Sayings of Saint Peter Damian
Habit makes the cell sweet for the monk,
while wandering makes it seem dreadful.
For those who gad about, the cell is a prison,
but for those who live there permanently it is a most pleasant little room.
Silence causes the persevering monk to be wide awake,
while for one who goes abroad, it puts him to sleep.
Temperance strengthens the body accustomed to fasting,
while a surfeit of delicious food causes it to grow weak.
The moderate practice of praying throughout the night
sharpens the edge of a man’s mind,
but twice going to sleep makes it dull.
Frequent conversation begets hunger in the heart of a monk,
but quiet solitude safeguards the soul
in the disciplined practice of its accustomed continence.
Speaking of secular topics subjects the soul to passions and desires,
while unremitting meditation on Sacred Scripture renders it dead to the world.
A monk’s poverty gives his mind security,
and security is the mother of purity.
Saint Peter Damian, Letter 165
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Be Still my soul in the silence of the night; all is well, Peace, Peace, Peace. Then the Bold awakening of the Sunrise! Colors of the rainbows fill the sky! For He is risen. Truly risen, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
These words sound just like the Apophtegms of the Desert Fathers !
I especially noted this : “Security is the mother of purity”. Oh my. Our world is deeply insecure , Therefore, deeply impure. If only the entire world could be placed within the Immaculate Heart of Mary, there would be a better chance…
Thank you, Father, for your prayers, that such consecration would begin with every Diocese across the globe, be confirmed by every parish priest alive today, flowing out the Rectory doors into the hearts of every home and neighborhood.
If the heart of the monk is the “garden of Mary” (and it is !), then Mary could become the “monk’s cell” of every soul alive (which she desires!)…all is the fruit of perpetual prayer.
Père Eternel, je vous offre le Verbe de Vie, Prêtre et Hostie, animé par les flammes du Saint Esprit, pour Votre Gloire et notre vie eternelle !
These words are wonderful! I intend to spend much time with them. Thank you, Father! May your week ahead be richly blessed with gentle peace and sweetest joy.
Dear Father,
I have finally signed up to comment, because I have to tell you that your blog is the most wonderful blog in the world.
I cannot get enough of your postings! I look forward to them every single day. I have even gone through almost all of the archives! No one writes the things you do, or posts the things you do. And these things, these writings, this is what we need and what we desire.
This page, you, are like a spiritual director to me.
I am eternally grateful,In Christ.
Indeed! A veritable Spiritual Father to us all!
I so agree with Star of the Sea.
Thank you, Father Mark, today and always.
Ditto!
I imagine the merit in these ideas for the Religious, and also see other applications of them. They can apply to anyone’s loyalty and discipline to any vocation. Below, I’ve restated a few as examples.
Habit makes the husband sweet to his wife, while her wandering makes him seem dreadful.
For the husband who gads about, his wife is a prison, but for he who abides with her permanently she is most pleasant.
Temperance strengthens the leader accustomed to loyalty, while disloyalty causes him to grow weak.
Frequent distraction begets hunger in the heart of a disciple, but quiet solitude safeguards the soul in the disciplined practice of accustomed continence.