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Wednesday May 21 2025, 17H36
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One of the fathers from Parme told a story of how, on one occasion when he had returned to Abba Theodore, he found him wearing a ragged shirt, and his breast was naked and bare, and his outer garment was dragged round in front of him. And, behold, a certain Count came to see him, and when his followers knocked at the door, and called the old man, he went out to meet him quite carelessly; and I took a small piece of coarse cloth and threw it over his shoulders that his breast might be covered, but the old man took it in his hand and waved it, and threw it away. And when the Count went I said to him, Father, what is this that you have done? For a nobleman came to you to be helped, and to gain profit, and behold, he has perhaps gone away offended.' And the old man said unto me, 'Get you gone, Abba. We are still subject to men. We have done the deed, and he is gone; but whether he wishes to be benefited, or whether he wishes to be offended is his affair. As for me, as far as I am able I will always meet men of this kind in this way.' And he commanded his disciple, saying, 'If any man comes and wishes to see me, say not to him anything after the manner of men, but if I am eating, tell him that I am eating, and if I am asleep, tell him that I am asleep.'
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