January 11, 1998
Fleeing Glory and the
Praises of Men
This week's selection is from the life of Abba Cronius who was
born about 285 AD. Although he lived in a monastery at first, he left it to live with St.
Anthony the Great in the Red Sea Desert of Egypt where he acted as St. Anthony's
interpreter. Later, he moved to Nitria (near present-day Alexandria) where he was ordained
priest. He had many disciples and died around 386 AD.
BEGIN: Abba Cronius said that Abba Joseph of Pelusia told him the following story,
"When I was living in Sinai, there was a brother who was good, ascetic and handsome.
He came to church for the Synaxis (the liturgical office said by monks in common, usually
on Saturday or Sunday) dressed in an old robe darned all over. Once when I saw him coming
to the Synaxis, I said to him, 'Brother, do you not see the brothers, looking like angels
for the Synaxis in church? How can you always come here in that garb?' He said to me,
'Forgive me, abba, but I have nothing else.' So I took him in to my cell and gave him a
tunic and whatever else he needed. After that he wore them like the other brethren and was
like an angel to look at.
Now once it was necessary for the Fathers to send ten brethren to the emperor about
something or other and he was chosen as one of the group to go. When he heard this, he
made a prostration before his Father saying, 'In the Lord's name, excuse me, for I am the
slave of a great man down there and if he recognizes me, he will deprive me of my habit
and force me to serve him again.' The brothers were convinced and left him behind. But
later, they learned from someone who had known him well when he was in the world that he
had been head of the administration and that he had spoken as he did as a ruse, so that no
one should know this or bother him about it. So great, amongst the Fathers, was their
concern to flee from glory and the peace of this world!" END
from "The Desert Christian," by Sr. Benedicta Ward, (New York:
Macmillan, 1975), p. 116
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