Moschus,
John (c.550-619 or 634), retired to the monastery of St. Theodosius, near Jerusalem
in 575. He later traveled extensively with friend Sophronius and visited numerous
monasteries in Egypt, Mount Sinai, Antioch, Cyprus, and Rome. His personal experience
of the monastic life along with his travels abroad brought about his well-known
Pratum
Spirituale. Spiritual Meadow.
EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
TUESDAY 07/08/2012
NIGHT OFFICE
Second Reading
From the sayings of
the desert fathers as related by
John Moschus and
others (Patericon 196: csea, Scriptores
Aethiopici 54,118-121)
Repent and return to
the Lord
Repent and return to the fear of the
Lord your God; hold firmly to fasting and prayer, to supplication and contrite
tears. Give me the occasion to praise you: I long to lift your good works in
sacrifice to God with the sweet fragrance of your fasting, almsgiving, prayer,
and compassion for the poor. Then, in union with my brethren the angels, I shall
be joyful of countenance; then will the Holy Spirit come down upon you, and you
will forthwith be counted among the righteous and holy people who are to hear a
joyful verdict on the day of judgment.
Turn back to the Lord, Christian
soul, by that repentance which is the readiest path to him and is pleasing in
his sight. What is repentance? To repent is to leave your sin, to forsake your
craving and abandon your former way of life. It means that you must undertake
self-discipline by frequent fasting and constant prayer, and serve God in
compunction, never wearying night or day. Make it your business to love the
poor, for this is better in the Lord's sight than sacrifice. Retrench your
bodily luxuries, satisfying your soul instead, and purify yourself of your
stains, that you may know the sweetness of the Lord. Then the Lord's light will
shine down on you, and you will be safe from the temptations of the enemy, for
the Lord has promised to welcome those who come to him and to show them his
mercy.
Now listen carefully: you must stop
accumulating worldly things, and give up excessive eating and drinking here on
earth, otherwise you, will forfeit what the Lord has promised to the good and
righteous, So your alms deeds will even now be building you a spiritual
house, and your lamp will shine in the kingdom of heaven with the oil of your
kindness. You must believe that word which our-Lord spoke in the holy gospel: I am gentle and humble and my burden is
light; come to me, you whose load is heavy, and I will make it lighter for you.
O poor soul, your sins are many, but God's mercy is greater than the sins of
all the world. Draw near to God's forgiveness and mercy, and he will send the light
of his Spirit on you. Wash away your sins with tears, and it will redound to your
advantage.
Look now, I have explained everything
to you clearly, and given you repentance as your way of life; it will bring you
near to the Lord, and will yield you the fruit of paradise to taste. Clothe the
poor in your own garment to protect them from the winter's cold; fill their
bellies with food as you multiply your own fasts. Repent and return to the Lord
and approach his great mercy, because he has promised it to those who call upon
him. Remember, Christian soul, that our Lord has warned us: No one knows when
his time will come. Run swiftly, then, in pursuit of salvation, and offer your
sacrifice. Labour to acquire patience, humility, a silent tongue, purity, and
love of the poor. Strive to gamer righteousness. If you do all this, good
things will come your way. Praise and honour be to our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, forever. Amen.
See
- From the Holy Mountain, the book by William Dalrymple
[edit]External links
- Spiritual Meadow - English translation of The Spiritual Meadow by Benedict Baker
- Spiritual Meadow - English translation of the Latin of Ambrosius Camaldulensis
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