31 January 2020

Judgement 

To judge sins is the business of one who is sinless, but who is sinless
except God? Who ever thinks about the multitude of his own sins in
his heart never wants to make the sins of others a topic of conversation.
To judge a man who has gone astray is a sign of pride, and God resists
the proud. On the other hand, one who every hour prepares himself to
give answer for his own sins will not quickly lift up his head to examine
the mistakes of others.

                                                                  St. Gennadius of Constantinople

30 January 2020

Pray for yourself …

Pray for yourself and seek only the mercy and will of God,
whether you are in church or outside of church, walking,
sitting, or lying down, pray, “Lord have mercy, however
you think best, however you will.”

                                                             — St. Ambrose of Optina

19 January 2020

No matter what bitterness has befallen …

No matter what bitterness has befallen you, no matter what
unpleasantness has happened to you, say, “I shall endure this
for Jesus Christ!” and it will be easier for you. For the name of
Jesus Christ is powerful. Through it all unpleasantness is calmed,
 and demons disappear. Your disappointments will also be calmed
and you pusillanimity will be quieted.

                                                                    — St. Anthony of Optina

10 January 2020

The Holy Gospel according to St Matthew,

the third chapter

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and
do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it
is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when
Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold,
the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said,
 “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

                                                                                     The Baptism of Our Lord

2 January 2020

On Gentleness Toward Ourselves

So then, when you have fallen, lift up your heart in quietness, humbling
yourself deeply before God by reason of your frailty, without marveling
that you fell;—there is no cause to marvel because weakness is weak, or
infirmity infirm. Heartily lament that you should have offended God, and
begin anew to cultivate the lacking grace, with a very deep trust in His
Mercy, and with a bold, brave heart.

                                    St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life

1 January 2020

In Christus Est Stella:

Christus est stella matutina, Alleluia

Qui nocte saeculi transacta, Alleluia

Lucem vitae sanctis promittit, Alleluia;

Et pandit aeternam, Alleluia

Christ is the morning star who when the night of this world
is past brings to his saints the promise of the light of life and
opens everlasting day.

                                                                   The venerable Bede