Hope in God

When the devil finds someone preoccupied needlessly with bodily things, he first deprives him of the hard-won fruits of spiritual knowledge, and then cuts off his hope in God.

- Saint Kosmas Aitolos

There is no use in building the house of another…

Repentance, the powerful medicine

If an ill person asked the elder to pray for his health, the elder would recommend confession and Holy Communion. He would say the same to students seeking to do well in their studies. When couples were having problems, he would recommend that they find a spiritual father, receive Communion, and live spiritually. Regarding people who were suffering from spells, he would say, “If they’re confessing and communing, it doesn’t matter if people are burying them in spells – they’ve got nothing to fear. The spells can’t affect them.” At feasts, when the elder would take the little refreshment that was offered after the service, along with the special wishes for the feast, he would always also say, “Good repentance.” He would prescribe repentance as a general and powerful medicine for all conditions. Repentance was at the core of all his preaching.

- Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos

A wise man…

A wise man is one who accepts advice, especially that of a spiritual father counseling him in accordance with the will of God.

- St. Thalassios the Libyan

Recognize the evil within you…

Therefore, recognize the evil that hides itself within you as a deadly poison, and you will hasten to be delivered from it. And the more you recognize it, the more zealously you will seek deliverance. The evil hidden in the human heart in conceit, self-will, envy, wrath, avarice, impurity, and every abominable thing.

- Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

Against the spirit of pride

Our last contest is against the spirit of pride. Albeit it is the last disease we have to fight and the closing member of the list, yet in time and origin it is first of all. It is a beast most savage, and fiercer than all the other: its worst temptations attack the perfect and it devours with its most deadly bites those who have all but reached the crown and sum of all virtues.

- St. John the Cassian

On bodily pleasures

Bodily pleasures, when we do not possess them, arouse in us a great desire for them; but as soon as we possess and devour them, our satisfaction turns to distaste. Spiritual pleasures, on the other hand, seem distasteful when not possessed but once we possess then, we desire them.

- St. Gregory the Dialogist

As least of all…

Christ takes on the appearance of each of the poor and assimilates Himself to all of them so that no one who believes in Him will be arrogant towards his fellow being. On the contrary, he will look on his fellow being and his neighbor as his God, regarding himself as least of all in comparison just as much with his neighbor as with his Creator, honoring his neighbor as if he were his Creator, and exhausting his all in his service, just as Christ our God poured out His blood for our salvation.

- Saint Symeon the New Theologian, “Practical and Theological Texts,” #114, The Philokalia, Vol. 4

The breath of the spirit

Let me recall a wise custom of the ancient Holy Fathers: when greeting each other, they did not ask about health or anything else, but rather about prayer, saying “How is your prayer?” The activity of prayer was considered by them to a be a sign of the spiritual life, and they called it the breath of the spirit. If the body has breath, it lives; if breathing stops, life comes to an end. So it is with the spirit. If there is prayer, the soul lives; without prayer, there is no spiritual life.

- St. Theophan the Recluse

Because of widespread corruption…

Because of widespread corruption, people cannot understand that spiritual love exists…

- Elder Amphilochios Makris

God judges our intention…

God judges our intention, but in that which is within our power He, in man-befriending wise, also requires us to act. Great is he who leaves undone nothing that is within his power; but greater is he who humbly attempts what is beyond his power.

- St. John Climacus

Οn the struggle against anger

Therefore, when anger comes, close your mouth tightly, and do not speak to him who curses, dishonors, reproaches, or bothers you in any way without reason. Then this snake will writhe around in your heart, rise up to your throat, and (since you don’t give it a way out) will choke and suffocate. When this is repeated several times, it will diminish and cease entirely…

- Elder Joseph the Hesychast

Keep silent…

You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. All condemnation is from the devil. Never condemn each other. We condemn others only because we shun knowing ourselves. When we gaze at our own failings, we see such a swamp that nothing in another can equal it. That is why we turn away, and make much of the faults of others. Instead of condemning others, strive to reach inner peace. Keep silent, refrain from judgement. This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander, insult and outrage and will shield your glowing hearts against all evil.

— St Seraphim of Sarov

In accordance with God’s will

In all your undertakings and in every way of life, whether you are living in obedience, or are not submitting your work to anyone, whether in outward or in spiritual matters, let it be your rule and practice to ask yourself: Am I really doing this in accordance with God’s will?

- St. John Climacus

Carrying your cross

Everyone has a cross to carry. Why? Since the leader of our faith endured the cross, we will also endure it. On one hand, the cross is sweet and light, but, on the other, it can also be bitter and heavy. It depends on our will. If you bear Christ’s cross with love then it will be very light; like a sponge or a cork. But if you have a negative attitude, it becomes heavy; too heavy to lift.

- Taken from the book: Elder Ephraim of Katounakia