Sayings from the Fathers, 1-VII-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
XIII. Constant prayer is the strength, and the armour, and the wall of the soul.

Sayings from the Fathers, 30-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
XII. The gentle and gracious man is he who treadeth pride under foot; but he who is set upon that which is the contrary of this is one who is governed by arrogance.

Sayings from the Fathers, 29-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
XI. The wise and God-fearing man is he who hateth that which is not right.

Sayings from the Fathers, 28-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
X. It is impossible to divide the sea, and it is also impossible to still the waves thereof, although for them it is always easy to still themselves.

Sayings from the Fathers, 27-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
IX. The excellence of a horse is made apparent in battle, and the disposition of a friend is put to the test in tribulation.

Sayings from the Fathers, 26-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
VIII. It is better to shake a stone vainly than to utter a vain word, and it is better to be under subjection to the Barbarians than to evil passions.

Sayings from the Fathers, 25-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 

VII. Speak thou according to what is right, and where it is right, and concerning the things which are right, and hearken not unto that which is not right.

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Sayings from the Fathers, 24-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
VI. An evil word is the beginning of evil deeds.

Sayings from the Fathers, 23-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
V. Clothes and raiment drape statues, but habits and manners drape man.

Sayings from the Fathers, 22-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
IV. Have no confidence in the belief that that which is placed outside thy soul is thy possession.

Sayings from the Fathers, 21-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
III. As it is possible to see the skill of the painter on a small tablet, so a small gift shows the greatness of the disposition of the soul.

Sayings from the Fathers, 20-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
II. It is meet that a man should put on armour over the breast, and the word of our Redeemer Christ over grief; armour and shield will protect the breast, but only faith and action can protect the soul. 

Sayings from the Fathers, 19-VI-2018.

From the Counsels to Lausus: 
I. To do good to the fool and to bury the dead; both are alike.

Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sayings from the Fathers, 18-VI-2018.

It is not right that rational men should make themselves like unto the beasts, but they should eat whatsoever is prepared for them at the seasons which are duly ordered and appointed for them, and afterwards they should fast from everything until an appointed time.

Sayings from the Fathers, 17-VI-2018.

Abba Poemen used to say, "As smoke driveth away bees, and men take the sweetness of their labour, even so also doth ease of body drive away the fear of God from the heart, and it carrieth away all the good effect of its labour."

Sayings from the Fathers, 16-VI-2018.

A certain old man said, "Reduce thy knowledge of the things of man, and thy belly also, and thou shalt find all manner of delights."

Sayings from the Fathers, 15-VI-2018.

Abba John said, "If a king wishes to subdue a city belonging to enemies, he first of all keepeth them without bread and water, and the enemy being in this wise harassed by hunger becometh subject unto him; and thus it is in respect of the hostile passions, for if a man endureth fasting and hunger regularly, his enemies become stricken with weakness in the soul."

Sayings from the Fathers, 14-VI-2018.

Abba Poemen said, "Wrath is a natural thing in man, it is his nature, but it must be used to cut off evil passions. Hunger is natural in a man, but it must be employed in satisfying the want of the body, and not to gratify the feeling of eager lust to eat, even as the blessed David said, 'With him whose eye is lofty and whose heart is greedy I have not eaten.' Sleep, too, is natural in man, but it must not be indulged to satiety." - Paradisus Patrum

Sayings from the Fathers, 13-VI-2018.

Abba Poemen used to say, "The passions are four 'heads,'" and a brother said unto him, "What are they?" The old man said unto him, "Worldly grief which comes about many things, the love of money, vainglory, and fornication. And it is meet that we should be on the watch against these before all other passions." - Paradisus Patrum

Sayings from the Fathers, 12-VI-2018.

A brother asked Abba Poemen, saying, "Show me a word whereby I may live," and the old man said unto him, "The first thing of all which the fathers have given us to do is to mourn." - Paradisus Patrum

Sayings from the Fathers, 11-VI-2018.

A brother asked Abba Poemen, saying, "What is the  repentance of sins?" And he said unto him, "The repentance of  sins consists in a man not committing the sin again from the  moment wherein he repents of it; and on accout of this the  righteous were called 'spotless,' and because they had forsaken their sins, and had cleansed themselves from them." - Paradisus Patrum

Sayings from the Fathers, 10-VI-2018.

An old man was asked, "What is humility?" And he  said unto him that asked the question, "If thy brother offend  thee, and thou forgive him before he can repent and entreat  thee, that is humility." - Paradisus Patrum

Sayings from the Fathers, 9-VI-2018.

"Humility never becometh angry, and never provoketh a man to wrath." - Paradisus Patrum

Sayings from the Fathers, 8-VI-2018.

"Lying and sin are wont to lie in ambush in the words which are long and broad." - Paradisus Patrum

Sayings from the Fathers, 7-VI-2018.

An old man used to say, "Silence is filled with all life, but in the speech which is abundant, death is hidden." - Paradisus Patrum

Sayings from the Fathers, 6-VI-2018.

Abba Theodore used to say, "There is no spiritual excellence so sublime as that which consists in not despising a man and treating him with contempt." - Paradisus Patrum