August 15, 1999
Sts. Barsanuphius and John:
Spiritual Counsels for Everyone -- Part II
In this issue we will continue our look at the
teachings of two Desert Fathers of sixth century Palestine, Sts. Barsanuphius and John.
This series will continue over several issues as much of what they have to teach us goes
right to the heart of the question as to what the Desert Fathers have to offer the modern
pilgrim living in today's world.
BEGIN: [to a sick monk] Concerning fasting, do not grieve, as I
have said to you before: God does not demand of anyone labors beyond his strength. And
indeed, what is fasting if not a punishment of the body in order to humble a healthy body
and make it infirm for passions, according to the word of the Apostle: "When I am
weak, then am I strong" (II Corinthians 12:10). And disease, more than this, is a
punishment and takes the place of fasting and even more – for one who bears it with
patience, thanks God, and through patience receives the fruit of his salvation; for
instead of weakening his body by fasting, he is already sick without that. Give thanks to
God that you have been delivered from the labor of fasting. Even if you will eat ten times
in a day, do not grieve; you will not be judged for this, for you are doing this not at
the demon’s instigation, and not from the weakening of your thought; but rather, this
occurs to us for our testing and for profit to the soul.
-- To the Monk Andrew, when he became faint from the temptations
that had come upon him:
Andrew! My brother one in soul (with me), do not grow faint. God
has not abandoned you and will not abandon you. But know that the sentence pronounced by
the Master to our common father Adam: "In the sweat of your brow you shall earn your
bread" (Genesis 3:19) is immutable. And just as this commandment is given to the
outward man, so to the inward man it is commanded to aid the prayers of the Saints by
means of one’s own ascetic labors; and these prayers greatly help a man so that he
will not remain fruitless. For just as gold which is heated in a furnace, held with
pincers and beaten with a hammer, becomes pure and fit for a royal crown, so also a man
being supported by the mighty and much-performing prayer of the Saints is heated by
sorrows, receives the blows of temptations and, if he endures everything with gratitude,
becomes a son of the Kingdom. And therefore, everything that might happen to you occurs
for your benefit, so that you also might receive boldness before God, both through the
intercession of the Saints and through your own labors. And do not be ashamed to offer now
to God the beginning of these labors, lest in place of spiritual joy, sorrow should
overtake you; and believe that He who has given the promises will fulfill them (Hebrews
10:23). Prosper in the Lord, my beloved.
-- And so, brother, hate perfectly so as to love perfectly. Depart
completely, so as to draw near completely. Disdain one kind of adoption, in order to
receive another adoption. Cease to fulfill desires, and you will fulfill desire. Wound
yourself, and treat yourself. Mortify yourself, and bring yourself to life. Forget
yourself, and know yourself. And you will have the works of a monk.
-- Restrain your tongue from idle talking, your stomach from love
of sweetness, and do not irritate your neighbor. Do not be brazen, consider yourself as
nothing, preserve love toward everyone, and have always God in your heart, remembering
"When I shall appear before the face of God" (Psalms 41:3). Keep this, and your
soil will bring forth a hundred-fold fruit to God, to Whom may there be glory unto the
ages. Amen.
from "Saints Barsanuphius and John: Guidance Toward
Spiritual Life," trans. by Fr. Seraphim Rose, (Platina, California: St. Herman
of Alaska Brotherhood, 1990), pp. 47 - 80 (selections).
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