Desert Fathers

In his own words on Proverbs

• Proverbs 1:7

  He also said, 'The beginning and the end is the fear of the Lord. For it is written, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10) and, when Abraham built an altar the Lord said to him, "Now I know that you fear God" (Gen. 22:12).'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 3:5

  Once some brothers came to visit Antony, and Joseph was with them. Antony, wanting to test them, began to speak about holy Scripture. He asked the younger monks first the meaning of text after text, and each of them answered as well as he could. To each he said, 'You have not yet found the right answer.' Then he said to Joseph, 'What do you think is the meaning of this word?' He replied, 'I don't know.' Antony said, 'Indeed Joseph alone has found the true way, for he said he did not know.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 3:11-12

  [Syncletica] also said, 'When the devil does not use the goad of poverty to tempt us, he uses wealth for the same purpose. When he cannot win by scorn and mockery, he tries praise and flattery. If he cannot win by giving health, he tries illness. If he cannot win by comfort, he tries to ruin the soul by vexations that lead us to act against our monastic vows. He inflicts severe sicknesses on people whom he wants to tempt and so makes them weak, and thereby shakes the love they feel towards God. But although the body is shattered and running a high temperature and thirsting unbearably, yet you, who endure all this, are a sinner; you should therefore remember the punishments of the next world, the everlasting fire, the torments of judgement. Then you will not fail in the sufferings of this present time, indeed you should rejoice because God has visited you. Keep saying the famous text: "The Lord hath chastened and corrected me: but he hath not given me over unto death" (Ps. 118:18). Iron is cleaned of rust by fire. If you are righteous and suffer, you grow to a higher sanctity. Gold is tested by fire. When a messenger from Satan is given to you to be a thorn in your flesh, lift up your heart, for you have received a gift like that of St Paul. If you suffer from fever and cold, remember the text of Scripture, "We went through fire and water," and "thou broughtest us out into a place of rest" (Ps. 66:12). If you have overcome suffering, you may expect rest, provided you are following what is good. Cry aloud the prophet's words, "I am poor and destitute and in misery" (Ps. 66:29). Threefold suffering like this shall make you perfect. He said also, "Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble" (Ps. 4:1). So let this kind of self-discipline test our souls, for our enemy is always in sight.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 4:7

  A brother asked a hermit, 'Abba, look here, I ask my elders questions, and they talk to me for the good of my soul, and I remember nothing they say. Is it any use asking questions when I gain nothing by it? I am deeply sinful.' There were two empty vessels nearby. The hermit said, 'Take one of those vessels and put oil in it, rinse it, pour out the oil, and bring the vessel back.' He did so. He said, 'Do it again.' He did so. After he had done it several times, the hermit said, 'Now, take both vessels and see which is the cleaner.' He answered, 'The one into which I put oil.' The hermit said, 'It's the same for the one who asks questions. Although you remember nothing that you have heard, your soul will be cleaner than that of someone who never even asks questions.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 4:23

  Gerontius of Petra said, 'Many people who are tempted by pleasures of the flesh do not sin with the body but lust with the mind; they keep their bodily virginity but lust in their heart. It is better then, beloved, to do what is written, "Let everyone keep a close guard upon his heart" (Prov. 4:23).'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 8:13

  One of the hermits said, 'Unless you first hate, you cannot love. Unless you hate sin, you cannot live sinlessly. As it is written, "Depart from evil and do good" (Ps. 37:27). But perseverance is needed for this. Adam, even though he was in Paradise, disobeyed God's command while Job, who was living on a dung hill, kept it. It seems that God requires from us a good intention, that is, that we should fear him always.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 9:10

  He also said, 'The beginning and the end is the fear of the Lord. For it is written, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10) and, when Abraham built an altar the Lord said to him, "Now I know that you fear God" (Gen. 22:12).'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 10:19

  A brother asked Poemen, 'How ought I to behave in my cell in the place where I live?' He answered, 'Be as prudent as a stranger; and wherever you are, do not expect your words to be taken seriously when you speak, and you will find peace.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 10:19

  Arsenius always used to say this, 'Why, words, did I let you get out? I have often been sorry that I have spoken, never that I have been silent.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 10:19

  Some brothers from Scetis wanted to visit Antony, and set out in a ship to go there. On board they met an old man who also wanted to go to Antony, but he did not belong to their party. During the voyage they talked about the sayings of the fathers, and the Scriptures, and then the manual work that they did, but the old man said nothing at all. When they came to the landing-place, they realized that the old man also was going to see Antony. When they arrived, Antony said to them, 'You found good company on your journey in this old man.' He said to the old man, 'You found good companions in these brothers.' The old man said, 'Yes, they are good, but their house has no door. Anyone who wants to goes into the stable and steals the donkey.' He said this because they had said the first thing that came into their heads.

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 10:19

  They said of Agatho that for three years he kept a stone in his mouth in order to teach himself silence.

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 11:14

  A brother asked Poemen, 'I am suffering damage to my soul by being with my abba. What do you advise me to do? Should I continue to stay with him?' Poemen knew that his soul was being harmed by his abba, and he was surprised that he even asked whether he ought to stay with him. He said to him, 'If you want to stay with him, do so.' The brother went away and stayed with his abba. But he came a second time to Poemen, and said, 'My soul is very heavy.' But Poemen did not say to him, 'Leave your abba.' He came a third time, and said, 'Indeed, I can no longer stay with him.' Then Poemen said, 'Now you are saved, go, and stay with him no longer.' He went on, 'If you see your soul being harmed by something there is no need to ask what to do. What we should ask about rather is our secret thoughts, to get them tested by others. But there is no need to ask about obvious sins; they must be cut off at once.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 11:14

  Cassian said, 'Moses the Hermit told us, "It is good not to hide our thoughts; we ought to disclose them to discreet and devout elders; but not to those who are old merely in years, for many have found final despair instead of comfort by confessing to those whom they saw to be old, but who were in fact inexperienced." '

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 12:16

  The monks praised a brother to Antony. Antony went to him and tested him to see if he could endure being insulted. When he saw that he could not bear it, he said to him, 'You are like a house with a highly decorated outside, but burglars have stolen all the furniture by the back door.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 14:15

  A hermit said, 'Do not be pleased at everything that is said, and do not agree with everything that is said. Be slow to believe, and quick to say what is true.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 14:23

  Another brother spoke with the same Theodore, and he began to talk about matters of which he had no experience. Theodore said to him, 'You've not yet found a ship to sail in, nor put your luggage aboard, nor put out to sea, and you're already acting as if you were in the city which you mean to reach. If you make some attempt to do the things you are discussing, then you can talk about them with understanding.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 15:1

  A hermit said, 'Ask God to give you inner grief of heart and humility. Always look at your own sins, and do not judge another's. Be the servant of all. Do not make friends with a woman, or a boy or a heretic. Do not be self-confident. Control your tongue and appetite, and do not drink wine. If anyone speaks to you on a controversial matter, do not argue with him. If he speaks well, say, "Yes." If he speaks ill, say, "I don't know anything about that." Don't argue with what he has said, and then your mind will be at peace.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 15:1

  Poemen said, 'If a man sins and denies it, saying, "I have not sinned," do not correct him, or you will destroy any intention he might have of changing. If you say, "Do not be cast down, my brother, but be careful about that in future," you will move his heart to repent.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 16:28

  [Hyperichius] also said, 'The serpent whispered to Eve and cast her out of paradise. The man who whispers against his neighbour is like the serpent. He condemns the soul of whoever listens to him, and he does not save his own.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 17:27-28

  Some brothers from Scetis wanted to visit Antony, and set out in a ship to go there. On board they met an old man who also wanted to go to Antony, but he did not belong to their party. During the voyage they talked about the sayings of the fathers, and the Scriptures, and then the manual work that they did, but the old man said nothing at all. When they came to the landing-place, they realized that the old man also was going to see Antony. When they arrived, Antony said to them, 'You found good company on your journey in this old man.' He said to the old man, 'You found good companions in these brothers.' The old man said, 'Yes, they are good, but their house has no door. Anyone who wants to goes into the stable and steals the donkey.' He said this because they had said the first thing that came into their heads.

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 17:27-28

  They said of Agatho that for three years he kept a stone in his mouth in order to teach himself silence.

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 17:27-28

  They said of Agatho that some people went to him because they heard he was a man of great discretion. Wanting to test whether he was irritable, they said to him, 'Are you Agatho? We have heard of you that you are an adulterer and a proud man.' He answered, 'It is true.' They said to him, 'Are you that Agatho who gossips and slanders?' He answered, 'I am.' They asked him, 'Are you Agatho the heretic?' He answered, 'I am no heretic.' So they asked him, 'Why did you patiently bear it when we slandered you, but did not endure it when we said you were a heretic?' He answered, 'I agreed to the first charges against myself for the good of my soul. But I didn't accept it when you said I was a heretic because that is to be separated from God, and I don't want to be separated from God.' They admired his discretion, and went away edified.

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 18:13

  A brother said to Poemen, 'If I see something wrong do you want me to tell you about it?' He said to him, 'It is written, "If a man answers before he has heard, it is foolishness to him and discredit" (Sirach 11:8). If you are asked, speak; if not, say nothing.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 20:22

  A brother who was hurt by another brother went to the Theban Sisois and said, 'I want to get back at a brother who has hurt me.' The hermit begged him, 'Don't do that, my son, leave vengeance in the hands of God.' But he said, 'I can't rest till I get my own back.' The hermit said, 'My brother, let us pray.' He stood and said, 'O God, we have no further need of you, for we can take vengeance by ourselves.' The brother heard it and fell at the hermit's feet, saying, 'I won't quarrel with my brother any longer; I beg you to forgive me.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 21:23

  Pambo said to Antony, 'What shall I do?' Antony said, 'Do not trust in your own righteousness. Do not go on sorrowing over a deed that is past. Keep your tongue and your belly under control.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 21:23

  Gregory said, 'God asks three things of anyone who is baptized: to keep the true faith with all his soul and all his might; to control his tongue; to be chaste in his body.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 25:21-22

  He also said, 'Evil cannot drive out evil. If anyone hurts you, do good to him and your good will destroy his evil.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Proverbs 27:19

  This story was told: There were three friends, serious men, who became monks. One of them chose to make peace between men who were at odds, as it is written, 'Blessed are the peacemakers' (Matt. 5:9). The second chose to visit the sick. The third chose to go away to be quiet in solitude. Now the first, toiling among contentions, was not able to settle all quarrels and, overcome with weariness, he went to him who tended the sick, and found him also failing in spirit and unable to carry out his purpose. So the two went away to see him who had withdrawn into the desert, and they told him their troubles. They asked him to tell them how he himself had fared. He was silent for a while, and then poured water into a vessel and said, 'Look at the water,' and it was murky. After a little while he said again, 'See now, how clear the water has become.' As they looked into the water they saw their own faces, as in a mirror. Then he said to them, 'So it is with anyone who lives in a crowd; because of the turbulence, he does not see his sins: but when he has been quiet, above all in solitude, then he recognizes his own faults.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks