The story is told of Blessed Basil that, making a visitation of his monasteries, he said to one of the Heads, ‘Have you any saints here?’ The Abba said, ‘Through your prayers, my Lord, we all desire to be saints.’ And again Blessed Basil said to him, ‘No! I mean have you got any saints… Continue reading The Fruits of Humility—St.Basil
Tag: Wisdom
Little One in Malice
As the Apostle says, ‘Do not be little ones in understanding, be little ones in malice.’What is being a little one in malice? A baby has no malice. If he is not treated with honor he is not angry; if he is honored, he is not subject to vainglory. If what he has is taken… Continue reading Little One in Malice
True Fasting
Do no fast with bread and salt whilst you eat the flesh of your brethren through judgment and slander. Abba Yousaab El Abah
Let Our Enemies Grow Weak
Abba John the Dwarf said, 'If a king wanted to take possession of his enemy's city, he would begin by cutting off the water and the food and so his enemies, dying of hunger, would submit to him. It is the same with the passions of the flesh: if a man goes about fasting and… Continue reading Let Our Enemies Grow Weak
If Unwilling, Increase The Amount 2 Fold
A monk asked Abba John, "If I would like to give alms, but my thought has doubts about giving, what should I do?” Abba John replied, "Examine yourself, and if you find that you are doing this out of stinginess, then give something even beyond what you should have given, for example an additional small… Continue reading If Unwilling, Increase The Amount 2 Fold
Depths of Prayer
Pray saying "Lord, be my only portion, and I do not want any other portion beside you. Take everything I have, and give me yourself, give me the privilege of your knowledge. I do not want to request many things, I need only You. I want everything to be worthless, and you become the only… Continue reading Depths of Prayer
Remember
“O sinner, be not discouraged.” Saint Basil The Great
Rewards of Faithfulness
How blessed and wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God! Life in immortality, splendour in righteousness, truth in perfect confidence, faith in assurance, self-control in holiness! And all these fall under the cognizance of our understandings [now]; what then shall those things be which are prepared for such as wait for Him? St. Clement of… Continue reading Rewards of Faithfulness
Confidence of Truth
If the world is against truth, then I am against the world. St Athanasius the Apostolic
The Heavenly Journey
To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest achievement. St Augustine of Hippo
Fathers in Iconography 