Saint Poemen
Also known as
- Pastor
- Shepherd
Profile
Leader of a group of hermits in the desert of Skete in Egypt, living in the abandoned ruins of a pagan temple at Terenuth. Noted for his strong discipline, permitting himself and his brothers four hours of sleep a day, spending the rest of the time in chores, prayers or study. One of the very few survivors of barbarian raids in 407. Urged frequent Communion for all; had a way with words and was known for his wise sayings.
- c.450 of natural causes
Readings
The beginning of evil is the lack of vigilance. – Saint Poemen
Silence is not a virtue when charity calls for speech. – Saint Poemen
A living faith consists of thinking little of self, and showing consideration for others. – Saint Poemen
Teach your heart to guard that which your tongue teaches. – Saint Poemen
When your brother attacks you, whatever the insults are, if you get angry at him, you are getting angry without cause. Even if he were to pull out your right eye, and to cut off your right hand, if you get angry at him, you are getting angry without cause. Yet if he were to try to take you away from God, then get angry! – Saint Poemen
Do not lay open your conscience to anyone whom you do not trust in your heart. – Saint Poemen
To instruct your neighbour is the same thing as reproving him. – Saint Poemen
If you take little account of yourself, you will have peace, wherever you live. – Saint Poemen
To throw yourself before God, not to measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will; these are the instruments for the work of the soul. – Saint Poemen
Let go of a small part of your righteousness and in a few days you will be at peace. – Saint Poemen
To throw yourself before God, to not measure your progress, to leave behind all self-will – these are the instruments for the work of the soul. – Saint Poemen
You must flee from sensual things. Verily, every time a man comes close to a struggle with sensuality, he is like a man standing at the edge of a deep lake, and the Enemy throws him in whenever he likes. But if the man lives far from sensual things, he is like one who stands at a distance from the lake, so that even if the Enemy entices him in order to throw him to the bottom, God sends him help at the very moment that the Enemy is drawing him away and doing him violence. – Saint Poemen
Give not your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart. – Saint Poemen
If you are silent, you will possess peace wherever you live. – Saint Poemen
The nature of water is soft, and the nature of stone is hard; but if a bottle is hung above the stone, allowing the water to fall down drop by drop, it wears away the stone. So it is with the Word of God: it is soft and our heart is hard, but the man who hears the Word of God often opens his heart to the fear of God. – Saint Poemen
MLA Citation
- “Saint Poemen“. CatholicSaints.Info. 21 November 2018. Web. 18 February 2020. <>