303- Six Months For Memorizing a Psalm

 

St-Takla.org Image: Coptic Orthodox Monastery of St. Bishoy at Wadi El Natroun, Egypt. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: صورة دير القديس الأنبا بيشوي في وادي النطرون، مصر - دير قبطي أرثوذكسي.

Abba Pampo was illiterate. When he desired to be a monk one of the monks took the responsibility of teaching him the psalms to memorize them. He began with psalm 39,

“I said, “I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue””

When St. Pampo heard that he said, “Before hearing more, I’d better be secluded for a while to exercise myself to carry out this commandment.” Six months passed while Pampo did not show up. The other monk went to him to know why he did not go to him to learn the psalms.

Pampo said, “I haven’t learnt yet to carry out what I’ve heard.”

Abba Pemen said about him that he cared for handwork. At the time of his departure, Abba Pampo said, “Since I came to the wilderness, built the cell and dwelt in it, no day passed without work. I never ate bread expect that Which I worked for. Until now, I wasn’t sorry for a word I uttered. Now, I’m leaving to God as if I’ve never done anything to satisfy Him.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: ستة أشهر لحفظ مزمورٍ.

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