“We must consider all evil things, even the passions which war against us, to be not our own, but of our enemy the devil. This is very important. You can only conquer a passion when you do not consider it as part of you.”
+ St. Nikon of Optina
Tag Archives: Needs Source
St. Moses of Optina: If at some time you show mercy to someone . . .
“If at some time you show mercy to someone, mercy will be shown to you.
If you show compassion to one who is suffering (and of course, this is not a great deed) you will be numbered among the martyrs.
If you forgive one who has insulted you, then not only will all your sins be forgiven, but you will be a child of the Heavenly Father.
If you pray from all your heart for salvation – even a little – you will be saved.
If you rebuke yourself, accuse yourself, and judge yourself before God for your sins, with a sensitive conscience, even for this you will be justified.
If you are sorrowful for your sins, or you weep, or sigh, your sigh will not be hidden from Him and, as St. John Chrysostom says, ‘If you only lament for your sins, then He will receive this for your salvation.'”
+ St. Moses of Optina
St. Macarius of Optina: The Lord calls to him all sinners . . .
“The Lord calls to him all sinners; He opens His arms wide, even to the worst among them. Gladly He takes them in His arms, if only they will come to Him.”
— St. Macarius of Optina
St. Nikon of Optina: In order to fulfill the commandments of Christ . . .
“In order to fulfill the commandments of Christ, you must know them! Read the Holy Gospel, penetrate its spirit and make it the rule of your life.”
+ St. Nikon of Optina
St. Macarius of Optina: Avoid making idols . . .
“Avoid making idols either of things or of practices.”
— St. Macarius of Optina
St. Ambrose of Optina: If you find that there is no love in you . . .
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“If you find that there is no love in you, but you want to have it, then do deeds of love, even though you do them without love in the beginning. The Lord will see you desire and striving and will put love in your heart.”
— St. Ambrose of Optina
St. Ambrose of Optina: Sinful thoughts continually disturb a man. . . .
“Sinful thoughts continually disturb a man. But if he does not cooperate with them, then he is not guilty of them.”
+ St. Ambrose of Optina
St. Ambrose of Optina: One ascetic woman
“One ascetic woman was besieged for a long time with unclean thoughts. When the Lord came and cast them away from her, she called to Him: ‘Where were you before now, O my sweet Jesus?’ The Lord answered: ‘I was in your heart.’ She said then: ‘How could that be? For my heart was full of unclean thoughts.’ The Lord said to her: ‘Know that I was in your heart, for you were not disposed to the unclean thoughts, but strove rather to be free of them; and when you were not able to be free, you struggled and grieved. By this you prepared a place for Me in your heart.'”
+ St. Ambrose of Optina