How do we acquire faith, the deep conviction that produces the most zeal? The saints teach that it comes from gathering knowledge. He who does not know the truth cannot have true faith; for in the nature of things, knowledge comes before faith (Hesychius).
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How quickly you can have faith depends upon how quick, and how willing, you are to put available facts together into knowledge.
God’s Path to Sanity
Dee Pennock
Category: KNOWLEDGE
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“Watch out for intellect, because it knows so much it knows nothing and leaves you hanging upside down, mouthing knowledge as your heart falls out of your mouth.”
—Anne Sexton -
One who wants to learn a foreign language is not a competent instructor of himself; he gets himself taught by experts, and can then talk with foreigners. So, for this high life, which does not advance in nature’s groove, but is estranged from her by the novelty of its course, a man cannot be instructed thoroughly unless he puts himself into the hands of one who has himself led it in perfection; and indeed in all the other professions of life the candidate is more likely to achieve success if he gets from tutors a scientific knowledge of each part of the subject of his choice, than if he undertook to study it by himself; and this particular profession is not one where everything is so clear that judgment as to our best course in it is necessarily left to ourselves; it is one where to hazard a step into the unknown at once brings us into danger. The science of medicine once did not exist; it has come into being by the experiments which men have made, and has gradually been revealed through their various observations; the healing and the harmful drug became known from the attestation of those who had tried them, and this distinction was adopted into the theory of the art, so that the close observation of former practitioners became a precept for those who succeeded; and now any one who studies to attain this art is under no necessity to ascertain at his own peril the power of any drug, whether it be a poison or a medicine; he has only to learn from others the known facts, and may then practise with success.
—St. Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity, Chap. 23 -
It is so also with that medicine of the soul, philosophy, from which we learn the remedy for every weakness that can touch the soul.
—St. Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity, Chap. 23 -
Keep on the spiritual readings, even without understanding. Keep on praying, even without warmth, confess always even though you feel no penitence. Perhaps because of your perseverance, the Grace of God may seek you and give you the understanding, warmth and penitence.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III -
Many search for a benefit from a word…
If they do not read it or hear it they feel that they have not benefited!!
The wise person sees a word of benefit in everything.
Even in the silence of others, he sees benefit and wisdom… He might benefit from their silence more than he benefits from their talk.
Every incident you experience in life, your life or the life of others, holds a word of benefit for you… Therefore, many benefit from incidents more than they benefit from books, articles or talks…
Life experience is also full of countless words of benefit, for the one who knows how to benefit from such experience.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT VOL. II
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Even all the incidents you experience are permitted by God so you can gain a spiritual benefit from them…
There are those who become nervously, psychologically or mentally affected by incidents. Others are affected spiritually by whatever events they experience; everything that happens to them makes them closer to God….
The people that you meet, are sent by God. Passing your way, they are for your own spiritual benefit, if you know how to benefit from them.
The righteous present you with an example and a blessing, while you benefit endurance, patience, and forgiveness for others from evil.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, WORDS OF SPIRITUAL BENEFIT VOL. II
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In our current age, there are some monks who have deviated in theological issues. Also, some monks are simple; they fall into faults without knowing I remember the first responsibility entrusted to me as a monk was caring for the library in the Syrian Monastery. At first, I coded the books, organized them, and read them as much as I could. In doing this, I would find inside the front cover of a book a curse and an anathema against anyone who removes it from the monastery or contradicts the book; however, the book is full of heresies and innovations. Probably, a person gave it as a gift to a monk, who thanked him for it and prayed for him, without knowing what is written inside this heretical book. Perhaps an unorthodox manuscript, or an incorrect icon, given as a gift, might be placed in the church, meanwhile, it is all wrong.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Monastic Treasures for All of Us
SO GOOD QUOTES 