Quote for the Night

[Shin]

'According to the degree to which the intellect is stripped of the passions, the Holy Spirit initiates the intellect into the mysteries of the age to be.'

St. Thalassios the Libyan

[whiterockdove]

'Brethren and fathers, at Christ's resurrection creation too, putting away its winter gloom, like a deadness puts out fresh shoots and as it were comes to life again. And yes, we see the earth wearing green, the plants flourishing, the animals skipping around, the sea tamed and everything being changed for the better.

But I must explain why I have said this. If inanimate and irrational creatures are made radiant and lovely by the resplendent resurrection, how much more ought we, who have been honoured with reason and the image of God, make ourselves bright by our life and give off sweet fragrance by the spirit. For one who strives after virtue is truly the sweet fragrance of Christ, and the Apostle bears witness to this when he says, For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ for God among those who are being saved and those who are perishing, for the latter a scent of death leading to death, for the former an scent of life leading to life [2 Cor. 2,15-16].'

St. Theodore the Studite (A.D. 759 - 826)

I wonder if, before before Christ rose from the dead, spring was perceived by us descendants of Abraham,as beautiful as we see it now, or if Christ rose from the dead in spring because it is such a beautiful time of the year?

[Shin]

It makes me think of the hope and anticipation of the faithful few, the portion of the people who understood to a degree the prophecies predicting Our Lord and Saviour.  Anticipating a Saviour from their sins.. A new Spring a new life..

[odhiambo]

'My dearest Saviour, Thou art the King of Heaven, the King of kings, the Son of God; and how is it, then, that I see Thee in this cave, forsaken by all? I see no one assisting Thee but Joseph and Thy holy Mother.
I desire to unite myself also to them in keeping Thee company.'
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

[Shin]

How one wishes to keep such holy company in such solitude!

[Shin]

'Unless a man acquires, through the grace of Christ, knowledge of the truth and fear of God, he is gravely wounded not only by the passions but also by the things that happen to him.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

[Shin]

'If you say, "Show me your God," I will say to you, "Show me what kind of person you are, and I will show you my God." Show me then whether the eyes of your mind can see, and the ears of your heart hear.

It is like this. Those who can see with the eyes of their bodies are aware of what is happening in this life on earth. They get to know things that are different from each other. They distinguish light and darkness, black and white, ugliness and beauty, elegance and inelegance, proportion and lack of proportion, excess and defect. The same is true of the sounds we hear: high or low or pleasant. So it is with the ears of our heart and the eyes of our mind in their capacity to hear or see God.

God is seen by those who have the capacity to see him, provided that they keep the eyes of their mind open. All have eyes, but some have eyes that are shrouded in darkness, unable to see the light of the sun. Because the blind cannot see it, it does not follow that the sun does not shine. The blind must trace the cause back to themselves and their eyes. In the same way, you have eyes in your mind that are shrouded in darkness because of your sins and evil deeds.

A person's soul should be clean, like a mirror reflecting light. If there is rust on the mirror his face cannot be seen in it. In the same way, no one who has sin within him can see God.'

St. Theophilus of Antioch

[CyrilSebastian]

           In The Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 1 Verse 7 states:     
           Of the angels he says;     
           He makes his angels winds     
           and his ministers a fiery flame.   
 
           

[Shin]

Inspiring to think of! 

[Therese]

Beautiful!

[George]

"Lord, shed upon our darkened souls the brilliant light of your wisdom so that we may be enlightened, and serve you with renewed purity."
St. Ephraim

[Shin]

A beautiful quote my friend! A prayer to keep ahold of!

[Shin]

'Yes, the priest stands at the altar, the priest stands there and makes a long supplication, not in order that fire from heaven may consume the things that lie to open view, but that grace, lighting on the Sacrifice, may thereby in flame the souls of all, and show them brighter than silver purified in the fire. Art thou ignorant that the soul of man could never bear this fire of the Sacrifice, but that all would be utterly consumed, were not the aid of the grace of God abundant? For if one would but consider how great a thing it is for a mortal, and one still clothed with flesh and blood, to be enabled to be nigh to that blessed and immortal nature, he would then see how great an honor the grace of the Spirit has vouchsafed to priests.'

St. John Chrysostom

[Therese]

'Yes, the priest stands at the altar, the priest stands there and makes a long supplication, not in order that fire from heaven may consume the things that lie to open view, but that grace, lighting on the Sacrifice, may thereby in flame the souls of all, and show them brighter than silver purified in the fire. Art thou ignorant that the soul of man could never bear this fire of the Sacrifice, but that all would be utterly consumed, were not the aid of the grace of God abundant? For if one would but consider how great a thing it is for a mortal, and one still clothed with flesh and blood, to be enabled to be nigh to that blessed and immortal nature, he would then see how great an honor the grace of the Spirit has vouchsafed to priests.'

St. John Chrysostom

We should never lose sight that the priest represents our Lord Jesus Christ and deserves much respect and honor from us.  To me there is no person on earth more beautiful and noble that a validly ordained priest who is faithful to God and to his vocation.  God bless you!  

[Shin]

There is nothing like the Holy Sacrifice of Our Lord.

[Therese]

There is nothing like the Holy Sacrifice of Our Lord.

Nothing at all!