The Kingdom of Heaven

22 November 2022

There is only one way leading upwards for all who see, lightened with heavenly light. But many and dark and contrary are the ways of those who see not. This way leads to the Kingdom of heaven, uniting man to God: but those ways bring down to death, separating man from God. Therefore it is necessary for you and for all who care for their own salvation to make your course unswerving, firm, and sure by means of faith.

        Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

Thanksgiving

20 November 2022

For if God does not for a moment tire of giving us good things, how can we tire of thanking Him for these good things?

      Saint Nicholas Velimirovic

On Temptations

19 November 2022

Conquer temptations by the patience and prayer. If you oppose them without these, you will fall all the more severely.

      Saint Mark the Ascetic

On Love

18 November 2022

Love is a great thing so long as it continually returns to its fountainhead, flows back to its source, always drawing from there the water which constantly replenishes it. Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all he desires is to be loved in return; the sole purpose of his love is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him.

      Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Wondering

16 November 2022

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.

        Saint Augustine

On the Heart

15 November 2022

A heart that would contemplate must be bright as a mirror, shimmer like some still stretch of water crystal clear, so that in it and through it the mind may see itself, as in and through a mirror, an image in the image of God. The heart that covets the sight of God as in a mirror must keep itself free from cares, from harmful, unnecessary and even necessary ones. It must keep itself ever alert through reading, meditation and prayer. “Blessed are the pure of heart; they shall see God.” (Mt 5:8)

      Isaac of Stella (12th Century)

On Prayer

13 November 2022

Even though we may have had a powerful conversion experience, felt great fervor, and received immense graces, without fidelity to mental prayer our Christian life will soon reach a plateau and stall there.

        Jacques Philippe