The Lives of the Saints, Volume 02 (of 16): FebruaryBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
The Lives of the Saints, Volume 02 (of 16): February
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Christian saints
It is the way of the rollicking Goths to drink and
shout. I heard thy clamouring, and I thought the bottle of wine was
all that was wanted to make a complete Goth of thee." Dorotheus was
watchful to check every feeling of vanity and self-will in his young
pupil, and for this purpose he sometimes assumed a harshness of
manner, which ill-accorded with his natural gentleness. "There,
father," said Dositheus one day, "See how neatly I have made the
infirmary beds." "Humph!" answered Dorotheus; "thou art an excellent
bed-maker, no doubt, but not much of a monk." The steward one day gave
Dositheus a knife, which he showed with much elation to his master.
"Let me see it," said Dorotheus. And when the youth had put it into
his hand, the old monk turned it and studied it. "It will serve me
admirably for cutting up my cakes," said Dositheus. "Art thou very
much delighted with it, my son?" asked the master. "Indeed, I am,
father," was the reply. "Then, my son," said Dorotheus, "give the
knife to the other brethren; let them use it, and do thou never touch
it again." Dositheus obeyed without a murmur. Dorotheus obliged him
diligently to study the Holy Scriptures. Sometimes the youth came to a
passage he could not understand, and he sought his master to have it
explained. One day, to prove his humility, he said, roughly, "I cannot
attend to thee, go to the abbot." Now, he had before advised the Abbot
Serides what he should do. So the novice came to him with the book,
and said, "My father, explain to me this passage." Then the abbot
boxed his ears, and sent him away, saying, "I have other matters to
attend to than to teach an ignorant fellow like thee." Then Dositheus
went patiently back to his cell, and God illumined his understanding
in the reading of the Scriptures. Now, after five years, the lay
brother began to spit blood, and exhibit marks of consumption. He had
heard it reported that raw eggs would cure this complaint, and the
idea haunted him. However, he schooled himself till he was quite able
to feel that if they were denied him he would cheerfully submit
without a contrary wish. Then he said to Dorotheus, "Dear master, I
have heard that raw eggs will stop the blood, but, I pray thee, forbid
me to try this remedy." "Well, my son," answered Dorotheus, "thou
shalt not prove the efficacy of eggs, but of every other remedy."
Accordingly, everything was done for the young novice that could be
devised, but he became rapidly worse. Now, when he was ill, Dorotheus
said to him, "Dositheus, be instant in prayer, lose not hold of that."
He replied, "Master, it is well, pray for me." And when he became
greatly exhausted, Dorotheus asked him, "Well, Dositheus, how farest
thou in prayer?" "Oh, pardon me, master, I cannot continue." "Then,"
said the monk, "give it up, my son, but keep God in thy mind as though
He were present beside thee." And, after some days, he said to the old
man, "Send me away, I care no more." Then Dorotheus answered,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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