NISTERUS THE CENOBITE
Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Alphabetical Collection — translated by Benedicta Ward, SLG
1. Abba Poemen said of Abba Nisterus that he was like the serpent of brass which Moses made for the healing of the people: he possessed all virtue and without speaking, he healed everyone.
2. Abba Poemen asked Abba Nisterus how he had managed to gain this virtue: whenever a troublesome matter came up in the monastery, he did not say anything and he never intervened. He answered, 'Forgive me, abba, but when I came for the first time to the monastery, I said to myself, "You and the donkey are the same. The donkey is beaten but he does not speak, and when ill-treated he does not reply; now you must do the same, as psalmist says, 'I * 6 is an addition from J.C. Guy's text (p. 27).
was like a beast towards thee; nevertheless, I am continually with
t h e e. " " (Ps. 73. 22-23)
Translated by Benedicta Ward, SLG. Edition opa.patristics.desert-fathers.sayings-alphabetical-collection.en.