recognised amongst them; but this alone was most earnestly striven for by them all, that each of them should be dead in body and living in spirit.
At the same time they had verily an unfailing [custom], that is to say, divine conversations. Their bodies indeed they fed with mere necessaries alone, viz. with bread and water, to the end that they might show themselves the keener in the true love of God. Zosimus beholding these works applied himself zealously to perfection among his fellow-workers, who renewed without ceasing the divine Paradise.
Then after this approached the time of the holy Lenten fast which is appointed for all Christian men to celebrate, and for cleansing themselves for the worship of the divine Passion, and His resurrection. Now the gate of the minster was never opened, but it was always locked, and they thus fulfilled their course without any distraction; neither was it ever to be opened, unless by chance any monk went out for any necessity. The place was so desert (lonely) and so secret, that it was not only that it was unfrequented, but even unknown to the people of the country themselves; in this wise the rule was kept from old times, and on account of these works it is to be believed that God led Zosimus to the minster. Now after this, I will relate how the ordinance of the minster was being kept. On the Lord's day of the first fasting-week, which we name Holy Day, the Divine Mysteries were customarily celebrated there, and then they received the communion of the living and undefiled body of our Lord Jesus Christ; and then after that, after breaking their fast together in some degree, they were all gathered in the house of prayer with bended knees and humble prayer, and greeted each other, and humbly besought their abbot's blessing, that they might be the more surely strengthened for the divine conflict. These things being thus fulfilled, the gates of the minster were opened, and they then sung together this canticle, [Ps. 27], Dominus illuminatio mea et solus mea; quem timebo. And thus they went out together; one or two they left in the minster, [but] it was not to the end that they should keep safe the acquired treasures — there was no such thing there — but that
