the skull of a man and you will not break it." And I said unto him, "Yes, father, that is true." And he said unto me, "The monks do not abstain from certain things without good reason, and you must not listen to the men who are in the world who say, 'Why do they not eat this and why do they not drink that?' Is there not sin in them? Such people know not. Now we abstain from certain things not because the things themselves are bad, but because the passions are mighty, and when they have waxed strong they kill us."

from S. A. Wallis Budge, "The Paradise of the Holy Fathers," (Seattle: St. Nectarios Press, 1984), pp. 151-152

Originally posted 2006-05-17 18:59:18.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/why-do-ascetics-avoid-certain-things.htm/feed 0 On the Lust of the Flesh http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-the-lust-of-the-flesh.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-the-lust-of-the-flesh.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:41:23 +0000 Administrator http://orthodoxfathers.org/?p=228 The same brother asked another old man about the same thought.  And the old man said to him, "I myself have never had to fight against such a thing."  And the brother was schocked at it and went to see another old man, saying to him, "this is what a certain old mans said to me, and I am shocked at it, for he has spoken beyond nature."  The second old man said to him, "The man of God has not said that to you simply on the surface; but arise, go and kneel before him, so that he may tell you the meaning of his saying." So the brother arose and went to see the first old man, and he knelt before him and said, "Forgive me, abba, for I have acted like a fool in going away hurriedly, and I beg you to tell me how it is you have never had to fight against lust."  The old man said, "Since I became a monk, I have never eaten bread to satiety, nor drunk water, nor slept to satiety, and attention to these things has so weighted me down that it has not let me feel the warfare of which you are speaking." And the brother went away edified.

Originally posted 2007-12-12 20:40:49.

]]> http://orthodoxfathers.org/on-the-lust-of-the-flesh.htm/feed 0 Table of Contents http://orthodoxfathers.org/table-of-contents-5.htm http://orthodoxfathers.org/table-of-contents-5.htm#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:41:08 +0000 Administrator http://theholyfathers.org/?p=147 [postsincategory#21]

Originally posted 2006-04-13 17:38:51.

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