Iberian Fathers, Volume 1

Saying of the Egyptian Fathers

SAYINGS OF THE EGYPTIAN FATHERS (Sententiae Patrum Aegyptiorum) which Martin} Bishop of Dumium} translated from Greek into LatinI (1) Abbot John used to say to the brothers: "The fathers eating only bread and salt became strong in the work of God, while they constrained themselves. Let us also confine ourselves to this same bread and salt. For he who serves God must be constrained in these things, since the Lord Himself said: 'Narrow and close is the way that leads to life.' "2 (2) A brother asked the same old man: "The fasts 'and watches which we perform, what do they do?" The old man replied: "They cause the soul to become humble. For it is written: 'Behold my affliction and my suffering, and take away all my sins.'3 For if the soul labors over these matters, God will have mercy and compassion upon it." (3) Abbot Poemen said: "1£ you possess either thought of fornication or slander of your neighbor, do not speak while either of these is in your heart, and do not rest easy for one moment, for if you admit them to your heart, you will immediately feel their harmfulness. But rather drive them out, and you will have rest." (4) A brother asked an old man: "What shall I do, father, against lustful thoughts?" He replied: "Pray God that the eyes of your soul may see the help which comes from God, which surrounds man and saves him." 1 Cf. Introduction pp. 5·7. 2 Cf. Matt. 7.14. 3 Cf. Ps. 24.18. 17 18 MARTIN OF BRAGA (5) A certain brother went to market and asked Abbot Poemen: "How shall I sell my handwork?" The old man said to him: "Do not desire to sell anything for more than it is worth; but rather, if you are mistreated, be a friend to him who bargains to obtain more than he should, and sell in peace. Although I have often gone to the market, I never wanted to make profit on my work or to be unfair to my brother, for I am confident that what is my brother's gain will bear fruit for me." (6) A certain brother went to Abbot Agatho and said: "Father, permit me to live with you." As he received him, he saw nitre in his hand and said to him: "Where did you get the nitre?"4 The brother answered: "I found it in the road as I was coming, and picked it up." The old man said to him: "Did you put it there?" He answered: "No." And the old man said to him: "If you did not put it there, how does it happen that when you came to live with me you picked up what you had not put there?" Soon he dismissed him, saying: "Go and carry it back to the place from which you took it, then live with me." (7) A brother asked Abbot Sisoius: "An inheritance has been left to me by my parents; what shall I do with it?" The old man replied: "What can I say to you, brother? If I tell you, 'Give it to the church for the clerics: they will feast upon it. If I say, 'Give it to your relatives: you will have no reward. Accordingly, if you wish to take my advice, give it to the needy and you will be without anxiety." (8) Abbot Moses said: "Separation from material things, that is, voluntary poverty, and endurance with patience, and understanding are the possessions of a monk. For it is written: 'Even if these three men were in it, Noe, Daniel, and Job, I live, says the Lord God, and they will be saved.'5 Now Noe is the personification of voluntary poverty, Job the personifica4 The modern word is natron, from the soda lakes of Egypt. 5 Cf. Ezech. 14.14, 16. SAYINGS OF THE EGYPTIAN FATHERS 19 tion of endurance with patience, Daniel the personification of understanding. Accordingly, if the deeds of these three holy men are in any man, the Lord is with him, dwelling with him, receiving him, and driving away from him every temptation and every tribulation that comes from the enemy." (9) Three brothers contracted for the harvesting of a field; they hired themselves out and began to harvest. Now one of them fell ill while he was reaping and returned to his cell...