On Spiritual Exercise

14 September 2025

 

Is there anything I can do to make myself enlightened? As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning. Then of what use are the spiritual exercises you prescribe? To make sure you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise.

 

        Anthony de Mello

Our Struggle Against Sin

12 September 2025

 

Our effort and struggle against sin is powerless without the help of God. For this reason we must make an effort and pray, that the Lord help us in this so important an endeavor. The Lord helps those that take care and labor. He strengthens those that struggle and crowns the victorious.

 

        Saint Tikhon

On Prayer

10 September 2025

 

Why do you have to pray? Why do you have to breathe? Because otherwise I’d die.

 

        Gianfranco Ravasi

Separation From God

6 September 2025

 

Separation from God generates a possessive & exploitative attitude toward creation and fellow human beings, whereas life in Christ & according to Christ is a source of environmental sensitivity and philanthropic action.

 

        Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

On Grace

5 September 2025

 

It is g–d’s nature to make something out of nothing; hence one who is not yet nothing, out of him g–d cannot make anything. Man, however, makes something else out of that which exists; but this has no value whatever. Therefore g–d accepts only the forsaken, cures only the sick, gives sight only to the blind, restores life only to the dead, sanctifies only the sinners, gives wisdom only to the unwise. In short, he has mercy only on those who are wretched, and gives grace only to those who are not in grace.

 

        Martin Luther

Our Journey

4 September 2025

 

Our Lord’s words teach us that though we labor among the many distractions of this world, we should have but one goal. For we are but travelers on a journey without as yet a fixed abode; we are on our way, not yet in our native land; we are in a state of longing, not yet of enjoyment. But let us continue on our way, and continue without sloth or respite, so that we may ultimately arrive at our destination.

 

        Saint Augustine

On Repentance

3 September 2025

 

To repent means both to lament the sins we have committed, and to refrain from the sins we lament.

 

        St. Gregory the Great