An Excellent Alphabet

[Shin]

From St. John Climacus', 'Ladder of Divine Ascent'

'Here is an excellent alphabet for all:

(A) obedience
(B) fasting
(C) sackcloth
(D) ashes
(E) tears
(F) confession
(G) silence
(H) humility
(I) vigil
(J) courage
(K) cold
(L) toil
(M) hard work
(N) humiliation
(O) contrition
(P) forgetfulness of wrongs
(Q) brotherly love
(R) meekness
(S) simple and unquestioning faith
(T) freedom from worldly cares
(U) hateless hatred of parents
(V) detachment
(X) innocent simplicity
(Z) voluntary abasement'