Books

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers. The Alphabetical Collection. Translated, with a forward by Benedicta Ward, rev. ed. (Kalamazoo: Cistercian Publications, 1984), p. 73 (Theodore of Pherme, #1): Abba Theodore of Pherme had acquired three good books. He came to Abba Macarius and said to him, Ί have three excellent books from which I derive profit; the brethren also make use of them and derive profit from them. Tell me what I ought to do: keep them for my use and that of the brethren, or sell them and give the money to the poor?' The old man answered him in this way, 'Your actions are good; but it is best of all to posses nothing.' Hearing that, he went and sold his books and gave the money for them to the poor. Patrologia Graeca, Vol. 65, col. 188 A: Ὁ ἀββᾶς Θεόδωρος ὁ τῆς Φέρμης ἐκτήσατο τρία βιβλία καλά· καὶ παρέβαλε τῷ ἀββᾷ Μακαρίῳ͵ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ͵ ὅτι Ἔχω τρία βιβλία καλὰ͵ καὶ ὠφε λοῦμαι ἐξ αὐτῶν· καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ κιχρῶνται αὐτὰ͵ καὶ ὠφελοῦνται. Εἰπὲ οὖν μοι͵ τί ὤφειλον ποιῆσαι;…