Epistulae ad castorem

 To be observed in the daily assemblies, has been sufficiently spoken of by us. but it remains for us to relate concerning those who renounce the world

 The father, having tested by judgments, will approve. for thus he who is being formed toward virtue will be able in no way to be deceived by the enemy

 They have laid down as a rule. but among the egyptians, and especially the tabennesiotes, such silence is observed by all, when so great and numerous

 Until by his great patience he was received with his little son, against the usual rule of the coenobium. and when after many labors he entered, not o

 He had done for a man, who among them was as a novice, and not long before had left the world. he was considered the last. and they were even more ast

 Has all the desires and carnal dispositions motionless and inactive. therefore, beware lest you ever desire to take up again these things which you ha

 Hides the father third, if not by his own understanding, but he trusts everything to the father's discernment, always thirsting and longing, and glad

 The mortification of the will and from the mortification of the will the roots of pleasures wither and from these all the faults of the soul are cas

 Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires,” he did not forbid the necessary governance of life, but prohibited pleasure-loving care. bes

 To have recourse. for even if such a movement is not counted as a sin, it is nevertheless proof that the soul is sick, and has not yet been delivered

 It kindles, to be extinguished by the dew of the presence of the holy spirit. in addition to these things, our greatest weapon against this enemy is v

 From the love of god, he loves idols of men engraved in gold and the monk, darkened by these thoughts, and growing worse, is no longer able to have a

 Of laying a loose and corrupt foundation to turn others away from evangelical perfection. but since some badly interpret what is well said in scriptur

 We despise. having the condemnation of ananias and sapphira before our eyes, let us tremble to leave for ourselves anything of our old property. likew

 Be pricked to the heart ” that is, when evil thoughts arise in the heart, casting them out through anger against them, after their expulsion, as if fi

 Fleeing the desert, we pursue solitude, but whatever of our passions we bring there uncured, happen to be hidden, not removed. for indeed the desert a

 That we may believe, that neither over the just, nor over the unjust, is it permitted for us to stir up our anger. for when the spirit of anger has da

 Sorrow ...» nourishing the soul in the hope of repentance, becomes a mixed joy whence also it prepares the man to be willing and obedient for every g

 Is difficult to overcome. for in every practice it inserts itself, in posture, and appearance, and gait, and speech, and in vigils, and in fasts, and

 High, i will set my throne upon the clouds, and i will be like the most high.” but you are a man, and not god. and another prophet says: “why do you b

hides the Father; third, if not by his own understanding, but he trusts everything to the Father's discernment, always thirsting and longing, and gladly hearing His admonition; fourth, if he will unashamedly serve all the Father's commands; fifth, if not only he himself does not dare to insult anyone, but will also be receiving with joy the insults brought upon him by others; sixth, if he will attempt to do nothing newer, which the common rule no longer urges, nor the examples of the Fathers; seventh, if being content with all simplicity, and giving thanks for the very things given, and considers himself unworthy of them; eighth, if he is always lower than all, and is not rash in words; tenth, if he is not facile in words, and ready with his tongue. For by these and similar signs to these humility is known. These things, when they are accomplished in truth, quickly lead up to the height of love, in which there is no fear of punishment, and through which all things are no longer kept with necessity and toil, but with fiery longing and desire for the good. So that you may have strength to reach this virtue more easily, let the words of the brethren who happen to be present and possess piety be examples for you to imitate; not the many, and those living more carelessly and more lazily. For indeed from imitating and emulating the saints the greatest benefit accrues to those wishing to reach perfection. If, therefore, you wish to be able to follow all these things, and by these to persevere until the end in the spiritual struggle of the common life, let these things that David said be necessary for you for observance in the company of the brethren: “But I, as a deaf man, did not hear, and as a man who does not hear, and who has no reproofs in his mouth.” Whatever, therefore, you see that is foreign to edification and benefit, become as one blind, and whatever you hear, as one deaf and dumb, and having no reproofs in your mouth. And do not imitate those who are faithless, and disobedient, and rash, and riff-raff, and insolent, but as one deaf and not hearing, dismiss these things. If anyone sends you reproofs, or reproaches, or insults, be unmoved as one muzzled and dumb, always reciting this verse of the psalm: “I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue. I set a guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me, I was made deaf, and was humbled.” Moreover, in addition to these, practice and guard this fourth thing before all, which 28.872 can also adorn these three things said above. to make oneself a fool and senseless in this age, according to the Apostle's command, so that you may become wise, that is, discerning nothing nor doubting in what you may be commanded, making your obedience of simplicity and faith. considering that alone holy of holies, and believing it wise, and profitable, which has been commanded you by your Father. For having secured your heart with such a disposition, you will be able to endure until the end the yoke of Christ which is submission, and none of the devil's temptations and devices will be able to shake you from the knowledge of life. And expect your patience, and humility, and long-suffering not to be achieved from the virtue of others; as for example if you are provoked by no one, or despised by no one, or dishonored by no one, which is neither a sign of your virtue, nor does it lie in your power; but when being reviled, or dishonored, or despised you bear it meekly; for this lies in your own choice. In order therefore, gathering together all these things, which we have spoken of more broadly, what brief thing should we say so that your mind may easily remember them, listen again, how in order you will be able to embark on perfection. The beginning of our salvation is the fear of God; from this is born good obedience, from which is brought forth submission, and contempt for the things of the world; and from this humility is born of one's own

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κρύπτει Πατέρα· τρίτον, εἰ μὴ τῇ ἰδίᾳ συνέσει, ἀλλὰ πάντα τοῦ Πα τρὸς διακρίσει πιστεύει, διψῶν ἀεὶ καὶ ἐπιποθῶν, καὶ ἡδέως ἀκούων τῆς τούτου νουθεσίας· τέταρτον, εἰ πᾶσιν ἀνεπαισχύντως δουλεύσει τοῖς τοῦ Πατρὸς προστάγμασι· πέμπτον, εἰ μὴ μόνον αὐτὸς οὐ τολμᾷ ὑβρίσαι τινὰ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς ὑπὸ ἄλλων αὐτῷ ἐπαγο μένας ὕβρεις μετὰ χαρᾶς ἔσται προσδεχόμενος· ἕκτον, εἰ μηδὲν ἐπιχειρήσει καινότερον πρᾶξαι, ὅπερ ὁ κα νὼν ὁ κοινὸς οὐκέτι προτρέπει, οὐδὲ τῶν Πατέρων τὰ παραδείγματα· ἕβδομον, εἰ πάσῃ εὐτελείᾳ ἀρκούμε νος, καὶ ἐπ' αὐτοῖς τοῖς δεδομένοις εὐχαριστῶν, καὶ τούτων ἀνάξιον ἡγεῖται ἑαυτόν· ὄγδοον, εἰ ἑαυτὸν πάν τοτε κατώτερον πάντων, καὶ μὴ ᾖ προπετὴς ἐν λό γοις· δέκατον, εἰ μὴ ἔστιν εὐχερὴς ἐν λόγοις, καὶ πρόχειρος ἐν γλώσσῃ. Τούτοις γὰρ καὶ τοῖς ὁμοίοις τούτων σημείοις ἡ ταπείνωσις γνωρίζεται. Ταῦτα, ὅταν ἐν ἀληθείᾳ κατορθωθῇ, ταχέως πρὸς τὸ ὕψος τῆς ἀγάπης ἀνάγει, ἐν ᾗ φόβος οὐκ ἔστι κολάσεως, καὶ δι' ἧς τὰ πάντα οὐκέτι μετὰ ἀνάγκης, καὶ κόπου φυλάττεται, ἀλλὰ πόθῳ διαπύρῳ καὶ ἐπιθυμίᾳ τοῦ καλοῦ. Πρὸς ἥνπερ ἀρετὴν ἵνα ἰσχύσῃς εὐχερέστερον φθάσαι, ὑποδείγματά σοι πρὸς μίμησιν ἔστωσαν οἱ λόγοι τῶν συμβαινόντων, καὶ εὐλάβειαν κεκτημένων ἀδελφῶν· μὴ οἱ πλείους, καὶ ἀμελέστερόν τε καὶ ῥᾳθυμότερον ζῶντες. Καὶ γὰρ ἐκ τοῦ μιμεῖσθαι καὶ ζηλοῦν τοὺς ἁγίους μεγίστη ὠφέλεια προσγίνεται τοῖς βουλομένοις πρὸς τελειότητα φθάσαι. Εἰ τοίνυν θέλεις δυνηθῆναι πᾶσι τούτοις ἐξ ακολουθῆσαι, καὶ ὑπὸ τούτων εἰς τὸν πνευματικὸν ἀγῶνα τοῦ κοινοβίου ἄχρι τέλους διακαρτερῆσαι, ταῦτα ἃ εἶπεν ὁ ∆αυῒδ ἀναγκαῖά σοι πρὸς φυλακὴν ἐν τῇ συνοδίᾳ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἔστωσαν· «Ἐγὼ δὲ ὡσεὶ κωφὸς οὐκ ἤκουον, καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἀκούων, καὶ οὐκ ἔχων ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ ἐλεγμούς.» Ὅσα τοίνυν βλέπεις ἀλλότρια οἰκοδομῆς καὶ ὠφελείας, ὡς τυφλὸς γενοῦ, καὶ ὅσα ἀκούεις, ὡς κωφὸς καὶ ἄλα λος, καὶ οὐκ ἔχων ἐν τῷ στόματι ἐλεγμούς. Καὶ μὴ μιμήσῃ τούτους, ὅσοι ἄπιστοι, καὶ ἀνήκοοι, καὶ προ πετεῖς, καὶ συρφετοὶ, καὶ ὑβρισταὶ τυγχάνουσιν, ἀλλ' ὡς κωφὸς καὶ μὴ ἀκούων, ταῦτα παραπέμπου. Ἐάν σοί τις ἐλέγχους, ἢ ὀνείδη, ἢ ὕβρεις ἐπιπέμψῃ, ἀκίνητος ἔσο ὡς πεφιμωμένος καὶ ἄλαλος, ἀεὶ τοῦτον τὸν στίχον ἐπιλέγων τοῦ ψαλμοῦ· «Εἶπα, Φυλάξω τὰς ὁδούς μου, τοῦ μὴ ἁμαρτάνειν με ἐν γλώσσῃ μου. Ἐθέμην τῷ στόματί μου φυλακὴν, ἐν τῷ συ στῆναι τὸν ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐναντίον μου, ἐκωφώθην, καὶ ἐταπεινώθην.» Ἔτι μὴν πρὸς τούτοις καὶ τέταρτον τοῦτο πρὸ πάντων μελέτα, καὶ φυλάσσου, ὅπερ καὶ 28.872 ταῦτα τὰ ἀνωτέρω εἰρημένα τρία κοσμῆσαι δύναται. τὸ μωρὸν καὶ ἄφρονα ἑαυτὸν, κατὰ τὸ Ἀποστόλου παράγγελμα, ἐν τούτῳ τῷ αἰῶνι ποιῆσαι, ἵνα γένῃ σοφὸς, δηλονότι μηδὲν διακρίνων ἢ διστάζων ἐν οἷς ἂν προσταχθῇς, ἁπλότητος καὶ πίστεως τὴν ὑπακοὴν ποιῶν. Ἐκεῖνο μόνον ἅγιον τῶν ἁγίων λογιζόμενος, καὶ σοφὸν, καὶ συμφέρον πιστεύων, τὸ ὑπὸ τοῦ σοῦ Πατρὸς προσταχθέν σοι. Τοιαύτῃ γὰρ διαθέσει ἀσφα λισάμενος τὴν σὴν καρδίαν, δυνήσῃ ἕως τέλους ὑπο μεῖναι τὸν Χριστοῦ ζυγὸν τῆς ὑποταγῆς, καὶ οὐδέν σε τῶν τοῦ διαβόλου πειρατηρίων καὶ τεχνασμάτων δυνήσεται σαλεῦσαι ἐκ τῆς ἐπιστήμης τοῦ βίου. Καὶ τὴν ὑπομονὴν δὲ, καὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν, καὶ τὴν μα κροθυμίαν τὴν σὴν, μὴ ἐκ τῆς τῶν ἄλλων ἀρετῆς προσ δόκα κατορθοῦσθαι· οἶον ἐὰν ὑπ' οὐδενὸς παροξύνῃ, ἢ οὐκ ἐξουδενώσῃ, ἢ οὐκ ἀτιμάζῃ, ὅπερ οὔτε τῆς σῆς ἀρε τῆς ἐστι δεῖγμα, οὔτε ἐν τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ κεῖται· ἀλλ' ὅταν λοιδορούμενος, ἢ ἀτιμαζόμενος, ἢ ἐξουδενούμενος πράως φέρῃς· τοῦτο γὰρ ἐν τῇ σῇ προαιρέσει κεῖται. Ἵνα τοίνυν αὐτὰ πάντα, ἅπερ πλατύτερον εἰρήκαμεν, συναθροίσαντες, τί ποτε σύντομον εἴπωμεν πρὸς τὸ εὐκόλως τὴν σὴν διάνοιαν τούτων μνημονεύειν, ἄκουε πάλιν, πῶς κατὰ τάξιν δυνήσῃ ἐπιβῆναι τῆς τελειό τητος. Ἀρχὴ τῆς ἡμετέρας σωτηρίας ὁ φόβος ἐστὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ· ἐκ τούτου γεννᾶται ἀγαθὴ ὑπακοὴ, ἐξ ἧς τίκτεται ἡ ὑποταγὴ, καὶ ἡ καταφρόνησις τῶν τοῦ κόσμου πραγμάτων· ἐκ δὲ ταύτης τῆς ταπεινώσεως γεννᾶται τῶν ἰδίων

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