Now it happened one year that the Nile
did not rise enough to water all our fields, and a multitude of the poor came
to Abba Aaron weeping and saying, "Our holy father, we and our children
are going to die because the waters have not risen!" He said to them,"Believe
in God and He will deliver you. As it is
written, 'The prayer of the poor man who is downhearted, he pours out entreaty
before the Lord.' Again it says, 'The Lord has heard the desires of the poor.'" He quoted them numerous other passages from
scripture and explained them to them, and he comforted them, and in this way
they departed from him praising God. Now
the holy man Aaron was not unconcerned about their distress, and he would go to
the river each evening and immerse himself in the water up to his neck and he
would pray to God, saying, "My good Christ, compassionate one, have
compassion upon your image and likeness." Indeed, he continued this
practice until God had compassion for his tears and made the waters of the Nile
flow over the face of the whole country.
Paphnutius, Life of Abba Aaron, 131.
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