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The Alphabet of a Peasant
Latin Alphabet (Photo credit: Wikipedia) One day Abba Arsenius consulted an old Egyptian monk about his own thoughts. Someone noticed this and said to him, ‘Abba Arsenius, how is it that you with...
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Virtues and Hard Work
Someone said to blessed Arsenius, ‘How is it that we, with all our education and our wide knowledge get no- where, while these Egyptian peasants acquire so many virtues?’ Abba Arsenius said to him,...
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The Heart of Change
Sacred Heart Church of Gibraltar (Photo credit: Wikipedia) A brother questioned Abba Arsenius to hear a word of him and the old man said to him, ‘Strive with all your might to bring your interior...
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Capacity
St Catherine’s Chapel (Photo credit: http://www.ruffrootcreative.com) Abba Mark asked Abba Arsenius ‘Is it good to have nothing extra in the cell? I know a brother who had some vegetables and he...
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Finding Direction
Abba Mark said to Abba Arsenius, ‘Why do you avoid us?’ The old man said to him, ‘God knows that I love you, but I cannot live with God and with men. The thousands and ten thousands of the heavenly...
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The Demon of Restlessness
Someone said to Abba Arsenius, ‘My thoughts trouble me, saying, “You can neither fast nor work; at least go and visit the sick, for that is also charity.”‘ But the old man, recognizing the suggestions...
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Focus and Peace
Abba Arsenius used to say that a monk travelling abroad should not get involved in anything; thus he will remain in peace. —sayings of the Desert Fathers Once again, we come to the importance of...
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Call to Perfection
“While still living in the palace, Abba Arsenius prayed to God in these words, ‘Lord, lead me in the way of salvation.’ And a voice came saying to him, ‘Arsenius, flee from men and you will be saved....
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Weeping for Ourselves
It was said of him that he had a hollow in his chest channeled out by the tears which fell from his eyes all his life while he sat at his manual work. When Abba Poemen learned that he was dead, he said...
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It’s Not Location
While still living in the palace, Abba Arsenius prayed to God in these words, ‘Lord, lead me in the way of salvation.’ And a voice came to him saying, ‘Arsenius, flee from men and you will be saved.’...
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