Category Archives: Holy fathers wisdom

Not just until the end of the age

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He is not just everywhere, but also above all, not just in every age and time, but before them all. And, according to the promise, the Holy Spirit will not just be with us until the end of the age, but rather will stay with those who are worthy in the age to come, making them immortal and filling their bodies as well with eternal glory, as the Lord indicated by telling His disciples, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16)…

Who are these heavenly people? Continue reading →

Daily Prayer

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O Lord! I do not know what to ask of You. You alone know what I need. You love me more than I know how to love myself. O Father! Grant Your servant what I myself do not know how to ask. I do not dare to ask of You a cross, nor consolation; I only stand before You with my heart open; You see the needs that I myself do not know. Look, and work in me according to Your mercy. Smite and heal me, cast me down and raise me up! I am reverent and silent before Your Holy Will and ways that are unfathomable to me. I offer myself as a sacrifice to You. Teach me to pray. You Yourself pray in me. Amen.

 St. Philaret of Moscow

What a simple means of salvation

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For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matt. 6:14–15). What a simple and handy means of salvation! Your trespasses are forgiven under the condition that you forgive the trespasses of your neighbour against you. This means that you are in your own hands. Force yourself to pass from agitated feelings toward your brother to truly peaceful feelings—and that is all. Forgiveness day—what a great heavenly day of God this is! If all of us used it as we ought, this day would make Christian societies into heavenly societies, and the earth would merge with heaven.

Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
by St. Theophan the Recluse

Life After Death

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by St. John Maximovitch, “A description of the first 40 days after death”

Limitless and without consolation would have been our sorrow for close ones who are dying, if the Lord had not given us eternal life. Our life would be pointless if it ended with death. What benefit would there then be from virtue and good deed? Then they would be correct who say: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

But man was created for immortality, and by His resurrection Christ opened the gates of the Heavenly Kingdom, of eternal blessedness for those who have believed in Him and have lived righteously. Continue reading →

The true purpose of our Christian life

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icon_serafim“The true purpose of our Christian life consists of the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. Fasting, vigils, prayer and alms-giving, and every good deed done for the sake of Christ are only means to the attainment of the Holy Spirit of God. Note, that only good deeds done for the sake of Christ bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Everything else that is not done for the sake of Christ, even if it is good, does not bring us a reward in the life to come, not does it bring the grace of God in this life. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ said, “He who does not gather with Me scatters” (Luke 11:23).

— St. Seraphim of Sarov, On the Goal of Christian Life

God bestows mercy upon His humble servants

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St. Gabriel
“Remember, God is love. Do as much kindness as you can to save yourself by this kindness. Be modest, as God bestows mercy upon His humble servants. Repent your sins and don’t wait for “tomorrow”, as it is the trap of the devil. Love each other, as loveless man cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.”

St. Gabriel Confessor and Fool for Christ

 

 

So it is with the Most Holy Trinity

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St. Spiridon

 

At the First Council in Nicaea, Holy Hierarch Saint Spyridon gave the Arians a graphic proof of the Unity within the Holy Trinity.

He took a brick into his hands, and squeezed it. Immediately, flame shot up from it, water poured down from it, and clay remained in the hands of the miracle worker. Then Saint Spyridon said, “Here are three elements, but one brick. So it is with the Most Holy Trinity: Three Faces, but One Divinity.”

 

 

 

Start of Great Lent

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At the start of Great Lent St. Theophan the Recluse is advising us the following:

“Lent has come, O mother of chastity.” What was the time before this day? A time of fornication.[1] The soul fornicated with all that struck its eye as pleasant—both with people and with things: more fully, with sinful passions. Everyone has his passion which he pleases in all he does. It is time to put an end to this. May each of you comprehend your Delilah, who binds you and hands you over to evil enemies, and abandon her. Then you will be given more than Samson: not only shall your hair grow, but so also shall good thoughts; and not only shall your strength return, but so also your strength of will. Your eyes shall also open, your mind shall have sight and it shall see the Lord, yourself, and everything around you in the proper light. This is the favourable time! This is the day of salvation!

(Source: St. Teophan the Recluse: “Thoughts for each day of the Year”)