Bearing Fruit
[Syncletica] also said, “The same thing cannot at once be seed and a full-grown bush. So men with a worldly reputation cannot bear heavenly fruit.”
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Author: pilgrim
The God of hidden things
Ephriam was passing by when a harlot (she was the devil’s agent) began to make every effort to attract him to sinful intercourse: or, if she failed in this, at least to stir him to anger, for no one had ever seen him angry or brawling.
He said to her, “Come with me.” When they came to a crowded place, he said to her, “Come on, I will lie with you here as you wanted.”
She looked round at the crowed and said, “How can we do it here, with all these people standing round? We should be ashamed.”
He said, “If you blush before men, should you not blush the more before God, who discloses the hidden things of darkness?” So she went away confused and taken aback, without gaining anything.
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Judging Unchastity
A hermit said, “Do not judge an adulterer if you are chaste or you will break the law of God just as much as he does. For he who said “Do not commit adultery” also said “Do not judge”
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Taming the tongue
“The monk who cannot control his tongue when he is angry, will not control his passions at other times”.
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Elaborate Exegesis
Ammon… brought this question to Sisois: “When I read Scripture, I am tempted to make elaborate commentaries and prepare myself to answer questions on it.”
He replied, “You don’t need to do that. It is better to speak simply, with a good conscience and a pure mind.”
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Glory
Sisois said… ‘Unless God glorifies man, man’s glory cannot last.’.
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V
Papyrus Thoughts
A hermit used to say, “A lustful thought is brittle like papyrus. When it is thrust at us, if we do not accept it but throw it away, it breaks easily. If it allures us and we keep playing with it, it becomes as difficult to break as iron. We need discernment to know that those who consent lose hope of salvation and for those who do not consent, a crown is made ready”
– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V