From
Drinking With The Saints:
In
honor of Moses the Black Monk from Ethiopia, you should end the day with a
Chocolate Monk:
1 oz. Frangelico
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. Bailey’s
Irish Cream
From Wikipedia:
Saint Moses the Black (330–405), (also known as Abba
Moses the Robber, the Abyssinian, the Ethiopian and the
Strong) was an ascetic monk and priest in Egypt in the fourth century AD,
and a notable Desert Father.
Moses was a servant of a government official in Egypt who dismissed
him for theft and suspected murder He became the leader of a gang of bandits who
roamed the Nile Valley spreading terror and violence.
He was a large, imposing figure.
On one occasion, a barking dog prevented Moses from
carrying out a robbery, so he swore vengeance on the owner. Weapons in his
mouth, Moses swam the river toward the owner's hut. The owner, again alerted,
hid, and the frustrated Moses took some of his sheep to slaughter. Attempting
to hide from local authorities, he took shelter with some monks in a colony in
the desert of Wadi El Natrun, then called Sketes,
near Alexandria.
The dedication of their lives, as well as their peace and contentment,
influenced Moses deeply. He soon gave up his old way of life, became a Christian,
was baptized and joined the monastic community at Scetes.
Moses had a rather difficult time adjusting to regular
monastic discipline. His flair for adventure remained with him. Attacked by a
group of robbers in his desert cell, Moses fought back, overpowered the
intruders, and dragged them to the chapel where the other monks were at prayer.
He told the brothers that he didn't think it Christian to
hurt the robbers and asked what he should do with them. The overwhelmed robbers
repented, were converted, and themselves joined the community.
Moses was zealous in all he did, but became discouraged
when he concluded he was not perfect enough. Early one morning, Saint Isidore,
abbot of the monastery, took Moses to the roof and together they watched
the first rays of dawn come over the horizon. Isidore told Moses, "Only
slowly do the rays of the sun drive away the night and usher in a new day, and
thus, only slowly does one become a perfect contemplative."
Moses proved to be effective as a prophetic spiritual leader.
The abbot ordered the brothers to fast during a particular week. Some brothers
came to Moses, and he prepared a meal for them. Neighboring monks reported to
the abbot that Moses was breaking the fast. When they came to confront Moses,
they changed their minds, saying "You did not keep a human commandment,
but it was so that you might keep the divine commandment of hospitality."
Some see in this account one of the earliest allusions to the Paschal fast,
which developed at this time.
When a brother committed a fault and Moses was invited to a
meeting to discuss an appropriate penance, Moses refused to attend. When he was
again called to the meeting, Moses took a leaking jug filled with water and
carried it on his shoulder. Another version of the story has him carrying a
basket filled with sand. When he arrived at the meeting place, the others asked
why he was carrying the jug. He replied, "My sins run out behind me and I
do not see them, but today I am coming to judge the errors of another." On
hearing this, the assembled brothers forgave the erring monk.
Moses became the spiritual leader of a colony of hermits in
the Western Desert. Later, he was ordained a
priest.
At about age 75, about the year 405 AD, word came that a
group of Berbers planned to attack the monastery.
The brothers wanted to defend themselves, but Moses forbade it. He told them to
retreat, rather than take up weapons. He and seven others remained behind and
greeted the invaders with open arms, but all eight were martyred by the bandits
on 24 Paoni (July
1).
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