Subj : August 27th - St. Poemen To : All From : rich Date : Sun Aug 26 2018 10:08:57 From: rich August 27th - St. Poemen, abbot (Also known as Pastor, Shepherd) The abbot Poemen was one of the most celebrated of the fathers of the desert. He forsook the world and went into the Egyptian desert of Skete, one elder and several younger brothers of his accompanying him. In 408 they were driven away from their first settlement by raids of Berbers, and took refuge in the ruins of a temple at Terenuthis. Anubis, the eldest, and Poemen governed the little community of hermits by turns. Of the 12 hours of the night, four were allotted to work, four to singing office, and four to sleep; in the day they worked till noon, read till three in the afternoon, and then went to gather firing, food and other necessaries. St. Poemen often passed several days, sometimes a whole week, without eating, but it was his constant advice to others that their fasts should be moderate, and that they should take sufficient nourishment every day: "We fast", he said, "to control our bodies, not to kill them." But he taught that no monk ought ever to taste wine or to seek any deliberate gratification of the senses: "for sensuality expels the spirit of penance and the holy fear of God from the heart as smoke drives away bees; it extinguishes grace, and deprives a soul of the comfort and presence of the Holy Ghost". St. Poemen feared the least occasion that could interrupt his solitude, or make the distractions of the world break in upon him; and on one occasion he even went so far as to refuse to see his mother, foregoing that happiness then that they might enjoy it more hereafter. He is chiefly remembered for his "sayings". Among them it is related that, when one who had committed a fault told him he would do penance for it three years, the saint advised him to confine his penance to three days, but to be very fervent about it. A monk was grievously molested with thoughts of blasphemy; Poemen comforted him, and bade him confidently say to the Devil, whenever he suggested any abominable thought, "May your blasphemy fall on you; it is not mine, for my heart detests it". But to another who spoke of the Devil he said, "Devil! It's always the Devil that's blamed. I say that it's self-will." And another time, "Never try to have your own way. Those who are self-willed are their own worst tempters, and require no devil to tempt them." St. Poemen used strongly to exhort to frequent communion and to a great desire for that divine food, as the stag pants after the water-brooks. "Some aver", said he, "that stags feel a violent inward heat and thirst because in the desert they eat serpents and their bowels are parched with the poison. Thus souls in the wilderness of this world always suck in something of its poison, and so need perpetually to approach the body and blood of Jesus Christ, which fortifies them against all such venom." To one who complained that his neighbour was a monk of whom derogatory tales were told, and gave the authority of another monk to prove their truth, he said, "There could not be worse evidence than scandalous stories told by a monk; by telling them he shows himself unworthy of credence". It was another saying of this abbot that "silence is no virtue when charity requires speech"; that "people should not waste other people's time by asking advice when no advice is necessary or wanted" ; and that "a living faith consists in thinking little of oneself and having tenderness towards others". St. Poemen took over complete control of the community on the death of Anubis. "We lived together", he said, "in complete unity and unbroken peace till death broke up our association. We followed the rule Anubis made for us; one was appointed steward, and he had care of our meals. We ate such things as were set before us, and no one said, "Give me something else; I cannot eat this." He returned from Terenuthis to Skete but was again driven out by raids. Later he was present at the death of St. Arsenius on the rock of Troe, near Memphis "Happy Arsenius!" he cried, "who had the gift of tears in this life! For he who does not weep for his sins on earth will bewail them for ever in eternity." St. Poemen himself died very soon afterwards. He is named in the Roman Martyrology and in the Byzantine liturgical books is referred to as "the lamp of the universe and pattern of monks". Noted for his saintly demeanor, his wisdom, and his insistence upon frequent Communion. A short Greek life with other miscellaneous references will be found in the Acta Sanctorum, August vol. vi; but the most convenient source of information concerning Poemen and the other fathers of the desert is the Vitae Patrum of Father Rosweyde. His "sayings" are printed in Migne, PG., vol. lxv, cc. 317-368. Saint Quote: A man may seem to be silent, but if his heart is condemning others, he is babbling ceaselessly. But there may be another who talks from morning till night and yet he is truly silent, that is, he says nothing that is not profitable. --Abba Poemen (an early Desert Father) Bible Quote: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (Prov 15-3) RSVCE <><><><> Prayer for Acceptance of God's Will Lord, teach me to be patient - with life, with people, and with myself. I sometimes try to hurry things along too much, and I push for answers before the time is right. Teach me to trust Your sense of timing rather than my own and to surrender my will to Your greater and wiser plan. Help me let life unfold slowly, like the small rosebud whose petals unravel bit by bit, and remind me that in hurrying the bloom along, I destroy the bud and much of the beauty therein. Instead, let me wait for all to unfold in its own time. Each moment and state of growth contains a loveliness. Teach me to slow down enough to appreciate life and all it holds. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .