"Syncletica said, 'An open treasury is quickly spent; any virtue will be lost if it is published abroad and is known about everywhere. If you put wax in front of a fire it melts; and if you pour vain praises on the soul it goes soft and weak in seeking goodness.'"
"She also said, 'The same thing cannot at once be seed and a full grown bush. So men with a worldly reputation cannot bear heavenly fruit.'"
That's a beautiful icon of st. Syncletica, Terry. Thanks very much for posting it. I had never heard of the "Desert Mothers" before; perhaps the closest one I have read about is St. Mary of Egypt, a very fascinating one. Of course I have read a little about the "Desert Fathers" and now learning about the Desert Mothers is a very "happy occurence". Makes it more "complete", so to speak. God bless you and ALL your readers here.
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