Desert Wanderings

Poemen said, “It is written, ‘Like as the hart longs for the waterbrooks, so longs my soul for you, O my God” (Ps 42:1). Indeed, the harts in the desert eat many snakes and when their venom makes them burn with thirst they come to the waters to assuage their burning thirst. Is it the same for monks: in the desert, they are burned by the poison of the demons and they long for Saturday and Sunday to come so that they can go to the springs of water, that is, to the Body and Blood of the Lord, to be purified from the poison of the evil ones.”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

Conquering a city

If a king wishes to subdue a city belonging to enemies, he first of all keeps them without bread and water, and the enemy harassed by hunger, surrenders; so it is in respect of the hostile passions, for if a man endures fasting and hunger , his enemies become stricken with weakness in the soul.

– John

Publican vs Pharisee

[Hyperichius] also said, “Imitate the publican to prevent yourself being condemned with the Pharisee. Follow the gentleness of Moses and hollow out the rocky places of your heart, so that you turn them into springs of water.”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

1 357 358 359 360 361 551