Abbatia
Sancti Petri
de Curte

The Sayings of the Elders (Verba seniorum, Book VII)

What the hermit’s observance is

Quæ sit observantia eremitæ.

This book is not translated in the edition used; the Latin is given alone.

1

Abbas Moyses ad solitarios solebat proferre sermonem, dicens: Quatuor sunt principalia observantiæ regularis, id est, tacendi, servandi mandata Dei, humiliandi semetipsum, et angustia paupertatis. Tres autem has virtutes homo difficile possidet, ut semper lugeat, et semper suorum memor sit peccatorum, et omni hora ponat sibi præ oculis mortem.

2

Beatus Antonius solebat dicere: Patres antiqui egressi sunt in desertum, et ipsi sani effecti, facti sunt medici: et reversi, alios sanaverunt; ex nobis autem si quem egredi contigerit in desertum, antequam ipsi sanemur, curam aliis adhibemus; et revertitur ad nos infirmitas nostra, et fiunt ultima nostra pejora prioribus, propter quod dicitur nobis: O medice, prius tibi curam impende.

Latin text: Verba seniorum, Book VII of the Vitae Patrum, translated from the Greek by Paschasius of Dumium for Abbot Martin (Martin of Braga), in H. Rosweyde’s edition as reprinted in Migne’s Patrologia Latina, vol. 73 (1879 reprint), cols. 1025–1062, checked against the scans; without the editor’s notes and cross-references, and without the Greek text of chapter XLIV printed in the notes. Public-domain text in France (art. L123-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code). Transcription and revision: Abbatia Sancti Petri de Curte. Report an error