Abba Isidore the Priest - 2.0

Abba Isidore went one day to see Abba Theophilus, archbishop of Alexandria and when he returned to Scetis the brethren asked him, 'What is going on in the city?' But he said to them, 'Truly, brothers, I did not see the face of anyone there, except that of the archbishop.'

Hearing this they were very anxious and said to him, 'Has there been a disaster there, then, Abba?' He said, 'Not at all, but the thought of looking at anyone did not get the better of me.' At these words they were filled with admiration, and strengthened in their intention of guarding the eyes from all distraction."

This sort of focused mindset, this conscious keeping the view to the ground is common in monastic literature.  It first appears, I believe, in the Order of Saint Basil.  He encourages the brethren to avoid temptation and fleeting/wandering thoughts by focusing on the ground.

This was supposed to keep the eyes from viewing temptation.  It was meant to help the mind stayed focused and the heart centered on humility.

Ciao!

+Tom

Abba Isidore the Priest - 1.0

Isidore the Priest was a monk of Scetis and early companion of Macarius. He is mentioned by Cassian as one of the heads of the four communities in Scetis.

1. It was said of Abba Isidore, priest of Scetis, that when anyone had a brother who was sick, or careless or irritable, and wanted to send him away, he said, 'Bring him
here to me. Then he took charge of him and by his long suffering  he cured him.

2. A brother asked him, 'Why are the demons so frightened of you?' The old man said to him, 'Because I have practiced asceticism the day I became a monk, and not allowed anger to reach my lips.'

3. He also said that for forty years he had been tempted
to sin in thought but that he had never consented either to
covetousness or to anger.

4. He also said, 'When I was younger and remained in
my cell I set no limit to prayer; the night was for me as much
the time of prayer as the day.'

5. Abba Poemen used to say this about Abba Isidore:
every night he plaited a bundle of palms, and the brethren
pleaded with him saying, 'Rest a little, for you are getting
old.' But he said to them, 'Even if Isidore were burned, and
his ashes thrown to the winds, I would not allow myself any
relaxation because the Son of God came here for our sake.'

6. The same Abba said concerning Abba Isidore that his
thoughts said to him, 'You are a great man.' He said to
them, 'Am I to be compared with Abba Anthony; am I
become like Abba Pambo, or like the other Fathers who
pleased God?' When he said this he was at peace. When the
demons who are at war with men tried to make him afraid,
suggesting that, after all this, he would still go to hell, he
replied, 'Even if I am sent there, I shall find you beneath me.'

7. Abba Isidore said, 'One day I went to the market
place to sell some small goods; when I saw anger
approaching me, I left the things and fled.'