Abba Macarius of Alexandria
Macarius of Alexandria, born c. A.D. 296, was a tradesman, a seller of sweetmeats. He went to visit Pachomius at least once during Lent. He was a hermit and priest in the Cells, famous for extreme asceticism; one of his disciples was Paphnutius. He died about A.D. 393.
1. Abba Macarius of Alexandria went one day with some brethren to cut reeds. The first day the brethren said to him, "Come and eat with us, Father.' So he went to eat with them. The next day they invited him again to eat. But he would not consent saying, "Children, you need to eat because you are carnal, but I do not want food now."
2. Abba Macarius went one day to Abba Pachomius of Tabenisi. Pachomius asked him, "When brothers do not submit to the rule, is it right to correct them?" Abba Macarius said to him, "Correct and judge justly those who are subject to you, but judge no-one else. For truly it is written: "Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside." (1 Cor. 5. 12-13)
3. For four months Abba Macarius visited a brother every day, and he did not once find him distracted from prayer. Filled with wonder he said, "He is an angel on earth."
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