From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
Prudence in Action:
Do not yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things
carefully and patiently in the light of God's will. For very often,
sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others
rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and
is likely to appear in speech.
Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one's opinion, not to
believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has
heard, is great wisdom
--Thomas =C3 Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 3
<<>><<>><<>>
March 7th - St. Paul the Simple, Anchorite
This monk is referred to thus to distinguish him from St. Paul of
Egypt, the First Hermit. Both Pauls lived near enough to the same
time, and St. Paul the Simple. was, furthermore a disciple of St.
Anthony, of Egypt, and considered the First Hermit his mentor. The
younger Paul deserved his unusual title particularly because he was an
honest, direct man, who when faced with problems, humbly sought advice
and followed it.
It was a family problem, in fact, that prompted Paul to seek counsel
about the religious life. Up to the age of 60 this Egyptian had
supported his family as a common laborer. During his married life his
wife had been increasingly unfaithful to him. Paul had been patient
and nonjudgmental until one day when he caught her and her current
lover together. This whole family difficulty had no doubt contributed
to his increasing desire to =E2=80=9Cleave the world.=E2=80=9D Finally, wit= hout a word
of explanation to his spouse, he set on a week-long journey to the
Thebaid desert to seek the great patriarch of hermits himself, St.
Anthony of Egypt. Anthony would surely accept him as a disciple!
Anthony was not all that ready to take on the tutorship of a man as
old as Paul. So he treated the postulant curtly, and told him to go
back into society where he could ply his honest trade, or at least to
knock at some monastery where they would not be unwilling to have =E2=80=9C=
a
stupid member.=E2=80=9D Abbot Anthony then shut his cell door.
But Paul had a manly stubbornness that would not let him be satisfied
with so peremptory an answer. He spent the next four days outside St.
Anthony's cell, fasting and praying. On the Fourth day, Anthony ope=
ned
the door and asked him why he had not left. =E2=80=9CI cannot die anywhere = but
here,=E2=80=9D the caller replied. So Anthony, realizing that the man had h=
ad
nothing to eat, grudgingly brought him inside and fed him. Finally he
agreed, =E2=80=9CYou can be saved if you are obedient and do whatever I tel=
l
you.=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9CI will do everything you command,=E2=80=9D Paul prom= ised eagerly.
The patriarchal Anthony gave him no easy course in obedience. First he
ordered him to stay outside, in rain or shine, praying and fasting,
until instructed otherwise. This Paul did punctiliously. Then Anthony
brought the man inside and told him to weave mats and panels of palm
fronds as he himself was doing. Paul wove diligently, fasting and
praying as he worked. But when he showed his mentor 15 completed
products, the abbot said they were made all wrong. Take them apart, he
ordered, and start all over again. St. Paul complied without batting
an eye.
These were intended by St. Anthony as tests, and he was good at
thinking up such trials. One morning he instructed Paul to moisten six
loaves of bread for them to eat later in the day. Then he arranged so
stern a schedule of daylong work and prayer that there was no time to
eat the bread. Finally they got around to eating, each man a single
loaf. =E2=80=9CWould you like another?=E2=80=9D the abbot asked when each h=
ad finished
his loaf. =E2=80=9CYes, if you do,=E2=80=9D replied the hungry but cautious=
disciple.
Anthony decided, =E2=80=9CIt is enough for me; I am a monk.=E2=80=9D Paul r= eplied,
=E2=80=9CThen it is enough for me. I also wish to become a monk.=E2=80=9D
In other words, whatever St. Paul was ordered to do, he did with
prompt good cheer, and nary a grudging glance or remark. Wildest of
the tests was the incident of the honey. One day St. Anthony spilled a
pot of honey on the ground. He instructed his pupil to collect the
spilt honey, but be careful not to pick up any of the dust in the
process.
Admittedly the laborer aspiring to become a monk had little formal
education. Once in the presence of guests he asked who came first,
Jesus or the Old Testament prophets. Anthony told him to hold his
tongue and go elsewhere. The patriarch then forgot that he had given
such an order. He would have known nothing about it had not the other
monks reported that Paul was keeping total silence. St. Anthony
discovered that his pupil had taken =E2=80=9Chold your tongue=E2=80=9D as a=
command,
and was following it out to a =E2=80=9CT=E2=80=9D. Anthony said admiringly =
to the
rest, =E2=80=9CHow this monk puts us all to shame! He immediately obeys man=
's
simplest order!=E2=80=9D
Not only did St. Anthony accept Paul as one of his monks. Seeing that
God had given him many special graces, he often called on his
assistance. Frequently he held up St. Paul the Simple as a model to
his other disciples of what they should be.
=E2=80=93Father Robert
Saint Quote:
Whoever bears the mark of a servant of Mary is already enrolled in the
Book of Life.
--St. Bonaventure
Bible Quote:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show
his works in the meekness of wisdom. [James 3:13] RSVCE
<><><><>
Advancing in Perfection
St. Fulgentius was so enamored of perfection that whatever he did
towards it always seemed to him little, and he was always desiring to
do better.
St. Vincent de Paul every day saw, more of his own faults, yet he
continually applied anew all his zeal to amend and perfect himself.
St. Ignatius constantly compared one day with another, and the gain
on one day with the gain on another. Thus he advanced daily and
entertained a constant desire of advancing still more, that he might
reach the summit of perfection to which God called him.
St. James the Apostle received great praise because he went on
advancing daily in the divine service.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)