The degree of victory over self is of trifling importance. It consisted perhaps in our skipping our morning cigarette, or only in such an apparently unimportant thing as not turning our head or refraining from meeting a glance. The externally noticeable happening is not the decisive one. The little thing can be big, and the big, little.
Way of the Ascetics: The Ancient Tradition of Discipline and Inner Growth
Tito Colliander
Category: TEMPTATION & LUST & VIRGINITY
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Don’t struggle directly with temptation, don’t pray for it to go away, don’t say, ‘Take it from me, O God!’ Then you are acknowledging the strength of the temptation and it takes hold of you. Because, although you are saying ‘Take it from me, O God’, basically you are bringing it to mind and fomenting it even more. Your desire to be free of the passion will, of course, be there, but it will exist in a hidden and discrete way, without appearing outwardly.
—St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia, Wounded by Love -
“At a time of affliction, expect a provocation to sensual pleasure; for because it relieves the affliction it is readily welcomed.”
—St. Mark the Ascetic -
“Many of us feel remorse for our sins, yet we gladly accept their causes.”
—St. Mark the Ascetic -
“Involuntary thoughts arise from previous sin; voluntary ones from our free will. Thus the latter are the cause of the former.”
—St. Mark the Ascetic -
If the Lord delays granting you full victory over your enemies and puts it off to the last day of your life, you must know that He does this for your own good; so long as you do not retreat or cease to struggle wholeheartedly. Even if you are wounded in battle, do not lay down your arms and turn to flight. Keep only one thing in your mind and intention—to fight with all courage and ardour, since it is unavoidable. No man can escape this warfare, either in life or in death. And he who does not fight to overcome his passions and his enemies will inevitably be taken prisoner, either here or yonder, and delivered to death.
Unseen Warfare
Lorenzo Scupoli -
“Guard your mind and you will not be harassed by temptations. But if you fail to guard it, accept patiently whatever trial comes.”
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“Run away the first time; run away the second time; the third time, become a sword.”
—Abba Poemen -
The holy fathers of Scete predicted concerning the last generation, saying: “What have we accomplished?” In reply one of them, great in life and name, Abba Ischyrion, said: “We have carried out the commandments of God.” In reply the elders said: “But those who come after us, what will they accomplish?” He said: “They are going to attain the half of what we have done.” They said: “And what of those after them?” and he said: “Those of that generation will do no work at all. Temptation is going to come upon them and those who are found to be tried and tested in that age will be found greater both than us and than our fathers.”
Give Me a Word: The Alphabetical Sayings of the Desert Fathers
SO GOOD QUOTES 