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George720
Guest
There is a whole series of videos on this monk…
He is a wonderful ascetic…
Simple, genuine, and kind…
geo
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He is a wonderful ascetic…
Simple, genuine, and kind…
geo
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
In the Paradise of the Holy Fathers there are a several places where the authors (since it’s a collection of books) emphasize the importance of reading for the sake of imitation rather than to satisfy intellectual curiosity. I like to think of it as: Read for transformation not information.**
Here’s my question: How have you adapted the teachings of the Desert Fathers/Mothers to your life’s situation?
Personally, since I am a husband and father I’m not called to live in the extreme poverty that they chose. But I realized that I can embrace this same spirit of poverty by living in simplicity. With every purchase I try to ask myself, “Is this absolutely necessary, or can I live without it?” For me, this becomes a real struggle when it comes to buying books.
Here’s my question: How have you adapted the teachings of the Desert Fathers/Mothers to your life’s situation?
Personally, since I am a husband and father I’m not called to live in the extreme poverty that they chose. But I realized that I can embrace this same spirit of poverty by living in simplicity. With every purchase I try to ask myself, “Is this absolutely necessary, or can I live without it?” For me, this becomes a real struggle when it comes to buying books.
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George720
Guest
The term “Hear…” (O Israel…) is not mere acoustics, but entails obedience to what is said, and is a command to action… “Contemplating” is another of those terms that can easily get lost, for in English it can be oh so cerebral, and oh so intellectual and filled with ideas of all manner of attributes and special significances or cosmic importance, where coincidences take on personal meaning for the person with whom they occur… Yet it is far simpler and more profound for the Christian - It is simply being alone in silent stillness in the Love of God in purity of heart and love for man…
Assent to God’s Word is not enough - Doing it is everything…
Living as a parent is its own askesis… Temptations aplenty and thank God for each one of them! Glory to God in all things is so easy to say and think you mean it, but is not so schmoozy when someone you love gets badly hurt or killed… Or your house burns down… Or you get cut off on the freeway going to work by a malicious driver…
geo
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Margaret_Ann
Guest
This is prescribed for Presanctified Liturgy from Great Monday to Great (Spy) Wednesday.
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Margaret_Ann
Guest
Ah - a fellow bibliophile! 
I had an opportunity to get Mike Aquilina’s book A Year With the Church Fathers but passed it up because my bookcase is overflowing.
I had an opportunity to get Mike Aquilina’s book A Year With the Church Fathers but passed it up because my bookcase is overflowing.
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Divine3
Guest
Not sure why I love the sayings of the Desert Fathers. There is apart of me which yearns for a radical, authentic Christian way of life. Their sayings ring true even though they lived away from society and it’s culture, they understood people. They lived for God alone. They didn’t fear the evil one, but courageously stayed faithful to their vocation. Prayer, fasting, silence …love of their neighbor, and they welcomed the stranger as Christ himself…but the desert fathers also knew how not to get tangled up with the world.
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Cruciferi
Guest
“The magistrate heard about Abba Moses one day and he went to Scetis to see him. They told the old man. He got up and fled to the marsh. Some people met him and said to him, ‘Old man, tell us where the cell of Abba Moses is.’ He said to them, ‘What do you want with him? He is a fool.’ So the magistrate went back to the church and said to the ministers, ‘I heard people talk about Abba Moses and I went to see him, but there was an old man going into Egypt who crossed our path and we asked him where Abba Moses’ cell is, and he said to us, “What do you want with him? He is a fool.”’ When they heard this, the clergy were offended and said, ‘What kind of an old man was it who spoke like that about the holy man to you?’ He said, ‘An old man wearing old clothes, a big black man.’ They said, ‘It was Abba Moses himself and it was in order not to meet you that he said that.’ The magistrate went away greatly edified.”
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George720
Guest
These are from our weekly Church bulletin…
Not all the Desert Fathers are reposed…
Guard sacredly and strictly our Orthodox Faith, both in its canons and in its dogmas.
Do not adapt your faith to your life,
but your life to the faith.
Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk
There are people who desire the destruction, the torment in hell-fire of their enemies, or the enemies of the Church. They think like this because they have not learned divine love from the Holy Spirit, for he who has learned the love of God will shed tears for the whole world.
“The soul of a humble man is like the sea: throw a stone into the sea–for a moment it will ruffle the surface a little, and then sink to the bottom. Thus do afflictions disappear down into the heart of the humble man, because the strength of the Lord is with him.”
St. Silouan of Mount Athos
There are innumerable and various ways by means of which the Devil enters into our soul and removes it from God, pressing upon it with all his being, dark, hateful, and destroying. Whatever the motion of passion may be, he finds a way, and does not neglect the least opportunity of entering the soul. Likewise there are innumerable and various ways for the Holy Spirit to enter it: the way of sincere faith, of true humility, of love to God and to our neighbour, and so on.
St. John of Kronstadt
The humble person believes that all things depend on Christ and that Christ gives His grace and in that way he makes progress. The person who possesses holy humility lives even now in the earthly uncreated Church. He always has the joy of Christ, even in the most displeasing circumstances.
Saint Porphyrios
If a person could realize at once the rising of his pride and say: ‘My God, I have nothing of my own and I am full of pride; forgive me!’ the compassionate hands of God will take hold of him immediately and set him down gently, without making his fall noticeable.
St. Paisios of Mt. Athos
In our age of moral and spiritual decline, only the heroic example of righteous men and women is able to ignite a zeal for godly living in accordance with the Divine commandments.
Fr. Seraphim Rose
The cross is the sole path to the resurrection… to flee from it is to enter into eternal death. Metropolitan Saba
Awareness of sin is a result of love and humility,
while unawareness is a result of pride and hardness of heart.
St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
Every day I lay a foundation for building my repentance,
and again with my own hands I demolish it.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
geo
Not all the Desert Fathers are reposed…
Guard sacredly and strictly our Orthodox Faith, both in its canons and in its dogmas.
Do not adapt your faith to your life,
but your life to the faith.
Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk
There are people who desire the destruction, the torment in hell-fire of their enemies, or the enemies of the Church. They think like this because they have not learned divine love from the Holy Spirit, for he who has learned the love of God will shed tears for the whole world.
“The soul of a humble man is like the sea: throw a stone into the sea–for a moment it will ruffle the surface a little, and then sink to the bottom. Thus do afflictions disappear down into the heart of the humble man, because the strength of the Lord is with him.”
St. Silouan of Mount Athos
There are innumerable and various ways by means of which the Devil enters into our soul and removes it from God, pressing upon it with all his being, dark, hateful, and destroying. Whatever the motion of passion may be, he finds a way, and does not neglect the least opportunity of entering the soul. Likewise there are innumerable and various ways for the Holy Spirit to enter it: the way of sincere faith, of true humility, of love to God and to our neighbour, and so on.
St. John of Kronstadt
The humble person believes that all things depend on Christ and that Christ gives His grace and in that way he makes progress. The person who possesses holy humility lives even now in the earthly uncreated Church. He always has the joy of Christ, even in the most displeasing circumstances.
Saint Porphyrios
If a person could realize at once the rising of his pride and say: ‘My God, I have nothing of my own and I am full of pride; forgive me!’ the compassionate hands of God will take hold of him immediately and set him down gently, without making his fall noticeable.
St. Paisios of Mt. Athos
In our age of moral and spiritual decline, only the heroic example of righteous men and women is able to ignite a zeal for godly living in accordance with the Divine commandments.
Fr. Seraphim Rose
The cross is the sole path to the resurrection… to flee from it is to enter into eternal death. Metropolitan Saba
Awareness of sin is a result of love and humility,
while unawareness is a result of pride and hardness of heart.
St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
Every day I lay a foundation for building my repentance,
and again with my own hands I demolish it.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
geo
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
All of these are wonderful quotes. The one from Fr. Seraphim Rose particularly jumped out at me.
For years now I’ve thought that the Church (whether Catholic or Orthodox) doesn’t need another book or program or podcast to help save Her from destruction in our secular age. What the Church needs more than anything is the witness of living saints - folks like you and I living our lives radically in love for God and others. Of course, Pope St. Paul VI said as much in his encyclical letter Evangelii Nuntiandi. But I believe that as time has progressed, this reality has become more and more apparent.
For years now I’ve thought that the Church (whether Catholic or Orthodox) doesn’t need another book or program or podcast to help save Her from destruction in our secular age. What the Church needs more than anything is the witness of living saints - folks like you and I living our lives radically in love for God and others. Of course, Pope St. Paul VI said as much in his encyclical letter Evangelii Nuntiandi. But I believe that as time has progressed, this reality has become more and more apparent.
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Margaret_Ann
Guest
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George720
Guest
We are finally beginning to generate living and specifically American Saints - We have Elder Ephraim in AZ, but he is Greek… We had St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, but he was Russian… Fr. Seraphim Rose was one, but is not yet recognized by the Church… And I am seeing some others emerge… There is an American “flavor” to these Saints - Growing up in freedom from a Protestant culture that is in severe decline - Some even former Atheists - Mostly from the western half of the country… Kids going secular and then called by God, many to monastic life… People who, should they pray for you, you had better have your feet firmly planted on the ground, because things will happen… Very ordinary Americans who have managed extraordinary lives - I simply pray that they are not too late, for this culture is heading in bad directions… We need Saints to save it, and it may need to have gone in bad directions in order that the Christian Faith should take firm root here… But it sure looks like end times a-coming, and little to stop it from happening - And if the USA descends into darkness, the world will follow suit…
Russia had clairvoyant elders going into the takeover of the Communists… Living Saints are the only thing that can turn this tide except God Himself… There are living Saints in every Age, but not a lot of them… But American Saints are a different kind of Saint, and they are only now just beginning to emerge from our Communion… Ordinary, everyday, good and solid and faithful Christians we have, but Saints walk in the Power of God flowing from them… These folks are not easy to find, but are pretty easy to recognize when encountered…
Yes - I fixed it - Thank-you…
We get a batch of these in our Church bulletin each week - I will see if I can post them up here - I did remove a couple of them…
geo
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George720
Guest
This week’s Spiritual Morsels
Like a flower, a parish comes to be what it is through many stages
and is not easy to keep healthy.
Flowers need sun and rain,
the right balance of fertilizers,
and occasionally pesticides.
What is true of plants is true of parishes,
if they do not continue to constantly grow, they quickly die.
New stems must come forth from the old ones,
so that growth begets growth,
and the plants build upon their previous seasons.
– His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH
It is good to help inquirers with words,
but it is better to cooperate with them through prayer
and the practice of virtue.
For he who through these offers himself to God,
helps his neighbor through helping himself.
St Mark the Ascetic
If man doesn’t start to work on himself,
then the devil will find another job for him –
to seek for flaws in others.
Saint Paisios the Athonite
Therefore be sure that every prayer that is not fulfilled is certainly harmful;
but a prayer that is answered is beneficial.
The Giver of gifts is just and good and will not leave your prayers unanswered,
for in His goodness there is no malice
and in His truth there is no envy.
Venerable Ephraim the Syrian
Because God is present everywhere,
the fallen spirits cannot do what they want.
They can harm us mostly through other people.
We can protect ourselves from them only with the power of God.
Man has been given great strength,
and if we could only concentrate our thoughts in prayer,
the fallen spirits would not be able to harm us
or do anything contrary to the will of God.
Where there is prayer,
the fallen spirits have no power.
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
“If a person earnestly seeks salvation with his whole heart,
God will lead him to a true instructor.
Do not worry,
each will find the one who is just right for him.”
– St. Leo of Optina
He who believes in the blessings of the world to come
abstains of his own accord from the pleasures of this present world.
But he who lacks such faith becomes pleasure-loving and insensitive.
Saint Mark the Ascetic
Never sleep before saying evening-prayers,
lest your heart should become gross from ill-timed sleep,
and lest the enemy should hinder it
by a stony insensibility during prayer.
St. John of Kronstadt
“God Himself lives in that man who has a peaceful heart.
Above all: consider yourself worse than everyone,
seek neither love nor honor from anyone,
but have them yourself for everyone -
thus you will obtain peace.
But as soon as you want others
to notice the goodness and virtue in you,
then say good-bye to spiritual peace.”
– St. Anatoly of Optina
“Not trusting in yourself
and not acting according to your own will and understanding
is the path to humility.
Without this, even though we may do good,
it is not pleasing to God.”
– St. Macarius of Optina
geo
Like a flower, a parish comes to be what it is through many stages
and is not easy to keep healthy.
Flowers need sun and rain,
the right balance of fertilizers,
and occasionally pesticides.
What is true of plants is true of parishes,
if they do not continue to constantly grow, they quickly die.
New stems must come forth from the old ones,
so that growth begets growth,
and the plants build upon their previous seasons.
– His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH
It is good to help inquirers with words,
but it is better to cooperate with them through prayer
and the practice of virtue.
For he who through these offers himself to God,
helps his neighbor through helping himself.
St Mark the Ascetic
If man doesn’t start to work on himself,
then the devil will find another job for him –
to seek for flaws in others.
Saint Paisios the Athonite
Therefore be sure that every prayer that is not fulfilled is certainly harmful;
but a prayer that is answered is beneficial.
The Giver of gifts is just and good and will not leave your prayers unanswered,
for in His goodness there is no malice
and in His truth there is no envy.
Venerable Ephraim the Syrian
Because God is present everywhere,
the fallen spirits cannot do what they want.
They can harm us mostly through other people.
We can protect ourselves from them only with the power of God.
Man has been given great strength,
and if we could only concentrate our thoughts in prayer,
the fallen spirits would not be able to harm us
or do anything contrary to the will of God.
Where there is prayer,
the fallen spirits have no power.
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
“If a person earnestly seeks salvation with his whole heart,
God will lead him to a true instructor.
Do not worry,
each will find the one who is just right for him.”
– St. Leo of Optina
He who believes in the blessings of the world to come
abstains of his own accord from the pleasures of this present world.
But he who lacks such faith becomes pleasure-loving and insensitive.
Saint Mark the Ascetic
Never sleep before saying evening-prayers,
lest your heart should become gross from ill-timed sleep,
and lest the enemy should hinder it
by a stony insensibility during prayer.
St. John of Kronstadt
“God Himself lives in that man who has a peaceful heart.
Above all: consider yourself worse than everyone,
seek neither love nor honor from anyone,
but have them yourself for everyone -
thus you will obtain peace.
But as soon as you want others
to notice the goodness and virtue in you,
then say good-bye to spiritual peace.”
– St. Anatoly of Optina
“Not trusting in yourself
and not acting according to your own will and understanding
is the path to humility.
Without this, even though we may do good,
it is not pleasing to God.”
– St. Macarius of Optina
geo
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George720
Guest
Perhaps I should do one-a-day quotations from our Church Weekly Bulletin…
A bunch of them seems to dull the senses somewhat, yes?
My favorite is the story of the pilgrim who asked an elder a question he was unable to solve himself - Because he was something of a perpetual pilgrim, moving from place to place all the time… He asked: “Elder, I go from place to place all the time, and here is my problem: No matter where I go, there I am… Can you help me?”
To which the elder replied: “That’s a start…”
OK - I made that one up!
So sue me!
geo
A bunch of them seems to dull the senses somewhat, yes?
My favorite is the story of the pilgrim who asked an elder a question he was unable to solve himself - Because he was something of a perpetual pilgrim, moving from place to place all the time… He asked: “Elder, I go from place to place all the time, and here is my problem: No matter where I go, there I am… Can you help me?”
To which the elder replied: “That’s a start…”
OK - I made that one up!
So sue me!
geo
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Divine3
Guest
Very good! 
We might have to call you desert George. Amazing the direction one can get from the desert Fathers. Most likely two or three are best to post due to if people take time to read. I really believe if you can’t find a spiritual director you can trust the Desert Fathers. I read the Imitation of Christ many times, just one thought. Have a little book that I can take anywhere.
We might have to call you desert George. Amazing the direction one can get from the desert Fathers. Most likely two or three are best to post due to if people take time to read. I really believe if you can’t find a spiritual director you can trust the Desert Fathers. I read the Imitation of Christ many times, just one thought. Have a little book that I can take anywhere.
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
Great parable, George. And so true. If we can’t find stillness by entering into the chambers of our hearts and closing the door to “all earthly cares,” then we certainly won’t be able to find stillness no matter how remote and quiet our external circumstances might be.
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
@george720, I’d love to know where your pastor got the quotes from Mark the Ascetic in this post. I loved both of them.
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George720
Guest
There is only one “s” difference between desert and dessert…Very good!
My road was through the desert of fallen creation…
Or, as I like to say, definitely not the “inside passage” of the Church…
But in the wild and storm driven seas of fallen creation…
Proof that God will have Mercy on whom He will have mercy…
geo
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Divine3
Guest
And that is the underserved dessert of his loving mercy.
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Margaret_Ann
Guest
Is that the edition once published by the Confraternity of the Precious Blood? I have an original and a reprint. (I think TAN Books publishes the Confraternity books now.)
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Divine3
Guest
@Margaret_Ann I will check - The Imitation of Christ
St Pauls, Homebush, Australia 1983 1st edition
North American Edition
Alba House – Society of St. Paul
Staten Island NY. Every chapter has a reflection, a prayer, a one line you can memorize from Thomas Kempis, Then a Practice. again a one line expressing something you can do from the chapter you read. e.g.
Chapter 8 Practice- Cultivate the intimate friendship of Jesus and turn to him in every need.
i.e. at the end of chapter it has Reflection (which is taken from one of the Vatican II documents)
Prayer, Memorize, and Practice it is only around 6" in height…pocket size
St Pauls, Homebush, Australia 1983 1st edition
North American Edition
Alba House – Society of St. Paul
Staten Island NY. Every chapter has a reflection, a prayer, a one line you can memorize from Thomas Kempis, Then a Practice. again a one line expressing something you can do from the chapter you read. e.g.
Chapter 8 Practice- Cultivate the intimate friendship of Jesus and turn to him in every need.
i.e. at the end of chapter it has Reflection (which is taken from one of the Vatican II documents)
Prayer, Memorize, and Practice it is only around 6" in height…pocket size
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