Sayings of The Holy Fathers:
"To act without malice is to invite into our soul the very appearance and indwelling of God Himself, as St. John Climacus said. Also, great joy is created in the soul by the prevalence of innocence. Indeed, look at the young children who are simple and free of malice; they are always most happy simply on account of their gracious simplicity and guilelessness. Later, when they grow up and come to know evil, joy leaves them because they are no longer without malice."
St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain
"The eyes can distract the mind very quickly and cause it in a flash to slip into the place of sin. The eyes look upon something passionately; they fondly dwell upon the idol of beauty; in an instant it is impressed upon the mind; the soul is pleased by the sight of the idol; the mind transmits it appetite and desire to the heart, and the sin is committed without a witness, according to St. Basil. This then is what the Lord meant when He said: 'whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart' (Mt 5:28). This is why Solomon reminded us: 'Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids' (Prov. 6:25)."
St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain
[A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel]
The Desert Fathers, Sr. Benedicta Ward, "The Sayings of the Desert Fathers," (Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications, 1975), pp. 89-95
"All men are made in God's image; but to be in His likeness is granted only to those who through great love have brought their own freedom into subjection to God. For only when we do not belong to ourselves do we become like Him who through love has reconciled us to Himself. No one achieves this unless he persuades his soul not to be distracted by the false glitter of this life."
St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain
"The eyes can distract the mind very quickly and cause it in a flash to slip into the place of sin. The eyes look upon something passionately; they fondly dwell upon the idol of beauty; in an instant it is impressed upon the mind; the soul is pleased by the sight of the idol; the mind transmits it appetite and desire to the heart, and the sin is committed without a witness, according to St. Basil. This then is what the Lord meant when He said: 'whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart' (Mt 5:28). This is why Solomon reminded us: 'Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids' (Prov. 6:25)."
St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain
[A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel]
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"Abba John the Dwarf said, "A house is not built by beginning at the top and working down. You must begin with the foundations in order to reach the top." They said to him, "What does this saying mean?" He said, "The foundation is our neighbor, whom we must win, and that is the place to begin. For all the commandments of Christ depend on this one."
The Desert Fathers, Sr. Benedicta Ward, "The Sayings of the Desert Fathers," (Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications, 1975), pp. 89-95
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"All men are made in God's image; but to be in His likeness is granted only to those who through great love have brought their own freedom into subjection to God. For only when we do not belong to ourselves do we become like Him who through love has reconciled us to Himself. No one achieves this unless he persuades his soul not to be distracted by the false glitter of this life."
St. Diadochos of Photiki
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