Similarly, the merciful man who performs his acts of charity by drawing on his possessions remains within the bounds of nature, and does not go beyond them as does the person who deliberately gives away all he possesses. Again, marriage is natural, while virginity is a more than natural grace.
—St Peter of Damaskos
Category: MARRIAGE
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“Olga was nice, Olga was nice and loving, Olga loved him, he repeated to himself with a growing sadness as he also realised that nothing would ever happen between them again, life sometimes offers you a chance he thought, but when you are too cowardly or too indecisive to seize it life takes the cards away; there is a moment for doing things and entering a possible happiness, and this moment lasts a few days, a few weeks or even a few months, but it only happens once and one time only, and if you want to return to it later it’s quite simply impossible. There’s no more place for enthusiasm, belief and faith, and there remains just gentle resignation, a sad and reciprocal pity, the useless but correct sensation that something could have happened, that you just simply showed yourself unworthy of this gift you had been offered.”
The Map and the Territory
Michel Houellebecq -
Paul: Do you really think that getting married is going to make it all better?
Do you have any idea of how many married people – how many parents – feel as empty as you do?
Let me ask you, when was the last time you felt real happiness?
Mia: A couple weeks ago when I thought that I was pregnant.
Paul: And what about that made you feel good?
Mia: That it wasn’t just me, that my life had meaning. That there would be this – this other person, always.
Paul: Have you ever considered that maybe it’s not about a child, Mia, or a husband?
Maybe that’s just a picture in your head from – from your family, from your friends, from—from the culture?
Not everyone needs that to live a full and contented life.
Maybe what you really want, Mia, is to feel connected – authentically connected – to somebody or something else.
In Treatment
S2, EP 31: Mia – Week Seven -
I know you are so focused on how attractive Hermione looks and your heart is in a flurry of excitement, but if you really think about what you are attracted to—a physical body that is just full of fluid, food, bile, spit, and other such things—you would hopefully realize what you admire is far less beautiful than one’s soul.
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ON REPENTANCE & DEFEATING DESPAIR
Letters to Theodore -
If the Christian married couple lived a spiritual life, the clause of divorce could be abolished completely from the personal statute. There would be no need for it, as the great love that joins the married couple together would never allow divorce. On the contrary, instead of separation, the relationship between them will deepen day after day…
—Pope Shenouda III, Words of Spiritual Benefit Vol. 1 -
And to an age which despised chastity, and a public which had lost the sense of respect, he declared the grandeur of the Christian marriage, and the noble duties incumbent on both husband and wife. He frankly spoke of chastity and the sanctity of marriage without risking as much as a passing smile of disdain—for so effective were his teachings that he lifted his listeners to the heights he proclaimed, and taught with indefatigable patience and a radiant smile.
THE STORY OF THE COPTS
THE TRUE STORY OF THE CHRISTIANS OF EGYPT WHO HAVE LIVED THE BIBLE FOR 2,000 YEARSBY IRIS HABIB EL MASRI
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Think about the troubles and anxieties of this life when it comes to a wife and children. [Instead of focusing solely on serving God], do you prefer all of these other distractions instead?Would you have me speak of the domestic cares of wife, and children and servant? It is an evil thing to wed a very poor wife, or a very rich one, for the former is injurious to the husband’s means, the latter to his authority and independence. It is a grievous thing to have children, still more grievous not to have any; for in the latter case marriage has been to no purpose, in the former a bitter bondage has to be undergone.
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ON REPENTANCE & DEFEATING DESPAIR
Letters to Theodore -
People who are not fully enlightened use romantic relationships to hide from the truth. They want to bypass the painful healing process and disappear into false pleasure and false security…They want someone to finally love them fully, understand them, take them under their wing, protect them, guide them, and be selfless with them. But this is impossible.
Relationships: What Lies Underneath Them
SO GOOD QUOTES 