Observation of the Day

For too many people, Jesus' observation "The poor you will have with you always" is a goal to be achieved through their efforts rather than a description of conditions in a sinful world.

Quote for the Day

Blessed Archbishop Theophilus, accompanied by a magistrate, came one day to find Abba Arsenius, He questioned the old man, to hear a word from him. After a short silence the old man answered him, 'Will you put into practice what I say to you?' They promised him this. 'If you hear Arsenius is anywhere, do not go there.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

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, 'We indeed get nothing from our secular education, but these Egyptian peasants acquire the virtues by hard work.'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Anthony said, 'A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, 'You are mad, you are not like us."'

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him, 'Put an arrow in your bow and shot it.' So he did. The old man then said, 'Shoot another,' and he did so. Then the old man said, 'Shoot yet again,' and the hunter replied 'If I bend my bow so much I will break it.' Then the old man said to him, 'It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs.' When he heard these words the hunter was pierced y compunction and, greatly edified by the old man, he went away. As for the brethren, they went home strengthened.

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers