The Desert Fathers
Abba Paphnutius said, “Every lapse or calamity which takes place, whether through the tongue, some feeling, or some action, or through the whole body, takes place in proportion to the measure of one’s pride, and by the permission of God.”
- The Histories of Holy Men, by Palladius
A Patristic Treasury: Early Church Wisdom for Today, edited by James R. Payton, Jr.
Beginning in the latter third century, monasticism began in Egypt, Syria, and Palestine; men and women would leave civilization and head to the desert. Strenuous asceticism, unceasing prayer, and diligent labor were seen as the way to get closer to God.
I recall reading somewhere: the work of the monks is to pray unceasingly for God’s peace and blessing on the world. If so, we could use many more monasteries today.
This section of Payton’s work does not offer any biographies of the individuals mentioned.
Repentance
This:
Let us weep for ourselves while we still have time, so that when our departure comes near we may not be found asking God for more time to repent.
- The Rule of Pachomius at Tabenna
As opposed to this:
[From Petarpemotis:] Now that your life has come to an end you ask for repentance! What have you been doing your life long?
- The Histories of the Monks, by St. Jerome
God’s Mercy
O Lord who sustains the universe, send Your mercies to me and never take them away from me, for I know that without Your mercy nothing can possibly exist.
- The Rule of Pachomius at Tabenna
I recall the first time I came across this idea: God not only created everything from nothing; without His continuous attention, all of it would just cease – it would no longer be.
Fear not: mortal man is apt to slip. But if he be swift to fall, swift is he to rise again with the succor of God who desires not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be healed and live.
- The Life of St. Mary the Harlot
[From John the Recluse:] …many have been in despair about themselves, but the compassion of God has not forsaken them.
- The Histories of the Monks, by St. Jerome
Prayer
Constant prayer is the strength, the armor, and the wall of the soul.
- The Letter of Palladius
I do not pray enough….
[From John the Recluse:] Do not let your thoughts wander around when you are praying to God… do not let the remembrance of evil thoughts disturb your minds when you pray.
- The Histories of the Monks, by St. Jerome
I have found this so difficult to achieve. I have used the Psalms to help bring focus to prayer.
Pride
Do you not know that the mother of the beginning of wickedness is pride?
- The Rule of Pachomius at Tabenna
It is no new thing to fall in the mire; but it is an evil thing to lie there fallen.
- The Life of St. Mary the Harlot
I think it is pride that keeps us fallen, a blocking of accepting and giving mercy.
[From John the Recluse:] It is not fitting for anyone to think that he has found knowledge with absolute certainty….
- The Histories of the Monks, by St. Jerome
Humility
O, what a great and wonderful thing it is that God humbled Himself, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and put on his body and dwelt in him, and became obedient even unto death for our sakes! And yet we who are by nature low puff ourselves up with pride!
- The Rule of Pachomius at Tabenna
I try to remember this every time I feel slighted or harmed. The humility of Christ, blameless yet accepting even unto death.
[From John the Recluse:] I beseech each of you before all things to lead a life of humility, for that is the foundation of all the glorious virtues.
- The Histories of the Monks, by St. Jerome
This point really hit home during my study of Humility, by Andrew Murray. All of the virtues we are after in the Christian life are dependent on, and impossible to grow into without, humility.
[From John the Recluse:] Even were you to posses all the virtues (which is difficult to accomplish), still you must not be confident in yourselves, for those who have become puffed up with pride, and who thought they had arrived to the point where they were worthy of praise, have subsequently fallen from their high estate.
- The Histories of the Monks, by St. Jerome
The challenges and attacks don’t diminish as we grow. The devil can knock us over with trivialities while we are babes. He must deliver ever-increasing attacks as we grow toward meat. Imagine how difficult are the challenges for those who approach the possession of all of the virtues.
Abba Didymus of Alexandria declared, “If you would walk in the life of excellence and in the love of God, remove yourself from contention.”
- The Histories of Holy Men, by Palladius
I don’t read this as removing myself from society – even from contact with anyone; instead, I read it as an internal removal – a change away from my spirit of contention.
Abba Malchus declared further, “By the help of God, patient endurance and implicit obedience will deliver one from all temptations.”
- The Histories of Holy Men, by Palladius
Yes, there will be temptations; God can deliver us from these.
Good Works
In truth, neither eating food, nor abstaining from it is anything, but the faith and love which are made perfect in works.
- The Letter of Palladius
Faith and love made perfect in good works. A sufficient statement regarding the relationship of faith and works.
William, a brief reply. The comment from G. Alan Braun touches on the difference: what do each of Rand and Christianity mean by the term "happiness"? Rand's is a selfish definition. I have lived such a life, and harmed others when doing so - not considering that the harm to others was of importance. In other words, the same view as held by many of Rand's "heroes."
The Latin for happiness is "beatitudo." It is better translated as fulfillment, and better understood as fulfillment through other-regarding action. In other words, love. It is worth noting that we have come to recognize the first portion of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount as "the Beatitudes." Read those verses and compare these to Rand's "The Virtue of Selfishness." This will make clear how diametrically opposed to each other are the two meanings of happiness. (If you have not done so, check my writing on these verses; see the bibliography tab at the top of this page.)
BTW, I have come to find that this Christian understanding of happiness, "other regarding action," as necessary for any possibility of natural law ethics and the necessity for this ethic for liberty to exist, let alone thrive. I have written extensively on this at my other blog - see here:
http://bionicmosquito.blogspot.com/p/the-book.html
I have, however, held on to something from Rand, something she expressed very well: there are those in society who live only to oppress us and use us as their means for their ends. In other words, she identified evil in this world. It's just that her solution, or remedy, only introduces more evil.
I know from The Bionic Mosquito that you have much familiarity with, if not respect for, Ayn Rand. As you know, Rand sees her philosophy as quite at odds with Christian charity. I am eager to hear your articulation on what appears to you to be the defect(s) in Rand's advocacy of pride and the reasons for preferring the virtue of humility. As a starter, I think it safe to say that both the Objectivist and the Christian desire happiness. Philosophy or Revelation as the guide to happiness? Or do you think something like Aquinas's take on Aristotle indicates a common ground between theology and philosophy, apart from the shared interest in happiness?