Fr Abd el-Mesih el-Habashi is one of the twentieth century’s great ascetics who lived in the Egyptian desert. He life is a witness to the continuity of the desert spirituality of the 4th century. He was man who was not concerned about anything or for anyone. His only concern was for the One.
The Paradise of the Fathers is the classic compilation of the lives and teachings of the early monastic saints. It has been said that for a monastic to achieve perfection there are only two books needed: the Bible and the Paradise of the Fathers.
A Homily of our father Saint Abba Shenouda the Archimandrite, may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen.
There are two things I will tell you. All those for whom the heavens rejoiced because they repented while they were still on earth, will never have any passion or trouble in this place. Those for whom the heavens did not rejoice over because they did not repent while they were on earth will never have any joy or comfort in this place. Therefore till when are you going to remain to be lazy? I plead with you to lament over yourself as long as these lamentations will be accepted. If you have committed something that deserves lamenting, you have to lament it on your own and all the Saints will lament with you for your salvation. Blessed is he who laments over himself here on earth, for they will be rescued from the continuous gnashing of teeth and eternal weeping and will rejoice and enjoy a heavenly happiness.
Let us wake up, my beloved, before the door is closed and it is too late to repent, when we start pleading in front of the door, only to hear “do not know you”. All this and worse we will hear it if we keep on sinning.
Let us conclude the homily of our father Saint abba Shenouda the Archimandrite, who has enlightened our minds and the eyes of our hearts, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
(The above homily comes from the Wednesday prophesies of Holy Week)
The work in the Tafoos project has resumed after a short break. The dome was brought to the monastery in two pieces and was fixed on top of the tafoos building. A black membrane was then stuck on the wood to protect the wood from rain until the copper sheets are placed on top.
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Fr Abd el-Mesih el-Habashi is one of the twentieth century’s great ascetics who lived in the Egyptian desert. He life is a witness to the continuity of the desert spirituality of the 4th century. He was man who was not concerned about anything or for anyone. His only concern was for the One.
There are two things I will tell you. All those for whom the heavens rejoiced because they repented while they were still on earth, will never have any passion or trouble in this place. Those for whom the heavens did not rejoice over because they did not repent while they were on earth will never have any joy or comfort in this place. Therefore till when are you going to remain to be lazy? I plead with you to lament over yourself as long as these lamentations will be accepted. If you have committed something that deserves lamenting, you have to lament it on your own and all the Saints will lament with you for your salvation. Blessed is he who laments over himself here on earth, for they will be rescued from the continuous gnashing of teeth and eternal weeping and will rejoice and enjoy a heavenly happiness.