It does not please God to see one justifying himself, finding excuses as Adam and Eve did. Instead of judging themselves in front of God they started blaming someone else.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT VOL. II
Author: SO GOOD QUOTES
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How dangerous is the feeling that we are the only ones worshiping God, or the only ones with principles!
There are those who judge the whole generation and judge all people as being lost and corrupted! They forget that there are those who are chosen by God, whom they might not know, but God knows them.
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The one who has love rejoices at having many like him or even better than him. As for the self-conceited, this matter troubles him, or at least does not cheer him! He thinks it is a challenge to him. He does not even care about God, but about himself.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT VOL. II
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If we have condemned ourselves, we will not be condemned then, at the great and eternal judgement.
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One time, I found an elderly monk standing long to pray by the relics of the saints. He spoke much, but among his words he said, “Lord, do not take me in a moment of inattention.” This is a beautiful saying. When you seesaw between sides, you might be taken in a moment of inattention.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Monastic Treasures for All of Us
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One might say that another’s action will destroy the monastery. Yet, if the action is truly wrong, it will surely be revealed; you should not necessarily be the one who reveals it. It will be revealed on its own. If you place yourself as a watchdog over the actions of others, then, as the saying goes, you will have turned from a worshipper into a judge. Did you come to work as judges, or worshippers? Each one of us should say, “I will keep to myself. What business is it of mine? What brought me into all of these affairs?”
The wronged will be avenged by God, the peace of the monastery will be protected by God, those commissioned have their own responsibilities, and each of you should keep to yourself. If you keep to yourself, you will be respected by all, loved by all, and trusted by all, and if you do intervene on any given occasion, your word will have a positive impact.
—Pope Shenouda III, Monastic Treasures for All of Us
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“Sainthood is reached when the Lord, by the breath of His grace, perfects our own imperfections.”
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“Fr. Mina proved to me that sainthood is attainable, and that the Lord is able to work with our many imperfections—if we let Him.”
A Spring in Sinai: Hieromartyr Mina Abood: His Life, Miracles, and Martyrdom in Post-Revolution Egypt
Anthony Marcos -
The demons of anger, strife, stubbornness and pride, all stand totally bewildered before the person who possesses the virtue of self-reproach, not knowing how to conquer him, but gnashing their teeth in vexation, defeated before this person who never justifies himself, never gets angry with anyone, who neither contends nor shouts, but with a soft answer and a kind word together with reproaching himself, solves every strife and disperses every anger. Such a person lives meekly, gently and peaceably, and is loved by all. He does not contend with anyone, neither does he permit himself to be angry with anyone, however much he is in the right.
For he reproaches himself, saying, “If I become angry with this person and enraged at him, I will lose the virtue of meekness and the virtue of endurance, the virtue of love and the virtue of being at peace with people. And then I will be at fault”.
Thus he reproaches himself – not for sins which he has committed – but for sins which he warns himself from falling into. Consequently, he becomes watchful and on his guard, and his soul advances towards perfection.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Before the Just Judge
SO GOOD QUOTES 