For the Good of All

Once when John was going up from Scetis with other monks, their guide lost his way in the night. The brothers said to John, "What shall we do, abba, to prevent ourselves from dying in the desert, now that this brother has lost his way?"

John said, "If we say anything to him, he will be upset, so I will pretend that I am worn out, and say I can't walk any further, and must stay here til daylight."

He did so, and the others said, "We won't go on either, we'll stay with you here." They stayed there 'til dawn, so that they should not blame the monk who had guided them wrongly.

The Patience of Moses

At a meeting of monks in Scetis, the hermits wanted to test Moses. So they poured scorn on him, saying, "Who is this black man who is here with us?"

Moses heard them but said nothing. When the meeting had dispersed, the monks who had insulted him asked him, "Weren't you upset inside?"

He replied, "I was upset, and I said nothing."

Moses was a black man from Ethiopia who was often teased about the color of his skin. He accepted such humor happily, aware of the affection with which it was offered. He was a released slave who lived as a robber in Egypt until he became a monk as a disciple of Isidore. He was ordained a priest and had many disciples. He went to Petra at the end of his life and was killed there with some of his followers by the barbarian invaders.

Not Worth A Fig

The hermits said that once someone gave the brothers in Scetis a few figs: but because they were so few, they did not give any to Arsenius, for fear he should be offended by the smallness of the present. When he heard this, he did not go out as usual to the service with the brothers, and said, "You have excommunicated me, by not giving me the food which the Lord sent to the brothers; it was because I was not worthy to receive it."

They were edified by this humility, and the priest took him some figs, and brought him back to the congregation content.

~~Italian Harvest - Figs by Doris Allison

The Promise of Humility

Syncletica said, "It seems to me that for those who live in monasteries obedience is a higher virtue than chastity, however perfect. Chastity is in danger of pride, obedience has the promise of humility."

~~Madonna of Humility by Giovanni di Paolo (also known as Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia or Giovanni del Poggio) from the Sienese school (b. ca. 1403, Siena - d. 1483, Siena).

Peace Be With You

A brother came to a hermit, and as he was taking his leave, he said, "Forgive me, abba, for preventing you from keeping your rule."

The hermit answered, "My rule is to welcome you with hospitality, and to send you on your way in peace."

~~photo by Frank Logue

Darting Flame

Isaiah said, "A priest at Pelusium was holding a love feast: and when the brothers in church were eating and talking, he rebuked them saying, 'Be quiet, my brothers. There is one brother eating among you whose prayer is going up to God like a darting flame.'"

All Eyes

When he was dying, Bessarion said, "A monk ought to be like the Cherubim and Seraphim, all eye."

~~Mandala, Mystical Green Eyes, by Paul Heussenstamm