Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 101

DIDASCALIA. 73 and murmurers, insolent and inciters of quarrels, and they have no shame, for those that are such are unworthy of Him who has called them, for not even in the communion of the assembly of rest on Sunday, when they come, are they attentive who are such, the woman or the man, they either sleep soundly, or talk about something else; so that by their means others also are taken captive by Satan the enemy, and he does not allow them to be attentive to the Lord. Therefore those that are such, when they f. 5 1 a enter the Church empty, go out of the Church yet more empty, because they hear nothing that is spoken or read that they should receive it with the ears of their hearts. Those that are such are like those about whom Isaiah spoke, " Hear ye indeed, but understand not, and see ye is. vi. 9 indeed, but perceive not ; for the heart of this people is made fat, and 10 with their ears they hear heavily ; their eyes have they closed that they may never see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears." In this same manner are closed the ears of the hearts of such widows, so that they sit not Ap. con. in. vii. beneath the shelter of their houses in order to pray and entreat the Lord, but they hasten to run so as [to gain] some advantage, arid by their talking they accomplish the lusts of the Enemy. Such a widow then is not fitted for the Altar of the Christ ; for it is written in the Gospel, " That if two JJj**- M agree and ask about all that they wish to be, it shall be given to you ; and if they say to a mountain, that it be removed and fall into the sea, yes, it xxi. 21 shall be thus." We see, therefore, that there are widows, by whom this thing is considered a merchandise, and they receive with avidity, and instead of doing good works and giving to the Bishop as for the reception of strangers, and for the relief of the oppressed, they lend for bitter usury, they care for nothing but Mammon, those whose gods are their purses, and their glory is their bellies; for where their treasure is, there is also their PMi-iii-19 s * Matt. vi. heart. For she who is assiduous to gad about in order to receive does 21 not devise good things, but only worships Mammon, and serves filthy lucre; f. 51 b and she cannot please God, nor attend to His service, by being constant in prayer and supplication, for her soul is much held captive by diligence in avarice. When she stands up to pray, she recollects where she should go to receive something, or that she has forgotten again to say some word to her friends. While she is standing in prayer her mind is not upon the prayer, but upon the idea that has come up in her soul. The prayer of such an one will not be heard, but is quickly cut short because of the agitation of her mind, because she has not offered prayer to God with her whole heart, but she goes into the thought wrought by Satan, and she speaks with her friends about something in which there is no advantage, D. K