Quotes

A collection of scriptural meditations from Saints and Fathers of the Church.

Charity

Do you wish to honor the Body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside it is naked and numb with cold. He who said, 'This is my body,' and made it so by his word, is the same that said, 'You saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.' Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.

St. John Chrysostom

Tribulations

When one meets with obstacles on the way of salvation, one must humble oneself and ask God's help.

St. Joseph of Optina

Tribulations

When a man walks the straight path, he does not have a cross. But when he begins to step away from one side to another, then various circumstances arise that push him back onto a right path. These pushes comprise a man's cross. They vary, of course, according to what each individual needs.

St. Ambrose of Optina

Tribulations

Joyfully accept bitter trials, that they may violently shake you for a brief moment, and that afterward you may be sweetened.

St. Isaac the Syrian

Tribulations

He who like Job and the courageous martyrs bears the assaults of unsought-for trials and temptations with an unshakeable will is a powerful lamp; for by his bravery and patience he keeps the light of salvation burning, since he possesses the Lord as his strength and his song. (cf. Ps. 118: 14).

St. Maximus the Confessor

Tribulations

God's Scripture gives proof in numerous passages that man must undergo many disturbances in this life; and also that many consolations are at hand. With these, a spirit of sufficient vigor and awareness of the right should overcome present discomforts and look to those things that promise everlasting joy.

St. Ambrose of Milan

Tribulations

And consider the reward how great! 'That ye be like your Father which is in the heavens.' So then you have been deprived of nothing, yea, you have been a gainer: you have received no wrongs, rather you have been crowned; in that you are become better disciplined in soul; are made like to God; are set free from the care of money; are made possessor of the kingdom of heaven. All these things therefore taking into account, let us restrain ourselves in injuries, beloved, in order that we may both be freed from the tumult of this present life, and cast out all unprofitable sadness of spirit, and may obtain the joy to come; through the grace and loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom to the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, power, honor, now, henceforth, and for ever and ever. Amen.

St. John Chrysostom

Tribulations

He who wishes to avoid future troubles should endure his present troubles gladly.

St. Mark the Ascetic

Tribulations

Tribulations are a good sign; they show that we are on the narrow way.

St. Joseph of Optina

Tribulations

When walking in the way of righteousness, it is impossible not to meet with trouble, or that the body should not suffer pain and weakness and should remain immutable, if we want to live in virtue.

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

Tribulations

Life is hard for you? Why, is there anyone for whom it is not hard? And do those in the world really have no troubles? Be patient, and a comforter will come in time. The Lord said, `In your patience possess ye your souls' (Lk. 21:19). If you are unable to do something and your health does not permit it, humble yourself and beg meekly [to be excused] - and above all, be patient. And if you lose patience in some situation, reproach yourself and ask God for help.

St. Anatoly of Optina

Tribulations

Do not shun poverty and afflictions, these wings of buoyant prayer.

St. Nilus of Sinai

Tribulations

Unless we bear with patience the afflictions that come to us unsought, God will not bless those that we embrace deliberately.

St. Gregory Palamas

Compunction

The way to attain compunction is an attentive life. ‘The beginning of repentance comes from the fear of God and attention,’ as the holy martyr Boniface says.

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

Tribulations

He who endures distress, will be granted joys; and he who bears with unpleasant things, will not be deprived of the pleasant.

St. Nilus of Sinai

Tribulations

When you face bitter situations spiritually, eventually they become sweet.

Archimandrite Ioannikios Kotsonis

Knowledge

If someone is judged worthy to receive the gift of knowledge but allows his heart to be full of bitterness or rancor or aversion to another, it is as if he had been struck in the eye by a thornbush. That is why knowledge is no good without charity.

St. Maximus the Confessor

Compunction

Compunction comes when you consider how much you have grieved God Who is so good, so sweet, so merciful, so kind, and entirely full of love; Who was crucified and suffered everything for us. When you meditate on these things and other things the Lord has suffered, they bring compunction.

St. Joseph the Hesychast

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When one meets with obstacles on the way of salvation, one must humble oneself and ask God's help.

When a man walks the straight path, he does not have a cross. But when he begins to step away from one side to another, then various circumstances arise that push him back onto a right path. These pushes comprise a man's cross. They vary, of course, according to what each individual needs.

Joyfully accept bitter trials, that they may violently shake you for a brief moment, and that afterward you may be sweetened.

He who like Job and the courageous martyrs bears the assaults of unsought-for trials and temptations with an unshakeable will is a powerful lamp; for by his bravery and patience he keeps the light of salvation burning, since he possesses the Lord as his strength and his song. (cf. Ps. 118: 14).

He who wishes to avoid future troubles should endure his present troubles gladly.

Tribulations are a good sign; they show that we are on the narrow way.

When walking in the way of righteousness, it is impossible not to meet with trouble, or that the body should not suffer pain and weakness and should remain immutable, if we want to live in virtue.

Do not shun poverty and afflictions, these wings of buoyant prayer.

Unless we bear with patience the afflictions that come to us unsought, God will not bless those that we embrace deliberately.

The way to attain compunction is an attentive life. ‘The beginning of repentance comes from the fear of God and attention,’ as the holy martyr Boniface says.

He who endures distress, will be granted joys; and he who bears with unpleasant things, will not be deprived of the pleasant.

When you face bitter situations spiritually, eventually they become sweet.

If someone is judged worthy to receive the gift of knowledge but allows his heart to be full of bitterness or rancor or aversion to another, it is as if he had been struck in the eye by a thornbush. That is why knowledge is no good without charity.

Compunction comes when you consider how much you have grieved God Who is so good, so sweet, so merciful, so kind, and entirely full of love; Who was crucified and suffered everything for us. When you meditate on these things and other things the Lord has suffered, they bring compunction.

"To master any art requires time and much instruction; can the art of arts alone be mastered without being learnt?"

St. Nilus of Sinai

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