Desert Fathers

In his own words on Romans

• Romans 2:21-22

  Poemen also said, 'Teach your heart to follow what your tongue is saying to others.' He also said, 'Men try to appear excellent in preaching but they are less excellent in practising what they preach.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Romans 3:10

  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

• Romans 7:23

  Antony said, 'I think that the body has a natural movement within itself, which obeys the orders of the mind, a kind of inclination of which the body's actions are only symptoms. There is a second movement in the body, caused by eating and drinking, by which the blood is heated and excited. That is why St Paul said, 'Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess' (Eph. 5:18), and again the Lord commanded his disciples in the Gospel, 'See that your hearts be not overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness' (Luke 21:34). There is a third movement which comes from the deceit and envy of demons against those who are trying to live a good life. It is a help to know that there are three bodily inclinations – from nature, from too much food, and from the demons.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Romans 11:33

  Antony was confused as he meditated upon the depths of God's judgements, and he asked God, 'Lord, how is it that some die young and others grow old and sick? Why are there some poor and some rich? Why are there those who are bad and rich and oppress the good poor?' He heard a voice saying to him, 'Antony, worry about yourself; these other matters are up to God, and it will not do you any good to know them.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Romans 12:3

  A hermit said to a brother, 'When a proud or vain thought enters your mind, examine your conscience to see if you are keeping God's commandments; ask yourself if you love your enemies; if you rejoice in your enemy's triumph, and if you are sad at his downfall; do you know yourself to be an unprofitable servant and a sinner beyond all others? But not even then must you think that you have corrected all your faults; to entertain such a thought as that would undo all the other good you have done.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Romans 12:6-8

  A brother asked a hermit, 'Tell me something good that I may do it and live by it.' The hermit said, 'God alone knows what is good. But I have heard that one of the hermits asked the great Nesteros, who was a friend of Antony, 'What good work shall I do?' and he replied, 'Surely all works please God equally? Scripture says, Abraham was hospitable and God was with him; Elijah loved quiet and God was with him; David was humble and God was with him.' So whatever you find you are drawn to in following God's will, do it and let your heart be at peace.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Romans 12:18

  Two hermits lived together for many years without a quarrel. One said to the other, 'Let's have a quarrel with each other, as other men do.' The other answered, 'I don't know how a quarrel happens.' The first said, 'Look here, I put a brick between us, and I say, "That's mine." Then you say, "No, it's mine." That is how you begin a quarrel.' So they put a brick between them, and one of them said, 'That's mine.' The other said, 'No; it's mine.' He answered, 'Yes, it's yours. Take it away.' They were unable to argue with each other.

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Romans 12:19

  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

• Romans 12:21

  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

• Romans 12:21

  A brother asked a hermit, 'What is humility?' He answered, 'To do good to them that do evil to you.' The brother said, 'Suppose a man cannot attain that standard, what is he to do?' The hermit answered, 'He should run away, and choose silence.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Romans 14:12

  A brother asked Ammon, 'Speak a word to me.' He said to him, 'Go and meditate like the criminals in prison. They keep asking, where is the judge, when will he come? and because they are waiting for him they dread their punishment. The monk should always be waiting for his trial, chiding his soul, saying: "Alas, how shall I stand before the judgement seat of Christ? How shall I give an account of my actions?" If you always meditate like this, you will be saved.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

• Romans 14:13

  Joseph asked Poemen, 'Tell me how to become a monk.' He said, 'If you want to find rest in this life and the next, say at every moment, "Who am I?" and judge no one.'

  The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks