• And it will be no small affliction to the souls of those who are being punished at that time, to reflect that when they had it in their power in the few days of this life to make all good, they neglected their opportunity and surrendered themselves to everlasting evil. And lest we should suffer this, let us rouse ourselves while it is the accepted time, while it is the day of salvation,’ while the power of repentance is great.

    ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
    ON REPENTANCE & DEFEATING DESPAIR
    Letters to Theodore

  • How long do you expect life to be? No one can guarantee its extent or quality. But temporary pleasures are not worth the eternal consequence. Consider all your deeds within an eternal perspective.

    ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
    ON REPENTANCE & DEFEATING DESPAIR
    Letters to Theodore

  • Such a person does good without waiting for a commandment. His good nature makes him in no need of a call to do good.

    He does good because it is in his nature, being in God’s image. He does good as a habitual thing, as a breath coming out, without feeling that he is doing something strange or beyond his ability.

    So, seeing it is something normal, he does not boast of doing it.

    On the contrary, he who does not love good finds God’s commandment heavy, and he becomes an enemy to God! He feels that God deprives him of the pleasure of sinning, and that His commandment restricts him, leading him in a way he does not want. Thus God’s way becomes difficult to him and he walks in it forcibly, if ever he does!

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • There are things which it is better for man not to know or to experience. About such things the Scriptures said, “he who increases knowledge increases sorrow” (Eccel 1: 18).

    Satan said to Eve, “in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened.”, and it would have been better for them had they not have their eyes opened to that kind of knowledge.

    It is much better for man to know only good. He would live in happiness and would love the others because he sees only the good in them.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • But, what if it is impossible to live peaceably with everybody?

    * Do not be the cause of the controversy.

    Be the crucified not the crucifier. You may face troubles from others, but do not be the beginner of evil. Moreover, do not be over-sensitive with regard to the faults of others.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • * Do not require others to be ideal, but accept them as they are, not as they ought to be.

    We accept nature as it is: the seasons whether rainy, stormy or hot, we do not ask nature to change itself. Let us do the same with the others. Not all of them are righteous and good. So many have weaknesses or certain dominating temperament. People are of different types, some of which are troublesome. So, be like a spectator, not influenced by their behavior, and treat them wisely according to their nature.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • Sin makes man afraid of being exposed and his sin revealed before the others. And he fears the consequences of sin: the punishment inflicted by the society or the law, and he fears God and His judgment.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • A chaste person is too sensitive to request, and if given he is too shy to receive. Unlike this is the unchaste person who may ask for something not his right to have, as if it were a right usurped from him! Even if given he may ask for more seeing it so little. Such are those who ask God for things they consider it their right to have!! Such was the lost son who asked his father for his portion of inheritance (Lk 15).

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • A chaste person’s look is not lustful but bashful.

    This does not apply only to sex, but even to respect towards elders. The son dares not look boldly to his father but rather with great reverence, not even lifting up his eyes towards him as if in challenge. It is said that St. Abba Pigimi lived for 18 years in the company of holy elders in the monastery, and he never looked any of them fully in the face.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit

  • The woman should not cause offense with her beauty and femininity, nor the man with his temptations, emotions, and promises, or through extending friendship and familiarity. These usually start innocent, in fact or in appearance, then end the opposite way.

    —H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Fruits of the Spirit