DAY TWENTY-SIX
29. A brother in a monastery was falsely accused of fornication and he arose and went to Father Anthony. The brothers also came from the monastery to correct him and bring him back. They set about proving that he had done this thing, but he defended himself and denied that he had done anything of the kind. Now Father Paphnutius happened to be there, and he told them this parable: “I have seen a man on the bank of the river buried up to his knees in mud and some men came to give him a hand and to help him out, but they pushed him further in up to his neck.” Then Father Anthony said this about Father Paphnutius: “Here is a real man, who can care for souls and save them.” All those present were pierced to the heart by the words of the elder and they asked forgiveness of the brother. And, encouraged by the elders, they took the brother back to the monastery.
DAY TWENTY-SEVEN
30. Some say of Saint Anthony that he was a Spirit-bearer, that is carried along by the Holy Spirit, but he would never speak about this to people. For he revealed things happening in the world, as well as things going to happen.
31. One day Father Anthony received a letter from Emperor Constantine, asking him to come to Constantinople and he wondered whether he ought to go. So he said to Father Paul, his disciple, “Ought I to go?” He replied, “If you go, you will be called Anthony; but if you stay here, you will be called Father Anthony.”
DAY TWENTY-EIGHT
32. Father Anthony said, “I no longer fear God, but I love Him. For love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)
33. He also said, “Always have the fear of God before your eyes. Remember Him who gives death and life. Hate the world and all that is in it. Hate all fleshly recreation. Renounce this life, so that you may be alive to God. Remember what you have promised God, for it will be required of you on the Day of Judgment. Suffer hunger, thirst, nakedness, be watchful and sorrowful; weep, and groan in your heart; test yourselves, to see if you are worthy of God; despise the flesh, so that you may preserve your souls.”
DAY TWENTY-NINE
34. Father Anthony once went to visit Father Amoun in Mount Nitria and when they met, Father Amoun said, “By your prayers, the number of the brothers increases, and some of them want to build more cells where they may live in peace. How far away from here do you think we should build the cells?” Father Anthony said, “Let us eat at the ninth hour and then let us go out for a walk in the desert and explore the country.” So they went out into the desert and they walked until sunset and then Father Anthony said, “Let us pray and plant the cross here, so that those who wish to do so may build here. Then when those who remain there want to visit those who have come here, they can take a little food at the ninth hour and then come. If they do this, they will be able to keep in touch with each other without distraction of mind.” The distance is twelve miles.
35. Father Anthony said, “Whoever hammers a lump of iron, first decides what he is going to make of it, a scythe, a sword, or an axe. Even so we ought to make up our minds what kind of virtue we want to forge or we labor in vain.”
DAY THIRTY
36. He also said, “Obedience with self-control subdues wild beasts.”
37. He also said, “Nine monks fell away after many labors. They were obsessed with spiritual pride, for they put their trust in their own works and being deceived they did not give due heed to the commandment that says, “Ask your father and he will tell you.’” (Deut 32:7)
38. And he said this, “If he is able to, a monk ought to tell his elders confidently how many steps he takes and how many drops of drink he drinks in his cell, in case he is in error about it.”
~Taken from the Website of Father Arseny, 38 Sayings of Saint Anthony, http://www.fatherarseny.com/38-sayings-of-saint-anthony.html.
