A brother asked Abba Cronius for a word. The elder said, “When Elisha came to the Shunammite woman, he found her having no dealings with anyone; therefore she conceived and gave birth through the presence of Elisha.” The brother asked, “What does this saying mean?” The elder replied, “If the soul is watchful, draws itself back from distraction, and abandons its own wills, then the Spirit of God comes to it, and from then on it can give birth, though it had been barren.”
A brother asked Abba Cronius, “What shall I do about forgetfulness, which takes my mind captive and does not let me perceive until it brings me into sin?” The elder said, “When the Philistines took the ark because of the evil conduct of the children of Israel, they dragged it until they brought it into the house of Dagon their god, and then Dagon fell on his face.” The brother asked, “What does this mean?” The elder said, “If the demons begin to take a person’s mind captive through his own impulses, they drag it in this way until they bring it upon the invisible passion. If in that place the mind turns, seeks God, and remembers the eternal judgment, the passion immediately falls and disappears. For it is written, ‘When you turn back and groan, then you will be saved, and you will know where you were.’”
A brother asked Abba Cronius, “How does a person attain humility?” The elder said, “Through fear of God.” The brother asked, “And how does he attain the fear of God?” He replied, “As far as I am concerned, by withdrawing from every occupation, giving himself to bodily toil, and, with all the strength he has, remembering his departure from the body and the judgment of God.”
Abba Cronius said, “If Moses had not led the sheep beneath Mount Sinai, he would not have seen the fire in the bush.” A brother asked the elder, “What does the bush represent?” He said, “The bush represents bodily practice. For it is written, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.’” The brother said, “So a person does not advance to any honor without bodily labor?” The elder replied, “Indeed, it is written, ‘Looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.’ And David also says, ‘If I give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,’ and what follows.”
Abba Cronius said, “Abba Joseph of Pelusium told us: ‘While I was living at Sinai, there was a brother there who was good and ascetic and also handsome in body. He would come to church for the synaxis wearing a small, old, heavily patched cloak. Seeing him come like this every time, I said, “Brother, do you not see the brothers, how they are like angels at the synaxis in church? Why do you always come here dressed like this?” He said, “Forgive me, Abba; I have no other clothes.” So I took him to my cell and gave him a tunic and whatever else he needed. From then on he dressed like the other brothers, and he was a sight like an angel. Once the Fathers had to send ten brothers to the emperor on some business, and they chose him among those going. When he heard, he made a prostration to the Fathers and said, “For the Lord’s sake, forgive me, for I am the slave of one of the great men of the palace. If he recognizes me, he will strip off my monastic habit and make me serve him again.” After the Fathers were persuaded and let him stay, I later learned from someone who knew him exactly that when he was in the world he had been prefect of the praetorium. He had used this excuse so that he would not be recognized and troubled by people.’ Such was the Fathers’ zeal to flee the glory and ease of this world.”