August 8, 1999
Sts. Barsanuphius and John:
Spiritual Counsels for Everyone -- Part I
In this issue, we will look at a few of the teachings of two Desert
Fathers of sixth century Palestine, Sts. Barsanuphius and John. We will be studying
their teachings over the next few issues as much of what they have to teach us goes right
to the heart of the questions posed in the letter above.
BEGIN: Concerning the measure of continence in food and drink the
Fathers say that one should use both the one and the other a little less than necessary,
that is, one should not fill the stomach completely. And everyone should determine
for himself his measure both of cooked food and of wine. During wintertime no one
drinks much; however, even then one should drink a little less than necessary, and he
should act likewise with regard to food. In addition, the measure of continence is
not limited only to food and drink, but extends also to conversations, to seep, to
clothing, and to all the feelings; in all of this there should be a measure of continence.
-- During a time of disturbance and warfare of thoughts, one should
lessen a little even the ordinary quantity of food and drink.
-- To act “according to one’s strength” means to use
a little less than necessary both of food, and drink, and sleep . . . . As for food,
restrain yourself when you wish to eat a little
more, and in this way you will always make use of it moderately.
-- Let us always accuse ourselves: for victory consists precisely
of this. As for the resolve to go away into the desert, as the Fathers said, there
are three conditions, which if anyone observes, he can live both among people and in the
deserts, and wherever he might go, namely: to reproach oneself, to leave one’s own
will behind him, and to consider oneself lower than all creatures. And let it
be known to your love, that all the efforts of the devil are directed towards separating
us from each other; for he clearly sees that the word of Scripture is fulfilled upon us:
“brother being helped by brother, as a city firm and well-defended” (Proverbs
18:19). May the Lord not permit him to fulfill his will in us, but may He crush him,
according to the unlying word of Scripture, “swiftly under our feet” (Romans
16:20).
-- Q: How can one be saved in the present times?
A: In every time, if a man can cut off his own will in everything, and have a
humble heart, and death always before his eyes – he can be saved, by God’s
grace; and wherever he might be, fear does not take possession of him, for such a one
“forgetteth the things that are behind, and stretcheth forth to those that are before
(Philemon 3:13). Act thus, and you will be saved by God without sorrow.
-- Q: Pray that I might place a beginning to salvation.
A: The beginning is humility and the fear of God: “The fear of God is
the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7). And what is the beginning of wisdom,
if it is not to remove oneself from everything hateful to God? And how does one
remove oneself from this? Do nothing without questioning and counsel; likewise, say
nothing unfitting, and at the same time acknowledge oneself to be senseless, unsalted, and
degraded, and in general insignificant.
-- Q: Having many sins, I wish to repent, but because of bodily
infirmity I cannot labor like the Fathers: I beg you, tell me: how can I make a beginning?
A: Brother! They are poor whom the Lord glorifies because they have
renounced all their possessions, that is, all their passions, and have become stripped of
them for the sake of His Name, such ones are poor in truth, and to them belongs
blessedness. And there are other poor who have acquired nothing good, whom the Lord
threatens, saying: “Depart from Me, ye cursed” (Matthew 25:41). He who has
such possessions and is burdened by them, let him renounce them, so that he may remain
without care. And so, if you desire to make a beginning of repentance, look at what
the harlot did: with her tears she washed the feet of the Master (Luke 7:38).
Lamentation will wash anyone of sins; but a man attains lamentation with difficulty, by
means of much instruction in the Scriptures, of patience, of reflection on the terrible
Judgment and eternal shame, and through self-renunciation, as the Lord has said: “He
who would come after Me, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow after
Me” (Matthew 16:24). And to renounce oneself and take up one’s cross
means: to cut off one’s own will in everything and consider oneself to be
nothing. Since you have said that you are infirm in body and can do nothing –
therefore, do according to your strength, taking bread and drink a little less than
ordinarily, for God accepted the two mites of the widow and rejoiced over them more than
over all the rest. Instruct yourself not to be free in your relations with
others, and you will be saved. END
from “Saints Barsanuphius and John: Guidance Toward
Spiritual Life,” trans. by Fr. Seraphim Rose, (Platina, California: St. Herman
of Alaska Brotherhood, 1990), pp. 47 - 73 (selections).
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