Patristic Quote of the Day

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Sat 4 September 2004 2:57 pm

"Even before Gethsemane, but especially in Gethsemane, the man-befriending Lord experienced all the torments of human nature which had rushed upon it as a result of sin... In Him, in the true God-man, human nature wept and lamented, beholding all which she had done by falling into sin and death"" - St. Justin Popovich

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Sun 5 September 2004 8:07 am

"This passion [ie. vainglory] is more subtle than all other passions. For this reason it is necessary for the struggler not merely to disavow its association or to flee its assent, but to consider the provocation itself as being an assent to it, and thus to guard against it. For even if one quickly does this will one scarcely be able to escpae it. But if one acts cautiously, then the provocation will become a source of deep compunction. If one does not act in such a manner, then one will have prepared a place for pride. For one who is bound to pride, it is difficult to return--or better said, one has become incurable. For this is the essence of the demonic fall." Saint Gregory Palamas, Treatise on the Spiritual Life, 7

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Fri 24 September 2004 4:23 pm

"But deliver us from the Evil One". He does not say "from evil men," for they do not wrong us, but "the Evil One." - Saint Germanus of Constantinople, Ecclesiastical History and Mystical Contemplation, 42

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Fri 24 September 2004 9:09 pm

"When engaged in noetic warefare we should, therefore, do all we can to choose some spiritual practice from divine Scripture and apply it to our intellect like a healing ointment." (Philokalia III, St. Philotheos, p. 16)

I have a little black book that I used to write quotes in. I must have a hundred. This one was from 1999. My last entrance was 2001. I'm glad that I can share it with others now. It reminds me of how much I was trying before, but I have become so negligent for the passed few years.

Let's keep this going. It will be great to get an email with a spiritual quote.

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Tue 28 September 2004 10:35 pm

Zeal should be preserved in the same way it was born, and it was born through inner change of heart, under the invisible influence of God's Grace. (St. Theophane the Recluse).

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Tue 28 September 2004 10:38 pm

There is no salvation with Communion, and no progress in life without frequent Communion. ( Monks Callistus & Ignatius, Philokalia, no 92, pp. 260-264)

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 29 September 2004 3:01 pm

This is the right judgment; this is the just and true humiliation. For the Lord says: "Think not that I have come to abolish the Law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matt. 5:17). The fulfillment of the Law consists in this, that no one should defend himself in any matter, nor avenge himself (Rom. 12:19), but that one should be exposed in every way to all men, like a corpse. Thus whatever men might do to him he would not be moved thereby in any way, not be perturbed so that he would contradict them. Rather, he would simply abide in God's commandments and occupy himself with keeping His precepts, like some lion or a new gigantic Samson or someone more corageous than he, if one have ever existed or now exists. - Saint Symeon the New Theologian, Fifth Discourse