From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   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   
   Those who are led by the Holy Spirit have true ideas. That's why so many   
   ignorant people are wiser than the learned.   
   -- St. John Vianney   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   But I have cried to God: and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning, and   
   at   
   noon I will speak and declare: and He shall hear my voice: He shall redeem   
   my   
   soul in peace from them that draw near to me...   (Psalm liv, 17-19 )   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   A Prayer For Parents   
      
   O my God, I beg of Thee to bless my good parents.   
   I ask Thee to reward them for all they have done   
   for me. Help them in their labors, console them in their   
   sorrows. Help me to be kind to them, to respect   
   them, and always do their will. Bring both of them   
    and me to Thy blessed home in heaven,   
   that we may always be truly happy together with Thee.   
    Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)