30 November 2019

 

25 November 2019

On Repentance

To repent is not to look downwards at my own shortcomings,
but upwards at God’s love, it is not to look backwards with
self-reproach but forward with trustfulness, it is to see not
what I have failed to be, but what by the grace of Christ I might
yet become.

                                                                               St. John Climacus

23 November 2019

On Our Journey Back to Eden

This wretched life is only a journey to the happy
life to come. We must not be angry with another
one on the way

                                                St. Francis de Sales

22 November 2019

Reality

I have deceived myself, dear Christ. I confess it;
I have fallen from the heights to the depths. O lift
me up again, for well I know delusion because I
wanted it.


                                           St. Gregory of Nazianzus

20 November 2019

Confidence in God

Have confidence in the compassion of our Creator. Reflect well on
what you are now doing, and keep before you the things you have
done. Lift up your eyes to the overflowing compassion of heaven,
and while He waits for you, draw near in tears to our merciful Judge.
Having before your mind that He is a Just Judge, do not take your
sins lightly; and having also in mind that He is compassionate, do
not despair. The God-Man gives man confidence before God.

                                                                                 St. Gregory the Great

1 November 2019

Honoring the Saints

The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of

God. As John the theologian and evangelist says: ‘But as many as received

Him, He gave them the power to be made sons of God….’ Let us carefully

observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and just men

and women who announced the coming of the Lord. Let us emulate their faith,

charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and their perseverance unto

death, so that we may also share their crowns of glory.

                                                               Saint John of Damascus (679-749)

                                                               Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book 4