Great Throughts Treasury
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
Benedict of Nursia, aka Saint Benedict of Nursia NULL
Italian Saint, Founder of twelve communities for Monks, honored by the Roman Catholic Church s the patron saint of Europe and students
"Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading. "
"He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands."
"For at all times we must so serve Him with the good things He has given us, that he may not, as an angry Father, disinherit his children, nor as a dread Lord, provoked by our evil deeds, deliver us to everlasting punishment as wicked servants who refuse to follow Him to glory."
"He should know that whoever undertakes the government of souls must prepare himself to account for them."
"He should first show them in deeds rather than words all that is good and holy."
"The abbot ought ever to bear in mind what he is and what he is called; he ought to know that to whom more is entrusted, from him more is exacted."
"Listen and attend with the ear of your heart."
"The first degree of humility is prompt obedience."
"The prophet shows that, for the sake of silence, we are to abstain even from good talk. If this be so, how much more needful is it that we refrain from evil words, on account of the penalty of the sin!"
"Wherefore let us consider how it behoveth us to be in the sight of God and the angels, and so let us take our part in the psalmody that mind and voice accord together."