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There but for the Grace of God
There was a story that some philosophers once came to test the monks. One of the monks came by dressed in a fine robe. The philosophers said to him: “Come here, you.” But he was indignant, and insulted...
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Spiritual Utopianism
[Abba Poemen] said: “If a man makes a new heaven and a new earth, he still cannot be safe from temptation.” ~ Sayings of the Desert Fathers 11.24A The Roman Catholic saint Thomas More famously coined...
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A Mania of Love
Just as human affection, when it abounds, overpowers those who love and causes them to be beside themselves, so God’s love for men emptied God. ~ St. Nicholas Cabasilas, The Life in Christ, 6.3 St....
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Love Embraces Everything
Where, then, can anyone go or where can he flee to escape from him who embraces everything? ~ 1 Clement 28.4 Today we Orthodox Christians commemorate St. Clement of Rome, who knew the Apostles, wrote a...
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The Art of Eternal Life
[Abba Isaac said:] “St. Antony … uttered this heavenly, inspired, saying on the end of prayer: ‘That prayer is not perfect in which the monk understands himself and the words which he is praying.’” ~...
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The Ladder of Humility: Step 4
The fourth degree of humility is, when anyone, in the practice of obedience, meets with hardships, contradictions, or affronts, and yet bears them all with a quiet conscience and with patience, and...
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The Ladder of Humility: Step 6
The sixth degree of humility is, if a monk be content with anything though never so vile and contemptible; and to think himself inadequate, and unworthy to succeed in whatever he is commanded to do;...
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The Ladder of Humility: Step 12
The twelfth degree of humility is, when the monk’s inward humility appears outwardly in his comportment. And wherever he be, in the divine office, in the oratory, in the monastery, in the garden, on a...
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Great Friday: Christ Crucified
Today is hung upon a tree, he who hung the land upon the waters. (x3) Crowned with a circlet of thorns crowns is he, who is the king of angels. Wrapped in the purple of mockery is he, who wrapped the...
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Great and Holy Pascha 2014
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away...
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St. Paul and the Hope of Pentecost
If [the Holy Spirit] takes possession of Fishermen, He makes them catch the whole world in the nets of Christ, taking them up in the meshes of the Word [Gk. Logos]. Look at Peter and Andrew and the...
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Countless Contemplations
I haven’t lately had the time to write new posts. But I came across a passage in St. John Cassian’s Conferences (1.15) that I thought speaks pretty well for itself: [Abba Moses said:] In many ways we...
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Born of the Same Mother
Abba John told this story. Abba Anub and Abba Poemen and the others, who were born of the same mother, were monks in Scete. And some savage Mazicae came and sacked Scete. The monks went away, and came...
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Be the Bee!
[T]he monk who desires to gather spiritual honey, ought like a most careful bee, to suck out virtue from those who specially possess it, and should diligently store it up in the vessel of his own...
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Prudence and Practice
Abba Evagrius said: “A wandering mind is strengthened by reading, and prayer. Passion is dampened down by hunger and work and solitude. Anger is repressed by psalmody, and long-suffering, and mercy....
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Hope on Easter Eve
Sometimes stories from the desert fathers are too long to reflect on here, but I still want to share them. There is a lot to like about this story. It also reflects some of the more severe austerity of...
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Bright Sadness
Abba Poemen said also: “Grief is twofold: it works good, and it keeps out evil.” ~ Sayings of the Desert Fathers, 3.12 There are many ways in which Abba Poemen could be wrong. But let’s give him the...
View ArticleChristmas 2017
He, the Mighty One, the Artificer of all, Himself prepared this body in the virgin as a temple for Himself, and took it for His very own, as the instrument through which He was known and in which He...
View ArticleSt. John of Damascus on the Death of Christ
Just a quote for today, Great and Holy Friday. I especially like the fishing metaphor, which also. perhaps, contains an allusion to the Old Testament story of the prophet Jonah and the whale. This is...
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