7 July 2021
On Our Souls
You
know…that to join two things together there must be nothing between them or
there cannot be a perfect fusion. Now realize that this is how God wants our
soul to be, without any selfish love of ourselves or of others in between, just
as God loves us without anything in between.
Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
4 July 2021
Enlightened by Grace
The commands of the Gospel are nothing else than God’s lessons, the foundations on which to build up hope, the supports for strengthening faith, the food that nourishes the heart. They are the rudder for keeping us on the right course, the protection that keeps our salvation secure. As they instruct the receptive minds of believers on earth, they lead safely to the kingdom of heaven… Now we are enlightened by the light of grace, and are to keep to the highway of life, with the Lord to precede and direct us.
Saint Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200-258)
Enlightened by Grace
The commands of the Gospel are nothing else than God’s lessons, the foundations on which to build up hope, the supports for strengthening faith, the food that nourishes the heart. They are the rudder for keeping us on the right course, the protection that keeps our salvation secure. As they instruct the receptive minds of believers on earth, they lead safely to the kingdom of heaven… Now we are enlightened by the light of grace, and are to keep to the highway of life, with the Lord to precede and direct us.
Saint Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200-258)
3 July 2021
Scared Days
Behold, Dearly Beloved, the sacred days are drawing near, the acceptable time…. And so you must be more earnest in prayer and in almsgiving, in fasting and in prayer. He that till now has given alms, in these days let him give more, for as water quenches a flaming fire, so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Ecces. 3:33). He that till now fasted and prayed, let him fast and pray still more, for there are certain sins which are not cast out, except by prayer and fasting (Mt. 17:20). Should anyone cherish anger towards another, let him forgive from his heart. Should anyone take unjustly what belongs to another, let him restore it…. And though a Christian should abstain at all times from cursings and revilings, from oaths, from excessive laughter and from idle words, he must do this especially in these holy days which are set apart so that, during these forty days, he may by penance wipe out the sins of the whole year.
Saint Ambrose of Milan
Scared Days
Behold, Dearly Beloved, the sacred days are drawing near, the acceptable time…. And so you must be more earnest in prayer and in almsgiving, in fasting and in prayer. He that till now has given alms, in these days let him give more, for as water quenches a flaming fire, so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Ecces. 3:33). He that till now fasted and prayed, let him fast and pray still more, for there are certain sins which are not cast out, except by prayer and fasting (Mt. 17:20). Should anyone cherish anger towards another, let him forgive from his heart. Should anyone take unjustly what belongs to another, let him restore it…. And though a Christian should abstain at all times from cursings and revilings, from oaths, from excessive laughter and from idle words, he must do this especially in these holy days which are set apart so that, during these forty days, he may by penance wipe out the sins of the whole year.
Saint Ambrose of Milan
2 July 2021
On Hope
How wonderful, how pleasing, how charming is the image of those who hope in the God Who saves, in God the compassionate, the God of mercy, the good God Who loves mankind.People who hope in God are truly blessed. God is their constant helper and they fear no evil, even if others provoke them. They hope in God and do good. They have set their every hope on Him and they confess to Him with all their heart. He is their boast, their God and they call upon Him day and night. Their mouths direct praise to God; their lips are sweeter than honey and wax when they open them to sing to God; their tongue, full of grace, is moved to glorify God. Their heart is eager to call upon Him, their mind ready to be elevated towards Him, their soul is committed to God and “His right hand has upheld them”. “Their souls will boast in the Lord”. They ask and receive from God whatever their heart desires. They ask and find whatever they seek. They knock and the gates of mercy are opened.
Saint Nektarios of Aegina (1846-1920)
On Hope
How wonderful, how pleasing, how charming is the image of those who hope in the God Who saves, in God the compassionate, the God of mercy, the good God Who loves mankind.People who hope in God are truly blessed. God is their constant helper and they fear no evil, even if others provoke them. They hope in God and do good. They have set their every hope on Him and they confess to Him with all their heart. He is their boast, their God and they call upon Him day and night. Their mouths direct praise to God; their lips are sweeter than honey and wax when they open them to sing to God; their tongue, full of grace, is moved to glorify God. Their heart is eager to call upon Him, their mind ready to be elevated towards Him, their soul is committed to God and “His right hand has upheld them”. “Their souls will boast in the Lord”. They ask and receive from God whatever their heart desires. They ask and find whatever they seek. They knock and the gates of mercy are opened.
Saint Nektarios of Aegina (1846-1920)
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