Tag: Desert Fathers

Antony said to Poemen, “Our great work is to lay the blame for our sins upon ourselves before God, and to expect to be tempted to our last breath.”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

[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

Lot went to Joseph and said, “Abba, as far as I can, I keep a moderate rule, with a little fasting, and prayer, and meditation, and quiet: and as far as I can I try to cleanse my heart of evil thoughts. What else should I do?” Then the hermit stood up and spread out his hands to heaven, and his fingers shone like ten flames of fire, and he said, “If you will, you can become all flame.”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

[Anthony] also said, “Our life and our death are with our neighbour. If we do good to our neighbour, we do good to God; if we cause our neighbour to stumble, we sin against Christ.”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

Hyperichius said, “The tree of life is high, and humility climbs it.”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

A hermit said, “I would rather be defeated and humble than win and be proud.”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V

A hermit said, “I would learn rather than teach.” He also said, “Do not teach too early, or you will have less understanding during the rest of your life.”

– De vitis Patrum, Sive Verba Seniorum, Liber V