Cite
Pieter Dykhorst. “St. Moses the Black A Patron Saint of Non-Violence,” December 7, 2011. https://incommunion.org/2011/12/07/st-moses-the-black-a-patron-saint-of-non-violence-by-pieter-dykhorst/.
Jeremy
Synth
Contribution::
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Md
FirstAuthor:: Pieter Dykhorst
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Title:: St. Moses the Black A Patron Saint of Non-Violence
Year:: 2011
Citekey:: pieterdykhorstStMosesBlack2011
itemType:: webpage
LINK
Abstract
In the Sayings of the Desert Fathers (also collected under various other titles),we find many stories of the life and words of Abba Moses. Two aspects of his .
Notes
Annotations
Imported: 2023-10-26 10:59 am
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It was in the valley Wadi al-Natrun, then known as the Scetis Valley (from which we get skete as a type of monastic community), that Moses sought refuge from authorities seeking to capture him. And it was here that he would slowly convert to Christianity and eventually die a saintly Father of the desert Christians.
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notably that he struggled mightily and long with his violent nature, even as a monk, but eventually became known for his non-violence.
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Several accounts note how for years he struggled with temptation to return to his robber life after he had chosen the monastic way.
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The Sayings include several stories of Moses’ struggle to keep his peace. In one account, he was insulted and abused but did not respond. When asked if he was as calm on the inside as he appeared on the outside, he replied simply no.
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what was the value of outward peace if there was no inward peace. The simple reply was that while not perfect, outward calm prevented harm and facilitated God’s grace to others.
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A deeply moving account tells of the day when “the barbarians” came to the monastic valley and Abba Moses was warned to flee. He refused. He told the monks under his care—the same number as his gang of robbers in his earlier life—to take care for themselves.
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He welcomed the visitors on that day to his community, and they killed him, along with the seven who stayed with him.
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is witness to us is not one of a gentle temperament, not one of naïve hope that those who do not live by the sword shall live long and in peace, but that faithfulness carries a price, as does sin.
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St. Moses exhibited outward calm but stood with perfected, inward peace. To some, St. Moses is appropriately the patron saint of non-violence.
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