30 April 2020
Lauda, anima mea, Dominum
Lauda, anima mea, Dominum
Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my life I will praise the Lord, I will
sing praise to God as long as I shall live, alleluia. (Psalm
146:1-2).
29 April 2020
On Our Vain Glory
On Our Vain Glory
Do not seek
earthly glory in any matter, for it is extinguished for him who loves it. In
its time it blows on a man like a strong wind, and then quickly, taking from
him the fruits of his good works, it goes away from him, laughing at his
foolishness.
St. Gennadius of
Constantinople
28 April 2020
Falsehood is From the Evil One
In the Scriptures it is written that falsehood is from the evil one, and that He is the "Father of Lies" (John 8:44), while God is truth, for He Himself says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6). Thus you see from whom we estranged ourselves and to whom we are united by a lie. So then, if we really want to be saved, we must love truth with our whole hearts and guard ourselves from all falsehood. There are three different types of lies: in thought, in word, and in life itself. A man lies in thought when he accepts as true his own imaginations, that is his vain despite of his neighbor. Such a one, when he sees that someone is conversing with his neighbor, makes his own estimation and says, "They are talking about me." If someone says a word, he considers that it was said to grieve him. Never believe your own guesses and interpretations, for a crooked measurement makes even the straight to be crooked. Human opinion is false and harms those who are given to it. The one who sins in word is one who, for example, when out of despondency he has not gotten up for the service, does not say, "Forgive me, I was too lazy to get up," but says, "I had a fever, I had too much work, I hadn't the strength to get up, I was sick," and says ten false statements, rather than make a single prostration and be humbled. One who lies by his life is one who, if he is defiled, pretends to be chaste, or if he is avaricious, praises almsgiving, or if he is proud praises humility. Thus, in order to escape falsehood and be delivered from the part of the evil one, let us strive to appropriate truth, in order to have union with God.
Venerable Abba Dorotheus of Palestine
Falsehood is From the Evil One
In the Scriptures it is written that falsehood is from the evil one, and that He is the "Father of Lies" (John 8:44), while God is truth, for He Himself says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6). Thus you see from whom we estranged ourselves and to whom we are united by a lie. So then, if we really want to be saved, we must love truth with our whole hearts and guard ourselves from all falsehood. There are three different types of lies: in thought, in word, and in life itself. A man lies in thought when he accepts as true his own imaginations, that is his vain despite of his neighbor. Such a one, when he sees that someone is conversing with his neighbor, makes his own estimation and says, "They are talking about me." If someone says a word, he considers that it was said to grieve him. Never believe your own guesses and interpretations, for a crooked measurement makes even the straight to be crooked. Human opinion is false and harms those who are given to it. The one who sins in word is one who, for example, when out of despondency he has not gotten up for the service, does not say, "Forgive me, I was too lazy to get up," but says, "I had a fever, I had too much work, I hadn't the strength to get up, I was sick," and says ten false statements, rather than make a single prostration and be humbled. One who lies by his life is one who, if he is defiled, pretends to be chaste, or if he is avaricious, praises almsgiving, or if he is proud praises humility. Thus, in order to escape falsehood and be delivered from the part of the evil one, let us strive to appropriate truth, in order to have union with God.
Venerable Abba Dorotheus of Palestine
27 April 2020
On Relationship with Others
A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breathe
with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this
way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech
also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is
about say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never
goes out of the bounds good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech
of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact,
born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives
birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars.
On Relationship with Others
A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breathe
with the grace of the Holy Spirit, which abides in his soul, so that in this
way he might glorify the name of God. He who regulates all of his speech
also regulates all of his actions. He who keeps watch over the words he is
about say also keeps watch over the deeds he intends to do, and he never
goes out of the bounds good and benevolent conduct. The graceful speech
of a Christian is characterized by delicateness and politeness. This fact,
born of love, produces peace and joy. On the other hand, boorishness gives
birth to hatred, enmity, affliction, competitiveness, disorder and wars.
26 April 2020
On Humility
Nothing is more opposed to God than pride, for self-deification is
concealed in it, its own nothingness or sin. Thus more than anything
humility is acceptable to God, which considers itself nothing, and
attributes all goodness, honor, and glory to God alone. Pride does not
accept grace, because it is full of itself, while humility easily accepts
grace, because it is free from itself, and from all that is created. God
creates out of nothing. As long as we think that we can offer something
of ourselves, He does not begin His work in us. Humility is the salt of
virtue. As salt gives flavor to food, so humility gives perfection to
virtue. Without salt, food goes bad easily, and without humility, virtue
is easily spoiled by pride, vainglory, impatience - and it perishes. There
is a humility which a man gains by his own struggles: knowing his own
insufficiency, accusing himself for his failings, not allowing himself to
judge others. And there is a humility into which God leads a man through
the things that happen to him: allowing him to experience afflictions,
humiliations, and deprivations.
St. Philaret of Moscow
On Humility
Nothing is more opposed to God than pride, for self-deification is
concealed in it, its own nothingness or sin. Thus more than anything
humility is acceptable to God, which considers itself nothing, and
attributes all goodness, honor, and glory to God alone. Pride does not
accept grace, because it is full of itself, while humility easily accepts
grace, because it is free from itself, and from all that is created. God
creates out of nothing. As long as we think that we can offer something
of ourselves, He does not begin His work in us. Humility is the salt of
virtue. As salt gives flavor to food, so humility gives perfection to
virtue. Without salt, food goes bad easily, and without humility, virtue
is easily spoiled by pride, vainglory, impatience - and it perishes. There
is a humility which a man gains by his own struggles: knowing his own
insufficiency, accusing himself for his failings, not allowing himself to
judge others. And there is a humility into which God leads a man through
the things that happen to him: allowing him to experience afflictions,
humiliations, and deprivations.
25 April 2020
Litany
O Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Litany
O Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Do not reward us according to
our iniquities.
Almighty God,
heavenly Father, You desire not the death of a sinner,
but
rather that we turn from our evil ways and live. Graciously spare us those
punishments which we by our sins have deserved and grant us always to
serve You in holiness and pureness of living; through Jesus Christ, Your
Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
rather that we turn from our evil ways and live. Graciously spare us those
punishments which we by our sins have deserved and grant us always to
serve You in holiness and pureness of living; through Jesus Christ, Your
Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
Call on Me in the day of trouble
I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.
transgressions we have merited Your chastisement, be gracious to us. Grant
that all these punishments which we have deserved may not come upon us,
but that all things may work to our everlasting good; through Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever. Amen.
24 April 2020
On the Snares of the Devil
Our inhuman enemy [the devil, in drawing a Christian to defilement] inspires
the thought that God loves mankind, and that He quickly forgives this sin. But
when we observe the guile of demons, then we see that after the commission of
the sin, they suggest to us that God is a righteous and implacable Judge. The
first they say in order to lead us to sin, the second, in order to weigh us down
in despair.
St. John Climacus
On the Snares of the Devil
Our inhuman enemy [the devil, in drawing a Christian to defilement] inspires
the thought that God loves mankind, and that He quickly forgives this sin. But
when we observe the guile of demons, then we see that after the commission of
the sin, they suggest to us that God is a righteous and implacable Judge. The
first they say in order to lead us to sin, the second, in order to weigh us down
in despair.
21 April 2020
On Judging Others
If you have the sinful habit of judging your neighbor, then whenever you
judge someone make three prostrations that day with this prayer: "Save,
O Lord, and have mercy on him (whom I have judged) and by his prayers,
have mercy on me, a sinner." Do this every time you judge someone. If you
do this, God will see your sincerity and will deliver you from this sinful
habit forever. And if you never judge anyone, then God will never judge
you. In this way you will even receive salvation.
Priest-confessor Sergei Pravdolubov
On Judging Others
If you have the sinful habit of judging your neighbor, then whenever you
judge someone make three prostrations that day with this prayer: "Save,
O Lord, and have mercy on him (whom I have judged) and by his prayers,
have mercy on me, a sinner." Do this every time you judge someone. If you
do this, God will see your sincerity and will deliver you from this sinful
habit forever. And if you never judge anyone, then God will never judge
you. In this way you will even receive salvation.
20 April 2020
Thought on Good and Evil
All that you lose in the name of God, you keep. All that you keep for your
ownsake, you loose. All that you give in the name of God, you will receive
with interest. All that you give for the sake of your own glory and pride,
you throw into the water. All that you receive from people as from God
will bring you joy. All that you receive from people as from people will
bring you worries.
St. Nicholas of Serbia
Thought on Good and Evil
All that you lose in the name of God, you keep. All that you keep for your
ownsake, you loose. All that you give in the name of God, you will receive
with interest. All that you give for the sake of your own glory and pride,
you throw into the water. All that you receive from people as from God
will bring you joy. All that you receive from people as from people will
bring you worries.
St. Nicholas of Serbia
19 April 2020
On Spiritual Warfare
We have within us deeply rooted weaknesses, passions, and defects.
This can not all be cut out with one sharp motion, but patience,
persistence, care and attention. The path leading to perfection is
long. Pray to God so that he will strengthen you. Patiently accept your
falls and, having stood up, immediately run to God, not remaining in
that place where you have fallen. Do not despair if you keep falling into
your old sins. Many of them are strong because they have received the
force of habit. Only with the passage of time and with fervor will they
be conquered. Don't let anything deprive you of hope.
On Spiritual Warfare
We have within us deeply rooted weaknesses, passions, and defects.
This can not all be cut out with one sharp motion, but patience,
persistence, care and attention. The path leading to perfection is
long. Pray to God so that he will strengthen you. Patiently accept your
falls and, having stood up, immediately run to God, not remaining in
that place where you have fallen. Do not despair if you keep falling into
your old sins. Many of them are strong because they have received the
force of habit. Only with the passage of time and with fervor will they
be conquered. Don't let anything deprive you of hope.
St. Nectarios of Aegina
18 April 2020
St. Nektarios of Aegina
On Happiness
How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves,
How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves,
in foreign lands and journeys, in riches and glory, in great
possessions and
pleasures, in diversions and vain things, which have a bitter end! In the same
thing to construct the tower of happiness outside of
ourselves as it is to build
a house in a place that is consistently shaken by
earthquakes. Happiness is
found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has
understood this.
Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus
Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus
says Christ of those who have pure hearts: "I will
visit them, and will walk in
them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my
people." (II Cor. 6:16)
What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the
greatest good in their hearts: God Himself!
St. Nektarios of Aegina
16 April 2020
Victimae paschal laudes
Christians,
to the Paschal victim offer your thankful praises! Victimae paschal laudes
A lamb the sheep redeems; Christ, who only is sinless, reconciles
sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
the Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring what you saw, wayfaring:
"The tomb of Christ, who is living, the glory of Jesus' resurrection;
Bright angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting. Yes, Christ
my hope is arisen; to Galilee he will go before you."
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining; have mercy,
victor King, ever reigning! Amen. Alleluia.
13 April 2020
The Lord’s Prayer: To the Catechumens
Himself granted you the theme of praying, the subject matter to ask for, and the norm
of making petition. He made this grant that from it you might get the feel of praying,
obtain an understanding of how to request, gather a measure of your petitioning, and
take most ample training from this brief instruction on prayer; also, because as a token
of love the King Himself has performed the function of an advocate, in order to dictate
the prayers which He intends to answer. Every hesitation in asking has been taken away;
yes, more, full confidence of meriting an answer has been given, since He who is being
asked finds His very self in the prayers.
St. Peter Chrysologus
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