ALONIUS — Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Alphabetical Collection

¶1

1. Abba Alonius said, 'If a man does not say in his heart, in the world there is only myself and God, he will not gain peace.'

¶2

2. He also said, 'If I had not destroyed myself completely, I should not have been able to rebuild and shape myself again.'

¶3

3. He also said, 'If only a man desired it for a single day from morning till night, he would be able to come to the measure of God.'

¶4

4. One day Abba Agathon questioned Abba Alonius saying, 'How can I control my tongue so as to tell no more lies?' And Abba Alonius said to him, 'If you do not lie, you prepare many sins for yourself.' 'How is that?' said he. The old man said to him, 'Suppose two men have committed a murder before your eyes and one of them fled to your cell. The magistrate, seeking him, asks you, "Have you seen the murderer?" If you do not lie, you will deliver that man to death. It is better for you to abandon him unconditionally to God, for he knows all things.'

Translated by Benedicta Ward, SLG. Edition opa.patristics.desert-fathers.sayings-alphabetical-collection.en.