Mary and Martha
…Silvanus said, “I think Mary always needs Martha, and by Martha’s help Mary is praised.”
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Author: pilgrim
Getting ahead of ourselves
Another brother spoke with the same Theodore, and he began to talk about matters of which he had no experience.
Theodore said to him, “You’ve not yet found a ship to sail in, nor put your luggage aboard, not put out to sea, and you’re already acting as if you were in the city which you mean to reach. If you make some attempt to do the things you are discussing, then you can talk about them with understanding.
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Time for Confession?
Lent, the traditional season of penance, is drawing to a close. As we enter Holy Week I thought it might be helpful if I shared some of the prayers from the Byzantine Rite. These prayers are prayed by the priest as you stand before the icon of Christ prior to confessing:
God our Savior, through your prophet Nathan You granted the repentant David the forgiveness of his sins. You also accepted Manasseh’s prayer of repentance. In your love now receive your servants here present who repent for the sins they have committed.
O Lord, Who forgive offenses and pass over transgressions, overlook all that they have done. As You have said “I do not desire the death of a sinner, but that he should turn from his wickedness and live” and, another time, that sins should be forgiven even to “seventy-times-seven.” How incomparable is your goodness and how limitless your mercy; for if You were to take notice of iniquities, who should be able to stand? You are the God of the repentant and we glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever.
Behold my spiritual child, Christ stands here invisibly and receives your confession. Therefore, be not afraid or ashamed and conceal nothing from your confessor, but tell without hesitation all that you have done so you shall have pardon from our Lord Jesus Christ. Behold his holy image is before us and I am but a witness bearing testimony before Him of the things which you have to say, but if you shall conceal anything you shall have the greater sin. Take heed, therefore, lest having come to the Physician, you depart unhealed
Might it be time to go to the Sacrament of Confession?
Healing Medicine
Silvanus…acted like a skilled physician and put on his [brother’s] soul a poultice made of texts from Scripture, showing him that repentance is available for all who in truth and in charity turn to God.
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Vengeance Is Mine
A brother who was hurt by another brother went to the Theban Sisois and said, “I want to get back at a brother who has hurt me.”
The hermit begged him, “Don’t do that, my son, leave vengeance in the hands of God.”
But he said, “I can’t rest till I get my own back.”
The hermit said, “My brother, let us pray.” He stood and said, “O God, we have no further need of your, for we can take vengeance by ourselves.”
The brother heard it and fell at the hermit’s feet, saying, “I won’t quarrel with my brother any longer; I beg you to forgive me.”
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Uncouth Shepherding
Some brothers came to a holy hermit who lived in the desert and outside the hermitage they found a boy tending the sheep and using uncouth words.
After they had told the hermit their thoughts and profited from his reply, they said, “Abba, why do you allow those boys to be here, and why don’t you order them to stop hurling abuse at each other?”
He said “Indeed, my brothers, there are days when I want to order them to stop it, but I hold myself back, saying, if I can’t put up with this little thing, how shall I put up with a serious temptation, if God ever lets me be so tempted? So I say nothing to them, and try to get into the habit of bearing whatever happens.”.
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
The gift of prudence
Some brothers once asked Silvanus, “What way of life did you follow to be endowed with such prudence?” He answered, “I have never let any bitter thought remain in my heart.”
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V