well u know lots of places u no here and there and i just take em all.... lol ;) i got more i think o yeee i got gr8 1ns :
God the Father, the Creator; God the Son, the Redeemer; and God the Holy Spirit, the Sustainer, is the source of all blessings in our daily lives. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalms 103:2).
According to St. Ambrose, “In Christ we have everything. If you want to heal your wounds, He is the doctor; if you are burning with fever, He is the fountain; if you are in need of help, He is the strength; if you are in dread of death, He is life; if you are hungry, He is food.”
Upon receiving Holy Communion a person receives indescribable blessings in their life. They are united to the Lord. St. Paul talks of the cup of blessings (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
In confession and repentance a person receives profound blessings: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2).
In baptism we obtain the blessings of a new life in Christ: “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In confirmation we receive the blessings of the Holy Myron, anointed 36 times with Holy Oil and thus becoming temples of the Holy Spirit.
The House of God is a spring of blessings. In the morning doxology we say: “Hail to the Church, House of Angels.” In the prayers of consecrating of the Altar we say: “May this Church be a harbour of salvation, a Holy Altar, Amen. A harbour of troubled souls, a guiding place for every thought and deed, Amen. A refuge from sin, voluntary and involuntary, Amen. A deliverance from the intentions of ignorance, Amen. An interest in the heavenly welfare, Amen.
Filled with love towards God’s House and recognising the many blessings which flow from it, David says: “How lovely is your tabernacle, O Lord of Hosts!” (Psalm 84:1). “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:10-11).
The Church which Christ purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28) is a tremendous blessing to the world and it is the light that shines in a dark world.
The sign of the Cross is a source of tremendous blessing. The great St. Anthony, Father of all Monks, advises us bravely, “draw the sign of the Cross, let the devils mock at themselves, but you fortify yourself with the Cross.”
“It is more blessed to give then to receive.” (Acts 20:35). Indeed, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Blessed are the faithful people who diligently offer their tithes to the Lord and His Church, Convents and Monasteries.
Only the poor in spirit, those who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful and pure in heart are truly in fellowship with God and will inherit the Kingdom.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda says: “Christ entrusted His virgin disciple with His Virgin Mother. He confided His Mother, who nursed and cherished Him dearly, to His beloved disciple who in many instances enfolded Him with a loving embrace. He entrusted His Mother who stood beside His Cross, to the only disciple who followed Him to the Cross. He confided His Mother who carried in her womb the smouldering ember of His Divinity to His disciple who wrote a book to establish this Divinity.”
In all our afflictions and problems we cry to the Lord with David saying: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”
Blessed are the many people who endure various temptations for they shall obtain many heavenly crowns. St. James salutes them saying, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him”. (James 1:12).
“Blessed are you if people revile you, persecute you and tell all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for a great reward is kept for you in heaven.” (Matthew 5:11-12). St. James, cousin of Christ says, “Indeed, we count them blessed who endure.” (James 5:11).
“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21).
“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:11).
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). The more you give the more spiritual and material blessings descend upon you. “Blessed be the Lord,” says the Psalmist, “who daily leads us with benefits. The God of our salvation.” (Psalm 68:19).
“Fill their houses and their stores with all goodness, surround them, O Lord, with the power of Your Holy Angels and Archangels. As they have remembered Your Holy Name on earth, remember them also O Lord in Your Kingdom and in this time also do not leave them behind.”
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7).
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21).
Abba Antony The Great:
From The Life Of St. Antony The Great edited by Fr. Matthias Farid Wahba:
"When the holy Abba Antony lived in the desert he was attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, "Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?" A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Antony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down and plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray. It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him. He heard the angel saying to him, "Do this and you will be saved." At these words, Antony was filled with joy and courage. He did this, and he was saved."
Antony the GREAT....
When Abba Anthony thought about the depth of the judgments of God, he asked, "Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper and why are the just in need?" He heard a voice answering him, "Anthony, keep your attention on yourself; these things are according to the judgment of God, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about
"who ever escapes from trouble escapes from the lord"
Jacob of Serug
+ Second Heaven, in whose womb the Lord of heaven dwelt and shone forth from her to expel the darkness from the land.
+ Blessed of the women, by whom the curse of the land was eradicated, and the sentence henceforth has come to an end.
+ Daughter who wove a garment of glory and gave it to her father. He covered himself because he was stripped naked among the trees.
+ Bride who conceived although the bridegroom had never been seen by her, she gave birth to a baby without her coming to the place of His Father.
Justin Martyr ( c.160 )
+ Let it be understood that thoes who are not found living as He taught are not Christian- even though they profess with the lips the teaching of Christ.
Sulpitius Severus
"We must run from sin to righteousness. In the same way, those who practise righteousness must beware lest they open themselves to sin. For it is written that "righteousness shall not profit the righteous on the day on which he has gone astray." We must stand up for this then. We who have escaped from sin must work hard not to lose the rewards. The enemy is ready to strike those who are stripped of the shield of faith. Therefore, we must not throw aside our shield; otheriwse our side will be exposed to the attack. We must not put away our sword; otheriwse the enemy will begin to lose all his fear. We know that if the enemy sees us fully armed, that he will retreat. We aren't unaware that it is hard and difficult to fight daily against the flesh and the world. But if we think about eternity and consider the kingdom of heaven which the Lord will give even us sinners, I ask us, how can we suffer enough to deserve such things? Besides, our struggle in this world is short. For although death doesn't catch up to us quickly, old age inevitably comes"
St. cyprian
+ " No human being can take God as his Father unless he takes the Church as his mother. "
St. Theophan the Recluse
+ "The goal of human freedom is not in freedom itself, nor it is in man, but in God. By giving man freedom, God has yielded to mam a piece of His Divine authority, but with the intention that man himself would voluntarily bring it as a sacrifice to God, a most perfect offering
When faced with people saying to him "The world is against you, Athanasius!" St. Athanasius replied, " Then I am against the world."
Abba Isaiah said: When someone wishes to render evil for evil, he is able to hurt his brother's conscience even by a single nod.
Abba Sisoes said: Seek God, and not where God lives.
One of the fathers said: Just as it is impossible to see your face in troubled water, so also the soul, unless it is clear of alien thoughts, is not able to pray to God in contemplation.
Abba John the Little said: We have abandoned a light burden, namely self-criticism, and taken up a heavy burden, namely self-justification.
Abba Anthony said: The time is coming when people will be insane, and when they see someone who is not insane, they will attack that person saying: You are insane because you are not like us.
St. Anthony the Great
Always have the fear of God before your eyes. Remember Him who gives death and lives. Hate the world and all that is in it. Hate the peace that comes from the flesh. Renounce this life, so that you may be alive to God.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Hail to Mary, mother of God, Majestic treasure of the whole world, the lamp unquinchable, the crown of virginity.
St Mark the monk
“Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled underfoot by all and despised, accepting injustice, contempt and mockery; unless he undergoes all these things with joy for the sake of the Lord, not claiming any kind of human reward whatsoever – glory or honor or earthly pleasures – he cannot become a true Christian
St. Cyril of Alexandria
It is our duty, therefore, to be faithful to God, pure in heart, merciful and kind, just and holy; for these things imprint in us the outlines of the Divine likeness, and perfect us as heirs of eternal life.
If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you do not like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.
-- St. Augustine
St Agathon
Once, monks who had heard of his discernment came to St. Agathon to see if they could make him lose his temper. They asked him, "Are you Abba Agathon, a fornicator and a proud man?" "Yes, that is true," the monk replied. "Are you the Agathon who is always talking nonsense?" the monks inquired. "I am," the saint agreed. "Are you Agathon the heretic?" the monks persisted. St. Agathon said, "I am not a heretic." They asked the saint why he agreed with them when they accused him of vices, but then denied this last charge. Agathon replied, "I accepted the first accusations, since that was beneficial for my soul. But heresy is separation from God, and I do not wish to be separated from God."
A brother asked an old man: What is humility? And the old man said: To do good to those who hurt you. The brother said: If you can not go that far, what should you do? The old man replied: Get away from them and keep your mouth shut.
Abba James
Abba james said: We do not want words alone, for there are too many words among people today. What we need is action, for that is what we are looking for, not words which do not bear fruit.
Abba Antony besought God to inform him why young children died whilst so many old men lived, and why upright men were poor whilst the wicked were rich, and why some were blind and others had their sight, and why the righteous suffered from illness whilst the wicked were healthy, and a voice came, which said, 'Antony, take care of thine own self, for these matters are the judgements of God
A brother asked Abba Matoes: What shall I do? My tongue causes me trouble and whenever I am among people, I cannot control it and I contradict them. What, therefore, shall I do? The old man answered him: If you cannot control yourself, go away from people and live alone. For this is a weakness. Those who live together with others ought not to be sqaure, but round, in order to turn toward all. Further, the old man said: I live alone not because of my virtue, but rather because of my weakness. You see, those who live among people are the strong ones.
"Place your head on His chest, like John, and listen to His heart that beats with love for the whole world."
St. John Saba
St. Annthony the Great
+ "Good behavior for acquiring virtues is better than performing miracles. The human being can be easily overcome Satan if he worships God with all his heart, with inner spiritual joy, and constantly have God in his mind because this light tears the darkness and quickly removes the temptations of the enemy. What would help us in this is to look at the lives of the Saints and follow their path for it leads us to emulating them."
From the Wisdom of the Desert Father
+ It was said of an old man that when his thoughts said to him, " Relax today and repent tomorrow, " He reported " No I am going to repent today, and may the will of God be done tomorrow, "
Forgivness A brother who was insulted by another brother came to Abba Sisoes, and said to him: I was hurt by my brother, and I want to avenge myself. The old man tried to console him and said: Don't do that, my child. Rather leave vengeance to God. but he said: I will not quit until I avenge myself. Then the old man said: let us pray, brother; and standing up, he said: O God, we no longer need you to take care of us since we now avenge ourselves. hearing these words, the brother fell at the feet of the old man and said: I am not going to fight with my brother any more. Forgive me, Abba.
St. Symeon the New Theologian
+ "If we live with Him and associate with Him, we shall ascend with Him and be assumed with Him into Heaven. And that not merely when we depart this life, but even now. Rather, He will take us up and glorify us with Him, and bestow on us the enjoyment of eternal benefits. "
We should love the Lord as we do our friends. Many times I have seen people bring grief to God, without being bothered about it, and I have seen these very same people resort to every device, plan, pressure, plea from themselves and their friends, and every gift, simply to restore an old relationship upset by some minor grievance.
St. John Climacus
This is the fulfilling of the Law: now the fulfilling of the Law is charity. And therefore before the Pasch we fast forty days. For this time before the Pasch is the sign of this our toilsome life, wherein, in toils, and cares, and continence, we fulfil the Law. But afterwards we celebrate the Pasch, that is, the days of the Lord's resurrection signifying our own resurrection.
-- Blessed Augustine, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament, Sermon LXXIV
"The demons always lead us into sin by means of deceitful fantasies. Through the fantasy of gaining wealth they led the wretched Judas to betray the Lord and God of all; through the deceit of worthless bodily comfort and of esteem, gain and glory they put the noose around his neck and brought him to age-long death. The scoundrels requited him with precisely the opposite of what their fantasy, or provocation, had suggested to him."
+ St. Hesychios the Priest. +
June, 1st " On The Commemoration of the Entry of the Lord Christ to Egypt ".
The Spiritual Elder
+ " Blessed you Egypt, who opened your idolatry heart, and inside it, hid CHRIST, who came down to you to raise you up to Him. "
Glory to God for Everything"- John Chrysostom's last words
God As Spirit "But the lord calls it [holy spirit] the 'voice of a gentle breesze. For God is breath, and the breath of the wind is shared by all; nothing shuts it in, nothing holds it prisoner" - Maximus the Confessor
Give me ears to hear Thee, eyes to see Thee, taste to partake of Thee, sense of smell to inhale Thee. Give me feet to walk unto Thee; lips to speak of Thee, heart to fear and love Thee. Teach me Thy ways, O Lord, and I shall walk in Thy truth. For Thou art the way, the truth and the life." • St. Tikhon of Voronezh
St. Cyprian of Carthage
+ " Teach your children this lesson:The rewards of evil are temporary; The rewards of goodliness are eternal. "
St. Macarius of Egypt
"Very many wish to be vouchsafed the Kingdom without labors, without struggles, without sweat; but this is impossible. If you love the glories of men, and desire to be worshipped, and seek comfort, you are going off the path. You must be crucified with the Crucified One, suffer with Him that suffered, that you may be glorified with Him that is glorified."
Come to me all you who labour and heavey laden, i will give u rest"
St. John Cassian
+ " If we cannot accomplish anything ( in the arts and sciences ) by ourselves.... but still need someone who will instruct us well and guide us; how can it be anything but foolish to think that the spiritual art, the most difficult of all arts, has no need of a teacher? "
St. Maximus the Confessor
+ " Nothing created by God is evil. It is not food that is evil but gluttony, not the begetting of children but unchastity, not material things but avarice, nott esteem but self-esteem. It is only the misuse of things that is evil, not the things themselves. "
St. Symeon the New Theologian
When a man walks in the fear of God he knows no fear, even if he were to be surrounded by wicked men. He has the fear of God within him and wears the invincible armor of faith. This makes him strong and able to take on anything, even things which seem difficult or impossible to most people. Such a man is like a giant surrounded by monkeys, or a roaring lion among dogs and foxes. He goes forward trusting in the Lord and the constancy of his will to strike and paralyze his foes. He wields the blazing club of the Word in wisdom.
what is life but vapour that apears for a while, then vanishes" Fr Mikhiel Ibrahim
This quote is from His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
"A Church with no Youth. A Church with no future."
How can you pray constantly, if you dont pray frequently? How can you pray spontaniously, if you dont pray with dicspline? How can you pray with your own words, if you cant pray with the words God gave you?" -Fr Thomas Hobko
St. Isaac the Syrian
+ “ Brother, do not think that the prayers, the readings, the prostration, the fasting and the sweet tears are the work with God. Believe me, in my opinion, even the vile thoughts, false praise, blasphemy, adultery and fornication, that come from the enemy to the one who struggles and for which he grieves and struggles, God rewards him as for the virtues. But the thoughts of pride, may the Lord’s right hand protect us from them, for by them he renounces grace if he continues in them. “
St. John Chrysostom
+ “ The work of the Priesthood is done on earth, but it is ranked among heavenly ordinance. And this only right, for no man, no angel, no archangel, no other created power, but the Paraclete Himself ordained this succession, and persuaded men, while still remaining in the flesh to represent the ministry of angels.
[quote author=Coptic Servent link=board=13;threadid=2428;start=15#msg39009 date=1127169891] "Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, for theres in the kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew)
I <3 the beadditudes too.. my favorite are blessed are the Meek for they shall inharit the earth and Blessed are the The peace makers for they shall be called the sons of GOd
" I thank my God upon every rememberance of you always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy" (Philippians 1:3-4)
this is my fav. verse. I always send it to those close to my heart, its the best way i can tell them how much i care for them. Thank You Saint Paul!! hehe :P
Comments
God the Father, the Creator; God the Son, the Redeemer; and God the
Holy Spirit, the Sustainer, is the source of all blessings in our daily lives.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalms
103:2).
According to St. Ambrose, “In Christ we have everything. If you want to
heal your wounds, He is the doctor; if you are burning with fever, He is
the fountain; if you are in need of help, He is the strength; if you are in
dread of death, He is life; if you are hungry, He is food.”
Upon receiving Holy Communion a person receives indescribable
blessings in their life. They are united to the Lord. St. Paul talks of the
cup of blessings (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
In confession and repentance a person receives profound blessings:
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in
whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2).
In baptism we obtain the blessings of a new life in Christ: “if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all
things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In confirmation we receive the blessings of the Holy Myron, anointed 36
times with Holy Oil and thus becoming temples of the Holy Spirit.
The House of God is a spring of blessings. In the morning doxology we
say: “Hail to the Church, House of Angels.” In the prayers of
consecrating of the Altar we say: “May this Church be a harbour of
salvation, a Holy Altar, Amen. A harbour of troubled souls, a guiding
place for every thought and deed, Amen. A refuge from sin, voluntary
and involuntary, Amen. A deliverance from the intentions of ignorance,
Amen. An interest in the heavenly welfare, Amen.
Filled with love towards God’s House and recognising the many
blessings which flow from it, David says: “How lovely is your
tabernacle, O Lord of Hosts!” (Psalm 84:1). “For a day in Your courts
is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of
my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a
sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He
withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:10-11).
The Church which Christ purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28) is a
tremendous blessing to the world and it is the light that shines in a dark
world.
The sign of the Cross is a source of tremendous blessing. The great St.
Anthony, Father of all Monks, advises us bravely, “draw the sign of the
Cross, let the devils mock at themselves, but you fortify yourself with the
Cross.”
“It is more blessed to give then
to receive.” (Acts 20:35). Indeed, “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2
Corinthians 9:8). Blessed are the faithful people who diligently offer
their tithes to the Lord and His Church, Convents and Monasteries.
Only the poor in spirit, those who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, who are merciful and pure in heart are truly in
fellowship with God and will inherit the Kingdom.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda says: “Christ entrusted His virgin disciple
with His Virgin Mother. He confided His Mother, who nursed and
cherished Him dearly, to His beloved disciple who in many instances
enfolded Him with a loving embrace. He entrusted His Mother who
stood beside His Cross, to the only disciple who followed Him to the
Cross. He confided His Mother who carried in her womb the
smouldering ember of His Divinity to His disciple who wrote a book to
establish this Divinity.”
In all our afflictions and problems we cry to the Lord with David saying:
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my
soul.”
Blessed are the many people who endure various temptations for they
shall obtain many heavenly crowns. St. James salutes them saying,
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been
approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised
to those who love Him”. (James 1:12).
“Blessed are you if people revile you, persecute you and
tell all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be
exceedingly glad for a great reward is kept for you in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:11-12). St. James, cousin of Christ says, “Indeed, we
count them blessed who endure.” (James 5:11).
“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked
shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken
away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21).
“Indeed we count them blessed who
endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end
intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and
merciful.” (James 5:11).
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us “It is more blessed to give than to
receive.” (Acts 20:35). The more you give the more spiritual and
material blessings descend upon you. “Blessed be the Lord,” says the
Psalmist, “who daily leads us with benefits. The God of our salvation.”
(Psalm 68:19).
“Fill their houses and their stores with all
goodness, surround them, O Lord, with the power of Your Holy
Angels and Archangels. As they have remembered Your Holy Name
on earth, remember them also O Lord in Your Kingdom and in this
time also do not leave them behind.”
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet
of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings
glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to
Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7).
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow
Me.” (Matthew 19:21).
Abba Antony The Great:
From The Life Of St. Antony The Great edited by Fr. Matthias Farid Wahba:
"When the holy Abba Antony lived in the desert he was attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, "Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?" A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Antony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down and plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray. It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him. He heard the angel saying to him, "Do this and you will be saved." At these words, Antony was filled with joy and courage. He did this, and he was saved."
Antony the GREAT....
When Abba Anthony thought about the depth of the judgments of God, he asked, "Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper and why are the just in need?" He heard a voice answering him, "Anthony, keep your attention on yourself; these things are according to the judgment of God, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about
"who ever escapes from trouble escapes from the lord"
Jacob of Serug
+ Second Heaven, in whose womb the Lord of heaven dwelt and shone forth from her to expel the darkness from the land.
+ Blessed of the women, by whom the curse of the land was eradicated, and the sentence henceforth has come to an end.
+ Daughter who wove a garment of glory and gave it to her father. He covered himself because he was stripped naked among the trees.
+ Bride who conceived although the bridegroom had never been seen by her, she gave birth to a baby without her coming to the place of His Father.
Justin Martyr ( c.160 )
+ Let it be understood that thoes who are not found living as He taught are not Christian- even though they profess with the lips the teaching of Christ.
Sulpitius Severus
"We must run from sin to righteousness. In the same way, those who practise righteousness must beware lest they open themselves to sin. For it is written that "righteousness shall not profit the righteous on the day on which he has gone astray." We must stand up for this then. We who have escaped from sin must work hard not to lose the rewards. The enemy is ready to strike those who are stripped of the shield of faith. Therefore, we must not throw aside our shield; otheriwse our side will be exposed to the attack. We must not put away our sword; otheriwse the enemy will begin to lose all his fear. We know that if the enemy sees us fully armed, that he will retreat. We aren't unaware that it is hard and difficult to fight daily against the flesh and the world. But if we think about eternity and consider the kingdom of heaven which the Lord will give even us sinners, I ask us, how can we suffer enough to deserve such things? Besides, our struggle in this world is short. For although death doesn't catch up to us quickly, old age inevitably comes"
St. cyprian
+ " No human being can take God as his Father unless he takes the Church as his mother. "
St. Theophan the Recluse
+ "The goal of human freedom is not in freedom itself, nor it is in man, but in God. By giving man freedom, God has yielded to mam a piece of His Divine authority, but with the intention that man himself would voluntarily bring it as a sacrifice to God, a most perfect offering
When faced with people saying to him "The world is against you, Athanasius!" St. Athanasius replied, " Then I am against the world."
Abba Isaiah said: When someone wishes to render evil for evil, he is able to hurt his brother's conscience even by a single nod.
Abba Sisoes said: Seek God, and not where God lives.
One of the fathers said: Just as it is impossible to see your face in troubled water, so also the soul, unless it is clear of alien thoughts, is not able to pray to God in contemplation.
Abba John the Little said: We have abandoned a light burden, namely self-criticism, and taken up a heavy burden, namely self-justification.
Abba Anthony said: The time is coming when people will be insane, and when they see someone who is not insane, they will attack that person saying: You are insane because you are not like us.
St. Anthony the Great
Always have the fear of God before your eyes. Remember Him who gives death and lives. Hate the world and all that is in it. Hate the peace that comes from the flesh. Renounce this life, so that you may be alive to God.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Hail to Mary, mother of God, Majestic treasure of the whole world, the lamp unquinchable, the crown of virginity.
St Mark the monk
“Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled underfoot by all and despised, accepting injustice, contempt and mockery; unless he undergoes all these things with joy for the sake of the Lord, not claiming any kind of human reward whatsoever – glory or honor or earthly pleasures – he cannot become a true Christian
St. Cyril of Alexandria
It is our duty, therefore, to be faithful to God, pure in heart, merciful and kind, just and holy; for these things imprint in us the outlines of the Divine likeness, and perfect us as heirs of eternal life.
If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you do not like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.
-- St. Augustine
St Agathon
Once, monks who had heard of his discernment came to St. Agathon to see if they could make him lose his temper. They asked him, "Are you Abba Agathon, a fornicator and a proud man?" "Yes, that is true," the monk replied. "Are you the Agathon who is always talking nonsense?" the monks inquired. "I am," the saint agreed. "Are you Agathon the heretic?" the monks persisted. St. Agathon said, "I am not a heretic." They asked the saint why he agreed with them when they accused him of vices, but then denied this last charge. Agathon replied, "I accepted the first accusations, since that was beneficial for my soul. But heresy is separation from God, and I do not wish to be separated from God."
A brother asked an old man: What is humility? And the old man said: To do good to those who hurt you. The brother said: If you can not go that far, what should you do? The old man replied: Get away from them and keep your mouth shut.
Abba James
Abba james said: We do not want words alone, for there are too many words among people today. What we need is action, for that is what we are looking for, not words which do not bear fruit.
Abba Antony besought God to inform him why young children died whilst so many old men lived, and why upright men were poor whilst the wicked were rich, and why some were blind and others had their sight, and why the righteous suffered from illness whilst the wicked were healthy, and a voice came, which said, 'Antony, take care of thine own self, for these matters are the judgements of God
A brother asked Abba Matoes: What shall I do? My tongue causes me trouble and whenever I am among people, I cannot control it and I contradict them. What, therefore, shall I do? The old man answered him: If you cannot control yourself, go away from people and live alone. For this is a weakness. Those who live together with others ought not to be sqaure, but round, in order to turn toward all. Further, the old man said: I live alone not because of my virtue, but rather because of my weakness. You see, those who live among people are the strong ones.
"Place your head on His chest, like John, and listen to His heart that beats with love for the whole world."
St. John Saba
St. Annthony the Great
+ "Good behavior for acquiring virtues is better than performing miracles. The human being can be easily overcome Satan if he worships God with all his heart, with inner spiritual joy, and constantly have God in his mind because this light tears the darkness and quickly removes the temptations of the enemy. What would help us in this is to look at the lives of the Saints and follow their path for it leads us to emulating them."
From the Wisdom of the Desert Father
+ It was said of an old man that when his thoughts said to him, " Relax today and repent tomorrow, " He reported " No I am going to repent today, and may the will of God be done tomorrow, "
Forgivness
A brother who was insulted by another brother came to Abba Sisoes, and said to him: I was hurt by my brother, and I want to avenge myself. The old man tried to console him and said: Don't do that, my child. Rather leave vengeance to God. but he said: I will not quit until I avenge myself. Then the old man said: let us pray, brother; and standing up, he said: O God, we no longer need you to take care of us since we now avenge ourselves. hearing these words, the brother fell at the feet of the old man and said: I am not going to fight with my brother any more. Forgive me, Abba.
St. Symeon the New Theologian
+ "If we live with Him and associate with Him, we shall ascend with Him and be assumed with Him into Heaven. And that not merely when we depart this life, but even now. Rather, He will take us up and glorify us with Him, and bestow on us the enjoyment of eternal benefits. "
We should love the Lord as we do our friends. Many times I have seen people bring grief to God, without being bothered about it, and I have seen these very same people resort to every device, plan, pressure, plea from themselves and their friends, and every gift, simply to restore an old relationship upset by some minor grievance.
St. John Climacus
This is the fulfilling of the Law: now the fulfilling of the Law is charity. And therefore before the Pasch we fast forty days. For this time before the Pasch is the sign of this our toilsome life, wherein, in toils, and cares, and continence, we fulfil the Law. But afterwards we celebrate the Pasch, that is, the days of the Lord's resurrection signifying our own resurrection.
-- Blessed Augustine, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament, Sermon LXXIV
"The demons always lead us into sin by means of deceitful fantasies. Through the fantasy of gaining wealth they led the wretched Judas to betray the Lord and God of all; through the deceit of worthless bodily comfort and of esteem, gain and glory they put the noose around his neck and brought him to age-long death. The scoundrels requited him with precisely the opposite of what their fantasy, or provocation, had suggested to him."
+ St. Hesychios the Priest. +
June, 1st " On The Commemoration of the Entry of the Lord Christ to Egypt ".
The Spiritual Elder
+ " Blessed you Egypt, who opened your idolatry heart, and inside it, hid CHRIST, who came down to you to raise you up to Him. "
Glory to God for Everything"- John Chrysostom's last words
God As Spirit
"But the lord calls it [holy spirit] the 'voice of a gentle breesze. For God is breath, and the breath of the wind is shared by all; nothing shuts it in, nothing holds it prisoner" - Maximus the Confessor
Give me ears to hear Thee, eyes to see Thee, taste to partake of Thee, sense of smell to inhale Thee. Give me feet to walk unto Thee; lips to speak of Thee, heart to fear and love Thee. Teach me Thy ways, O Lord, and I shall walk in Thy truth. For Thou art the way, the truth and the life." • St. Tikhon of Voronezh
St. Cyprian of Carthage
+ " Teach your children this lesson:The rewards of evil are temporary; The rewards of goodliness are eternal. "
St. Macarius of Egypt
"Very many wish to be vouchsafed the Kingdom without labors, without struggles, without sweat; but this is impossible.
If you love the glories of men, and desire to be worshipped, and seek comfort, you are going off the path. You must be crucified with the Crucified One, suffer with Him that suffered, that you may be glorified with Him that is glorified."
Come to me all you who labour and heavey laden, i will give u rest"
St. John Cassian
+ " If we cannot accomplish anything ( in the arts and sciences ) by ourselves.... but still need someone who will instruct us well and guide us; how can it be anything but foolish to think that the spiritual art, the most difficult of all arts, has no need of a teacher? "
St. Maximus the Confessor
+ " Nothing created by God is evil. It is not food that is evil but gluttony, not the begetting of children but unchastity, not material things but avarice, nott esteem but self-esteem. It is only the misuse of things that is evil, not the things themselves. "
St. Symeon the New Theologian
When a man walks in the fear of God he knows no fear, even if he were to be surrounded by wicked men. He has the fear of God within him and wears the invincible armor of faith. This makes him strong and able to take on anything, even things which seem difficult or impossible to most people. Such a man is like a giant surrounded by monkeys, or a roaring lion among dogs and foxes. He goes forward trusting in the Lord and the constancy of his will to strike and paralyze his foes. He wields the blazing club of the Word in wisdom.
what is life but vapour that apears for a while, then vanishes"
Fr Mikhiel Ibrahim
This quote is from His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
"A Church with no Youth. A Church with no future."
How can you pray constantly, if you dont pray frequently? How can you pray spontaniously, if you dont pray with dicspline? How can you pray with your own words, if you cant pray with the words God gave you?"
-Fr Thomas Hobko
St. Isaac the Syrian
+ “ Brother, do not think that the prayers, the readings, the prostration, the fasting and the sweet tears are the work with God. Believe me, in my opinion, even the vile thoughts, false praise, blasphemy, adultery and fornication, that come from the enemy to the one who struggles and for which he grieves and struggles, God rewards him as for the virtues. But the thoughts of pride, may the Lord’s right hand protect us from them, for by them he renounces grace if he continues in them. “
St. John Chrysostom
+ “ The work of the Priesthood is done on earth, but it is ranked among heavenly ordinance. And this only right, for no man, no angel, no archangel, no other created power, but the Paraclete Himself ordained this succession, and persuaded men, while still remaining in the flesh to represent the ministry of angels.
Fr. Mikhail E. Mikhail
"A chapter a day keeps the devil away."
+FROG+
"Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, for theres in the kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew)
I <3 the beadditudes too.. my favorite are blessed are the Meek for they shall inharit the earth and Blessed are the The peace makers for they shall be called the sons of GOd
"If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world."
some of my fav. quotes...
GB, and pray for me...
laura
this is my fav. verse. I always send it to those close to my heart, its the best way i can tell them how much i care for them. Thank You Saint Paul!! hehe :P