Patristic Quote of the Day

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Wed 12 January 2005 8:36 pm

"What then can you meditate upon with greater profit and pleasure than these [spiritual] things? For when we examine them, and these thoughts prevail in the soul, no evil thoughts will gain entry into us. Then it will come about that, as we learn of His benefits, we will increase in longing for our Benefactor. When we thus greatly love Him we become keepers of His commandments and participants in His purpose, for as He says, 'he who loves Me will keep My commandments' (Jn. 14:15, 21).

Besides, when we recognize how great is our own worth, we shall not readily betray it. We will not endure being slaves to a runaway slave when we have found out that a kingdom is ours. We shall not open our mouth in evil speech when we recollect the sacred banquet and that Blood which has reddened our tongue. How can we use our eyes to look on that which is not seemly when we have enjoyed such awesome Mysteries? We shall not move our feet nor stretch forth our hands to any wicked thing if the recollection of these things is active in our souls." - St. Nicholas Cabasilas, The Life in Christ, 6, §4

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Tue 25 January 2005 11:28 am

"Truly nowadays it is hard to find, and extraordinary to see, a Church pure, unharmed by the troubles of the times, and preserving the apostolic doctrine in all its integrity and completeness." - St. Basil, Letter 251

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Thu 27 January 2005 1:35 am

"Persecute yourself and yoru adversary will be driven away from you. Be at peace with your soul and heaven and earth will be at peace with you. Endeavor to enter the treasury within you and you will see that treasury which is in heaven. The former and the latter are one and through a single entrance you will see both of them. The ladder of that kingdom is hidden within your soul. Dive away from sin into yourself and there you will find the steps by which you may ascend." - St. Isaac the Syrian, On the Ascetical Life, 2, 8-9

"Nothing can so banish licentious habits from the soul and restrain memories which disturb and stir up troubling flames in teh body as can avid devotion to the love of learning and searching investigation into the meaning of the passages of Scripture." - Saint Isaac the Syrian, On the Ascetical Life, 1, 16

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Thu 27 January 2005 4:30 pm

"If rushing upon the sword, casting themselves down from steep heights, ignoring their friends and fawning upon their worst enemies, are acts of madmen, then are we not also mad efor fleeing from Him who loves us, and do not we seek our enemy by our actions? Are we not hastening to hell by doing all the things which drive us to it?" - St. Nicholas Cabasilas, The Life in Christ, 6, §11

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Fri 4 February 2005 6:26 pm

"It is beautiful for one to instruct sons of men to beautiful things and bring them with constant care from error to the knowledge of life. this is the rule of our Lord and his apostles and it is very exalted. But if one perceives in his soul that from friendly and constant contact such as this, his conscience languishes because of the sight of things and his tranquility of discrimination is disturbed and his knowledge darkened, since his mind still had need of vigilance and greater subduing of the senses (for as long as the senses are to be healed, he is sick; and while he wants to heal others he loses the partial health of his own soul and leaves the chaste freedom of his own will for the tumult of the mind) let this one remember the word of the Apostle which says: "Strong food is for the healthy." (Heb. 5:14) Let him turn his back lest he hear from them as a proverb: How are you a physician of others, but full of sores yourself? (cf Lk. 4:23) therefore let him keep to himself and guard his own health only. Instead of perceptible words he will perform the duties of a beautiful way of life. Instead of the words of [his] mouth, others will be helped by the health of his soul if he has been able to preserve it. Even when he is far away they will be healed by his health, [that is], by the zeal of his virtuous deeds. This is more excellent than his service to them with a plain word while he himself was sick and in need of healing, he even more than they were." - St. Isaac the Syrian, On the Ascetic Life, 6, 12

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Fri 18 February 2005 12:03 am

"Conceited and self-opinionated people love to teach and give directions. They are not concerned as to the value of their advice. It does not occur to them that they can cause irreparable damage to their neighbor by their misguided advice, which is taken by an inexperienced beginner with irresponsible confidence ... They want to make an impression on the beginner, and subject him morally to themselves. They want human praise. They want to be reputed saints, astute elders, teachers with spiritual insight. They want to nourish their insatiable vanity." - St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, The Arena

Justin Kissel · Post by **Justin Kissel** » Mon 21 February 2005 3:11 pm

"Most have departed from right words, and rather choose the evil, than desire the good. This therefore is the falling away, and the enemy is soon to be looked for: and meanwhile he has in part begun to send forth his own forerunners, that he may then come prepared upon the prey. Look therefore to thyself, O man, and make safe thy soul. The Church now charges thee before the Living God; she declares to thee the things concerning Antichrist before they arrive. Whether they will happen in thy time we know not, or whether they will happen after thee we know not; but it is well that, knowing these things, thou shouldest make thyself secure beforehand." - St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 15, 9