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Tuesday December 16 2025, 01H33
Bl. William of Fenol, Monk 12 lessons
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A brother asked Abba Poemen, saying, ' Why do my thoughts persuade me to esteem myself and compare myself with one whose rule of conduct is more excellent [than mine], and to despise that man as much as if he had been my inferior?'The old man answered and said, 'The blessed Apostle spake concerning this, saying, 'In a large house there are not only vessels of gold and vessels of silver, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware. If now a man will ( cleanse his soul from all these things, he will become a vessel which is suitable and convenient for the honour of his Lord, and he will be ready for every good work'' (2 Timothy ii, 20, 21). That brother said to him, 'How are these matters to be explained?' And the old man said to him, 'They are to be explained thus. The house is the world and the vessels are the children of men. The vessels of gold must be taken as representing the perfect, and those of silver are the men who are inferior to them in the measure of ascetic deeds, and the other vessels of wood and earthenware are those who possess a little ascetic excellence. If now a man will cleanse his soul from all the things which are outside what is right, he will become a pure vessel of honour suitable for the use of his Lord, and be ready for every good work.'
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