Desert Fathers: Crown of Temptation

 crown

A hermit said that for nine years a brother was goaded by his thoughts to despair of his salvation. He judged himself and said, “I have ruined myself, I have perished already, I will go back to the world.” On his journey he heard a voice saying, “Those temptations which you endured for nine years were your crowns. Go back to your cell, and I will take these evil thoughts from you.” So he realized that it is not right to despair of oneself because of the temptations that come. If we use these thoughts well they will give us a crown.

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

Desert Fathers: Athlete of God

Boxing

A hermit said about the temptation to lust, ‘Do you want to be saved? Go, and discipline yourself, “Seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you”. In the world there are boxers who are hit hard and yet stand firm and receive crowns. Sometimes one is set up on by two at once and their blows give him strength so that he overcomes them. Have you not seen what strength exercise brings? So stand and be strong and the Lord will defeat your enemy for you”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

Desert Fathers: Change During Temptation

Travel

It used to be said that if you were tempted where you were living, you should not leave the place at the time of the temptation. If you did leave it then, you would find that the temptation that you were fleeing would go with you to the next place. You should be patient till temptation is over, then you could leave without upsetting anyone or troubling others who lived there.

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

Desert Fathers: Praising God

Praise

Hyperichius said, “Keep praising God with hymns, and meditating continually, and so lighten the burden of the temptations that attack you. A traveler carrying a heavy burden stops from time to time to take deep breaths, and so makes the journey easier and the burden light”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

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