Quotes

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

Tears

God is visiting you when tears come during prayer.

Elder Amphilochios Makris

Tears

As writing is washed out by water, so sins can be washed out by tears.

St. John Climacus

Tears

In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek -- as it is said, 'Our God is a consuming fire' -- so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.

St. Syncletica

Soul

The body can neither love nor hate. Neither can a body fall in love with a body. The capability for love belongs to the soul. When the soul is in love with the body, that is not love but desire, lust. When the soul is in love with the soul, but not through God, that is either admiration, or pity. However, when the soul, through God loves the soul, without consideration for the appearance of the body - beauty or ugliness - that is love. That is true love. For in love is life.

St. Nikolai Velimirovic

Soul

Words are truly images of the soul...

St. Basil the Great

Tears

Satiety of the stomach dries the tear sprints, but the stomach when dried produces these waters.

St. John Climacus

Commandments

Make the body serve the commandments, keeping it so far as possible free from sickness and sensual pleasure.

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Tears

Only the tears of repentance are able to cleanse the soul.

St. Anthimos of Chios

Tears

Such tears should be preserved... because they have great power and action in destroying and uprooting sins and passions.

St. Nilus of Sora

Tears

For weeping delivers us from eternal fire and other future punishments, so the Fathers say.

St. Nilus of Sora

Tears

As the earth, long awaiting moistening and at last receiving it in abundance, suddenly is covered by tender and bright greenery, so also the heart, exhausted by dryness, and afterwards revived by tears, emits from itself a multitude of spiritual thoughts and feelings, adorned by the common flower of humility. The labor of weeping, being inseparable from the labor of prayer, requires the same conditions for success as prayer requires. Prayer needs patient, constant dwelling in itself; weeping requires the same. Prayer needs wearying of the body, and brings about exhaustion of the body; this exhaustion produces weeping, which must be born in the troubling and wearying of the body.

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

Tears

BROTHER: What are fasting and prayer? OLD MAN: Fasting is the subjugation of the body, prayer is converse with God, vigil is a war against Satan, abstinence is being weaned from meats, humility is the state of the first man, kneeling is the inclining of the body before the Judge, tears are the remembrance of sins, nakedness is our captivity which is caused by the transgression of the command, and service is constant supplication to and praise of God. BROTHER: Are these able to redeem the soul? OLD MAN: When internal things agree with external, and manifest humility appears in the hidden works which are from within, verily, a man shall be redeemed from the weight of the body.

The Desert Fathers

Soul

A man’s soul takes on qualities according to its activity.

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

Tears

Lying is wiped out by the tortures of superiors; but it is finally destroyed by an abundance of tears.

St. John Climacus

Commandments

Keep the commandments, and you will find peace; love God, and you will attain spiritual knowledge.

St. Thalassios the Libyan

Tears

When you shed floods of tears during prayer, do not exalt yourself for this, as though you were above many others. It is that your prayer has received help from above, so that, having zealously confessed your sins, you may incline the almighty to mercy by your tears.

St. Nilus of Sinai

Soul

Every day you provide your bodies with good to keep them from failing. In the same way your good works should be the daily nourishment of your hearts. Your bodies are fed with food and your spirits with good works. You aren't to deny your soul, which is going to live forever, what you grant to your body, which is going to die.

St. Gregory the Great

Tears

Above all pray for the gift of tears...

St. Nilus of Sora

Parish

Faith

Ministries

News

Calendar

Contact

God is visiting you when tears come during prayer.

As writing is washed out by water, so sins can be washed out by tears.

Words are truly images of the soul...

Satiety of the stomach dries the tear sprints, but the stomach when dried produces these waters.

Make the body serve the commandments, keeping it so far as possible free from sickness and sensual pleasure.

Only the tears of repentance are able to cleanse the soul.

Such tears should be preserved... because they have great power and action in destroying and uprooting sins and passions.

For weeping delivers us from eternal fire and other future punishments, so the Fathers say.

A man’s soul takes on qualities according to its activity.

Lying is wiped out by the tortures of superiors; but it is finally destroyed by an abundance of tears.

Keep the commandments, and you will find peace; love God, and you will attain spiritual knowledge.

When you shed floods of tears during prayer, do not exalt yourself for this, as though you were above many others. It is that your prayer has received help from above, so that, having zealously confessed your sins, you may incline the almighty to mercy by your tears.

Above all pray for the gift of tears...

St. Isaac the Syrian

Join our Parish Mailing List