October 18, 1998
A
Woman's Advice to the Monks
We will continue today our series on Holy Women of the Desert
with the teachings of Amma (Mother) Theodora. She was the wife of a tribune who eventually
reached such a state of poverty that she became a recipient of alms and finally died in
the monastery of Hesychas near the sea (according to Palladius). It is clear from her life
that she was consulted by many monks about the monastic life.
BEGIN: Amma Theodora said, "Let us strive to enter by the narrow gate. Just as the
trees, if they have not stood before the winter's storms cannot bear fruit, so it is with
us, this present age is a storm and it is only through many trials and temptations that we
can obtain an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven."
She also said, "It is good to live in peace, for the wise man practises perpetual
prayer. It is truly a great thing for a virgin or a monk to live in peace, especially for
the younger ones. However, you should realize that as soon as you intend to live in peace,
at once evil comes and weighs down your soul through accidie, faintheartedness, and evil
thoughts. It also attacks your body through sickness, debility, weakening of the knees,
and all the members. It dissipates the strength of soul and body, so that one believes one
is ill and no longer able to pray. But if we are vigilant, all these temptations fall
away. There was, in fact a monk who was seized by cold and fever every time he began to
pray, and he suffered from headaches, too. In this condition, he said to himself, 'I am
ill, and near to death; so now I will get up before I die and pray.' By reasoning in this
way, he did violence to himself and prayed, When he had finished, the fever abated also.
So, by reasoning in this way, the brother resisted, and prayed and was able to conquer his
thoughts."
The same Amma said that a teacher ought to be a stranger to the desire for domination,
vain-glory, and pride; one should not be able to fool him by flattery, nor blind him by
gifts, no conquer him by the stomach, nor dominate him by anger; but he should be patient,
gentle and humble as far as possible; he must be tested and without partisanship, full of
concern, and a lover of souls.
She also said that neither asceticism, nor vigils nor any kind of suffering are able to
save, only true humility can do that. There was an anchorite who was able to banish the
demons; and he asked them, "What makes you go away? Is it fasting?" They
replied, "We do not eat or drink." "Is it vigils" They replied,
"We do not sleep." "Is it separation from the world?" "We live in
the deserts." "What power sends you away then?" They said, "Nothing
can overcome us, but only humility." (Abba Theodora said) "Do you see how
humility is victorious over the demons?"
The same amma was asked about the conversations one hears; "If one is habitually
listening to secular speech, how can one yet live for God alone, as you suggest?" She
said, "Just as when you are sitting at table and there are many courses, you take
some but without pleasure, so when secular conversations come your way, have your heart
turned towards God, and thanks to this disposition, you will hear them without pleasure,
and they will not do you any harm."
from Sr. Benedicta Ward, "The Desert Christian," (New York: MacMillan
Publishing Company, 1975), pp. 83-84
Previous Week's
Thought | Next Week's Thought
|
View Shopping Cart / Checkout