Lucius

Some monks called Euchites came to Abba Lucius at Enaton. He asked them what manual work they did. They said, “We do not work with our hands; we pray without ceasing.” He asked, “Do you eat?” They said yes. “When you eat, who prays for you?” They had no answer. He asked, “Do you sleep?” They said yes. “When you sleep, who prays for you?” Again they could not answer. Lucius said, “Forgive me, but you do not do what you say. I will show you how, while working with my hands, I pray without ceasing. I sit with God, soaking palm leaves and plaiting them into rope, and I say, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your compassions blot out my transgression.’ Is that not prayer?” They agreed that it was. He continued, “After working and praying all day, I earn about sixteen nummi. I put two at the door and use the rest for food. Whoever takes the two prays for me while I eat and sleep. So, by God’s grace, I fulfill ‘Pray without ceasing.’”