A brother asked Abba Ammonas, ‘Say a word to me.’ The elder said, ‘Go, make your thought like that of criminals in prison. They are always asking people, “Where is the governor, and when is he coming?” and they weep because they are waiting for him. In the same way, a monk must always pay attention and rebuke his own soul, saying, “Woe is me! How am I to stand before the judgment seat of Christ? And how am I to make my defense before Him?” If you meditate on this continually, you can be saved.’
It was said of Abba Ammonas that he even killed a basilisk. He went into the desert to draw water from a cistern, and when he saw the basilisk, he threw himself face down and said, ‘Lord, either I must die, or this one must.’ Immediately the basilisk burst apart by the power of Christ.
Abba Ammonas said, ‘I spent fourteen years in Scetis praying to God night and day that He would grant me victory over anger.’
One of the Fathers related that there was a hardworking elder in the Cells who wore a mat as clothing. He went and visited Abba Ammonas. When Ammonas saw him wearing the mat, he said to him, ‘This does you no good.’ The elder asked him, ‘Three thoughts trouble me: either to wander in the deserts, or to go to a foreign place where no one knows me, or to shut myself in a cell and meet no one, eating every two days.’ Abba Ammonas said to him, ‘None of the three is profitable for you to do. Rather, sit in your cell, eat a little every day, and always keep the publican’s saying in your heart; and you can be saved.’
Affliction befell some brothers in their place, and wanting to leave it, they went to Abba Ammonas. Now the elder was sailing down the river. When he saw them walking along the bank, he said to the sailors, ‘Put me ashore.’ Then he called the brothers and said to them, ‘I am Ammonas, the one you want to visit.’ After comforting their hearts, he made them return to where they had set out from. For the matter involved no harm to the soul, but only human affliction.
Once Abba Ammonas came to cross the river and found the ferry being readied, so he sat down beside it. Another boat came to the place and carried the people across. They said to him, ‘Come, Abba, cross with us too.’ But he said, ‘I will not board anything except the public ferry.’ He had a bundle of palm branches and sat plaiting a rope and then undoing it again until the ferry was ready. Then he crossed. The brothers made a prostration before him and said, ‘Why did you do this?’ The elder said to them, ‘So that I would not always go about with my thought rushing ahead. And this too is an example, so that we may walk the way of God with composure.’
Once Abba Ammonas went to visit Abba Anthony and lost the road. He sat down and slept for a little while. When he woke, he prayed to God, saying, ‘I beg You, Lord my God, do not let Your creature perish.’ Then something like a human hand appeared to him, hanging from heaven and showing him the road, until he came and stood at the cave of Abba Anthony.
Abba Anthony prophesied to this Abba Ammonas, saying, ‘You are going to advance in the fear of God.’ He led him outside the cell, showed him a stone, and said to him, ‘Insult this stone and strike it.’ He did so. Abba Anthony said to him, ‘Did the stone say anything?’ He said, ‘No.’ Abba Anthony said to him, ‘So too you are going to attain this measure.’ And so it happened. Abba Ammonas advanced so far that, through his great goodness, he no longer knew evil. When he became a bishop, they brought him a young woman who was pregnant and said to him, ‘So-and-so did this. Give them a penance.’ But he made the sign of the cross over her belly and ordered that six pairs of linen cloths be given to her, saying, ‘In case, when she goes to give birth, either she or the child dies and there is nothing with which to bury them.’ Those who had brought charges against her said to him, ‘Why did you do this? Give them a penance.’ He said to them, ‘Look, brothers, she is near death. What am I to do?’ Then he sent her away, and the elder did not dare to condemn anyone.
It was said of him that some people came to have a dispute judged by him. The elder acted like a fool. A woman standing nearby said, ‘This elder is a fool.’ When the elder heard her, he called her and said, ‘How many labors I endured in the deserts to acquire this foolishness, and because of you I am going to lose it today!’
Once Abba Ammonas came to a place to eat, and there was a brother there with a bad reputation. It happened that a woman came and entered the cell of the brother who had the bad reputation. When the people living in that place learned of it, they were disturbed and gathered to drive him out of his cell. When they learned that Bishop Ammonas was there, they came and asked him to go with them. When the brother learned this, he took the woman and hid her in a large jar. When the crowd arrived, Abba Ammonas saw what had happened and, for God’s sake, covered the matter. He entered and sat on top of the jar, then ordered them to search the cell. After they searched and did not find the woman, Abba Ammonas said, ‘What is this? God will forgive you.’ Then he prayed and made everyone leave. Taking the brother by the hand, he said, ‘Watch yourself, brother.’ Having said this, he departed.
Abba Ammonas was asked what the narrow and constricted way is. He answered, ‘The narrow and constricted way is this: to constrain one’s own thoughts and to cut off one’s own will for God’s sake. And this is also what is meant by, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”’