Subj : July 18th - St. Pambo To : All From : rich Date : Tue Jul 17 2018 10:16:15 From: rich July 18th - St. Pambo, Man of Few Words (Fourth Century) The hermits of the Egyptian deserts, like the early followers of St. Francis of Assisi, included many unique personalities, and many a tale is recorded of their wise words and deeds. One of the most notable of the =E2=80=9Cdesert fathers=E2=80=9D in the four= th century Egypt was St. Pambo. Pambo first came to the monasteries of the Nitrian desert seeking guidance from Egypt's pioneer abbot, St. Anthony. =E2=80=9CWhat shall I do?=E2=80=9D he asked Anthony. Old Anthony r= eplied, =E2=80=9CBe not confident of thy own righteousness; grieve not over a thing that is past; and be continent of thy tongue and belly.=E2=80=9D Pambo undertook the typical discipline of the hermits around him. He was strong on self-denial. He wore cast-off clothing (although his personal bearing was so majestic that nobody noticed the meanness of his garb). He fasted. He prayed for long periods. He also engaged, of course, in self-supporting manual labor, weaving mats and baskets out of palm-fronds. But he took a special fancy to Anthony's advice to control his spee= ch =E2=80=93 =E2=80=9Cbe continent of tongue.=E2=80=9D In fact, when he was gi= ven his very first reading lesson, his monk-teacher began with Psalm 39, line one: =E2=80=9CI said, I will watch my ways, so as not to sin with my tongue.=E2=80=9D =E2= =80=9CThat will do for today,=E2=80=9D said Pambo. He rose abruptly to ponder this sin= gle verse and its implications. Thinking it through took him six months! Then he returned to his teacher for lesson number two. Some people speak little because they have little to say. Pambo had much to say, but spoke with great economy. Other spiritual people realized this, and came to him for advice that they knew would be carefully considered, even if a bit gruffly spoken. The famous writer Rufinus visited him for counsel. So did St. Athanasius the Archbishop and St. Melania the Abbess. Once, when somebody gave him some money for the poor, the donor suggested that he count it. =E2=80=9CNo,=E2=80=9D s= aid Abbot Pambo, =E2=80=9CGod does not ask how much, but how.=E2=80=9D End of convers= ation. Pambo was not, however, like some hermits who held that the hermit'= s life is the only way to save one's soul. Two monks were once disput= ing which would be the better man =E2=80=93 he who gave away all his fortune an= d entered a monastery, or he who did not become a monk but expended his all on corporal works of mercy. Pambo answered, =E2=80=9CBefore God both ar= e perfect. There are other roads to perfection besides being a monk.=E2=80=9D Two other hermits gave him a list of their many acts of self-denial and almsgiving. =E2=80=9CWill these save our souls?=E2=80=9D Said Pambo: = =E2=80=9CI do the same things, but I do not thereby become a good monk. Seek never to offend your neighbor, and you will be saved.=E2=80=9D Pambo found that his formula of hard work and deliberate speech served him well. The day he died he was plaiting a basket for one of his disciples. He said to his gathered monks (in perhaps his longest speech ever): =E2=80=9CSince I came into the desert, I have eaten nothing t= hat I have not earned by work, and do not remember that I have ever said anything for which I had need to be sorry afterwards. Nevertheless I must now go to God, before I have even begun to serve Him.=E2=80=9D St. Melania was present at his death, took care of his funeral, and bore off the unfinished basket as a relic to remind her of this man who never spoke an unnecessary, (and therefore, regrettable) word. Hermit or not, we must all be cautious about what we say. The Bible must have had people, like Pambo, in mind when it said: =E2=80=9CA wise man= is silent till the right time comes, but a boasting fool ignores the proper time.=E2=80=9D (Sir. 20:6). St. Pambo, help me to know when to shut = up! =E2=80=93Father Bob Saint Quote: Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him. That is all the doing you have to worry about. -- Saint Jeanne de Chantal Bible Quote: He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, he is true, and there is no injustice in him. (John 7:18) DRB <><><><> I Adore Thee, O Jesus, True God and True Man I adore Thee, O Jesus, true God and true Man, here present in the Holy Eucharist, humbly kneeling before Thee and united in spirit with all the faithful on earth and all the blessed in heaven. In deepest gratitude for so great a blessing, I love Thee, my Jesus, with my whole heart, for Thou art all perfect and all worthy of love. Give me grace nevermore in any way to offend Thee, and grant that I, being refreshed by Thy Eucharistic presence here on earth, may be found worthy to come to the enjoyment with Mary of Thine eternal and ever-blessed presence in heaven. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .