“First the Psalter separates us .. . from the attached evil to which we have been attached (chained). And thus it scrapes and polishes our understanding by means of more delicate teachings of ideas. Then, by means of the forms of virtue, it forms Christ in us, in accordance with whose image we existed in... Continue Reading →
Give Evil no Entry
Speaking about the Egyptian desert and why the monastics there were successful at taming their thoughts and the attack of demons,“But everyone does the work assigned to Him in such a way that, by repeating by heart some psalm or passage of Scripture, he gives no opportunity or time for dangerous schemes or evil designs,... Continue Reading →
Adopt A Life of Prayer
"Whoever is used to praying only at such time as the knee is bent, prays very little. But whoever, even on bent knee, is distracted by any sort of wandering heart, prays not at all. And for this reason, it behooves us even before the time of prayer to be such as we would wish... Continue Reading →
Seek what pleases God
"Do not set your will on having your affairs turn out as it seems best to you, but rather as it pleases God. Then you will be untroubled and thankful in your prayer." Evagrius of Pontus, On Prayer, 89
Prayer is Communion with God
Prayer is a communion of the mind with God. What sort of state does the mind need so that it can reach out to its Lord without turning back and commune with him without intermediary?If Moses, when he tried to approach the earthly burning bush, was held back until he removed the sandals from his... Continue Reading →
Prayer is not only in the mouth – Chrysostom
"By prayer I mean not that which is only in the mouth, but that which springs up from the bottom of the heart. In fact, just as trees with deep roots are not shattered or uprooted by storms... In the same way prayers that come from the bottom of the heart, having their roots there,... Continue Reading →
There is no ‘start’ and ‘end’ to Prayer
"Whoever is used to praying only at such time as the knee is bent, prays very little. But whoever, even on bended knee, is distracted by any sort of wandering heart, prays not at all. And for this reason, it behoves us even before the time of prayer to be such as we would wish... Continue Reading →
The Knowledge of God
"The virtues acquired are the flesh of Christ and whoever eats it will find inner freedom.
The contemplation of creatures is the blood of Christ and whoever drinks it will be enlightened by Him.
The knowledge of God is the breast of Christ and whoever rests on it will be a theologian."
We ought to think of God more often than we breath
"For we ought to think of God even more often than we draw our breath; and if the expression is permissible, we ought to do nothing else." St. Gregory the Theologian, Oration 27, The First Theological Oration, Chapter 5.
Let Prayer Be Your Guard
“But everyone does the work assigned to Him in such a way that, by repeating by heart some psalm or passage of Scripture, he gives no opportunity or time for dangerous schemes or evil designs, or even for idle talk, as both mouth and heart are incessantly taken up with spiritual meditations.” St. John Cassian,... Continue Reading →
Prayer as Participation in God
For God is indeed present to all, but all are not present to Him. But then, when we have invoked It [The Trinity], by all pure prayers and unpolluted mind, and by our aptitude towards Divine Union, we also are present to It.
The Spiritual Sequence of Psalms 1, 2, 3
"The sequence related to salvation also looks to this [our benefit], and the order which assists us to this end is best. For example, the first psalm removed humanity from its cohesion with evil. The second, having indicated the appearance of the Lord through flesh in advance, showed to what we should cling, and that... Continue Reading →
An Ancient Faith For a Modern World 