From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The victory of the cross   
      
    “No one, however weak, is denied a share in   
   the victory of the cross.  No one is beyond the help   
   of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit   
   to the multitude that raged against Him. How much more   
   does it bring to those who turn to Him in repentance.”   
   – St. Leo the Great   
      
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   June 5th - St. Dorotheus of Gaza, Abbot   
   6th Century   
      
    In his youth he had zealously studied secular science. "When I sought   
   worldly knowledge," wrote the abba, "it was very difficult at first.   
   When I would come to take a book, I was like a man about to touch a   
   wild beast. When I forced myself to study, then God helped me, and   
   diligence became such a habit that I did not know what I ate, what I   
   drank, whether I had slept, nor whether I was warm or not. I was   
   oblivious to all this while reading. I could not be dragged away by my   
   friends for meals, nor would I even talk with them while I was   
   absorbed in reading. When the philosopher let us go, I went home and   
   washed, and ate whatever was prepared for me. After Vespers, I lit a   
   lamp and continued reading until midnight." So absorbed was Abba   
   Dorotheus in his studies at that time.   
      
   He devoted himself to monastic activity with an even greater zeal.   
   Upon entering the monastery, he says in his tenth Instruction, he   
   decided that his study of virtue ought to be more fervent than his   
   occupation with secular science had been.   
      
   One of the first obediences of Abba Dorotheus was to greet and to see   
   to pilgrims arriving at the monastery. It gave him opportunity to   
   converse with people from various different positions in life, bearing   
   all sorts of burdens and tribulations, and contending against manifold   
   temptations. With the means of a certain brother St Dorotheus built an   
   infirmary, in which also he served. The holy abba himself described   
   his obedience, "At the time I had only just recovered from a serious   
   illness. Travellers would arrive in the evening, and I spent the   
   evening with them. Then camel drivers would come, and I saw to their   
   needs. It often happened that once I had fallen asleep, other things   
   arose requiring my attention. Then it would be time for Vigil." St   
   Dorotheus asked one of the brethren to wake him up for for Vigil, and   
   another to prevent him from dozing during the service. "Believe me,"   
   said the holy abba, "I revered and honored them as though my salvation   
   depended upon them."   
      
   For ten years Abba Dorotheus was cell-attendant for St John the   
   Prophet (Feb. 6). He was happy to serve the Elder in this obedience,   
   even kissing the door to his cell with the same feeling as another   
   might bow down before the holy Cross. Distressed that he was not   
   fulfilling the word of St Paul that one must enter the Kingdom of   
   Heaven through many tribulations (Acts 14:22), Abba Dorotheus revealed   
   this thought to the Elder. St John replied, "Do not be sad, and do not   
   allow this to distress you. You are in obedience to the Fathers, and   
   this is a fitting delight to the carefree and calm." Besides the   
   Fathers at the monastery of Abba Seridus, St Dorotheus visited and   
   listened to the counsels of other great ascetics of his time, among   
   whom was Abba Zosima.   
      
   After the death of St John the Prophet, when Abba Barsanuphius took   
   upon himself complete silence, St Dorotheus left the monastery of Abba   
   Seridus and founded another monastery, the monks of which he guided   
   until his own death.   
      
   Abba Dorotheus wrote 21 Discourses, several Letters, and 87 Questions   
   with written Answers by Sts Barsanuphius the Great and John the   
   Prophet. In manuscript form are 30 Talks on Asceticism, and written   
   counsels of Abba Zosima. The works of Abba Dorotheus are imbued with a   
   deep spiritual wisdom, distinguished by a clear and insightful style,   
   but with a plain and comprehensible expression. The Discourses deal   
   with the inner Christian life, gradually rising up in measure of   
   growth in Christ. The saint resorted often to the advice of the great   
   hierarchs, Sts Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory of   
   Nyssa. Obedience and humility, the combining of deep love for God with   
   love for neighbor, are virtues without which spiritual life is   
   impossible. This thought pervades all the writings of Abba Dorotheus.   
      
   In his writings the personal experience of Abba Dorotheus is felt   
   everywhere. His disciple, St Dositheus (February 19), says of him,   
   "Towards the brethren laboring with him he responded with modesty,   
   with humility, and was gracious without arrogance or audacity. He was   
   good-natured and direct, he would engage in a dispute, but always   
   preserved the principle of respect, of good will, and that which is   
   sweeter than honey, oneness of soul, the mother of all virtues."   
      
   The Discourses of Abba Dorotheus are preliminary books for entering   
   upon the path of spiritual action. The simple advice, how to proceed   
   in this or that instance, together with a most subtle analysis of   
   thoughts and stirrings of soul provide guidance for anyone who   
   resolves to read the works of Abba Dorotheus. Monks who begin to read   
   this book, will never part from it throughout their life.   
      
   The works of Abba Dorotheus are to be found in every monastery library   
   and are constantly reprinted. In Russia, his soul-profiting   
   Instruction, together with the Replies of the Monks Barsanuphius the   
   Great and John the Prophet, were extensively copied, together with The   
   Ladder of Divine Ascent of St John Climacus and the works of St   
   Ephraim the Syrian. St Cyril of White Lake (June 9), despite his many   
   duties as igumen, with his own hand transcribed the Discourses of Abba   
   Dorotheus, as he did also the Ladder of Divine Ascent.   
   The Discourses of Abba Dorotheus pertain not only to monks, but this   
   book should be read by anyone who aspires to fulfill the commands of   
   Christ.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. .   
   . . Let us be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers nor   
   paid servants who run away before the wolf.   
   --Saint Boniface   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   What shall I render to the Lord   
       for all his bounty to me?   
   13 I will lift up the cup of salvation   
       and call on the name of the Lord  (Ps. 116:12-13) RSVCE   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   PRAYER IN TIME OF SUFFERING   
      
       Behold me, my beloved Jesus,   
       weighed down under the burden of my trials and sufferings,   
       I cast myself at Your feet,   
       that You may renew my strength and my courage,   
       while I rest here in Your Presence.   
       Permit me to lay down my cross in Your Sacred Heart,   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)