Sorrow

There never was and there never will be a place on earthfree from sorrows. The only sorrowless place possible is the heart, when the Lord is present there.

Saint Nicon of Optina,
Living Without Hypocrisy,
Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina,
page 109

Humility

An angel fell from Heaven without any other passion except pride,and so we may ask whether it is possible to ascend to Heaven byhumility alone, without any other of the virtues.


St. John Climacus

"The Ladder of Divine Ascent" (Step 23)

The Chosen Flock

Christians are members of the Church, and the Church is the Body of Christ, with the Head being Christ Himself, and the Enlightener, the Holy Spirit. "Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for It, ... that He might present It to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that It should be holy and without blemish" (Eph. v. 2 '-27). You are the holy and chosen flock, you are members of the holy catholic and apostolic Church. What indeed is demanded of you! What holiness, what truth! What attention to yourselves! What spiritual contemplation and activity in secret! What morals, virtues, what faith, what hope, what love! What abstinence, compassion, care for one another, what urging of one another to virtue!




St. John of Kronstadt

Discernment

...And so our life here is a time of ceaseless bodily and spiritual labors, and the future life of recompense according to our works. But we must find out for certain what kind of works will yield a blessed eternity and what kind will yield a bitter one, so as to shun the one and always hold to the other.




Elder Moses of Optina

On Receiving Communion

To receive communion even daily and partake of the sacred Body and Blood of Christ is good and beneficial, for He said clearly: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life" (John 6:54). Who would doubt that partaking regularly of life is anything else but living continually?




St. Basil the Great

Saints of Wales

Personal Martyrdom

Enduring unpleasant things cheerfully, you approach a little to the martyrs. But if you complain, you will not only lose your share with the martyrs, but will be responsible for complaining besides. Therefore, be cheerful!




St. Theophan the Recluse