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“Whoever does not obtain the kingdom of God within oneself will not recognize the Antichrist and will inevitably, become his follower”.
Saint Ignaty Brianchaninov |
How Archibishop Fulton Sheen (now Venerable) used to explain the differences between Freud, Adler and Jung
It's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChF4P7PIx4I |
From my favourite quotations from Chesterton:
About Faith: "The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people". "If there were no God, there would be no atheists". About the Cult of Progress: "Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around" "Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision". "Progress is Providence without God. That is, it is a theory that everything has always perpetually gone right by accident. It is a sort of atheistic optimism, based on an everlasting coincidence far more miraculous than a miracle." You will find far more here: http://www.chesterton.org/quotations...esterton/#Love |
A man walked up to a Franciscan and Jesuit and asked, "How many novenas must you say to get a Mercedes Benz?"
The Franciscan asked, "What's a Mercedes Benz?" The Jesuit asked, "What's a novena?" |
After the Baptism of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, but I want to stay with you guys."
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After 500 years, franciscan friars are back in Oxford, England. And this time it is not a joke about grayfriars, but is for serious.
Source and nice photos: http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/11...ar_long_exile/ Magnificat anima mea! Brick by brick. Rome was not built in 3 days, guys! |
"If you do not hate your ox when it is afflicted with pestilence, and if you do not hate your sheep when it falls sick, how could you hate a man, your brother, who has caught the leprosy of atheism? The burden of atheism is crushing enough by itself; do not load your burden of hatred on top of your brother as well."
Saint Nikolai Velimirovich - The Struggle for Faith |
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Everyone Was Warned Not To Touch Him, But This Guy Did
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Ceasurile
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"By abstaining from evil (cf. Job 2:3) and by the practice of good deeds (cf.Ps. 34:15) a person becomes holy. It is not as though he were sanctified simply by works, for no soul will be justified by works of the law (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16), but rather that by practicing such actions he is brought into fellowship with the Holy God."
St. Symeon the New Theologian - "The Discourses" |
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In case you haven't read The Bible
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How many Christians there are who say, "I believe in God," without in reality believing!
How many mouths are dumb when in the company of men it is necessary to defend the glory of God and of His saints, which is blasphemed by the children of this world! Some remain silent when it is necessary to support the conversation concerning God, or to put a stop to any disrespect or insolence. Many say, "I believe in God"; but should any misfortune or temptation arise, they grow fainthearted and despondent. Sometimes they begin to murmur. And what becomes of all their faith? This should be the very time to show submission to the will of God, and to say, "Let it be as the Lord wills." "Blessed be the name of the Lord." Otherwise it is evident that they only believe in God in the time of happiness, and renounce Him in the time of misfortune. St John of Kronstadt - My Life in Christ |
Daily Scripture Readings
Thursday of the 27th Week after Pentecost
Luke 21.28-33 Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 1 Timothy 6.17-21 As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed. O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you. |
Morning Prayer - by Archimandrite Sophrony Saharov
Eternal God, Holy King, Maker of Heaven and Earth,
Jesus Christ, Son without beginning of the Father without beginning, Who with incomprehensible goodness hast called me from nonbeing to this life, Who hast granted to me the blessing of baptism and heavenly rebirth and hast set the seal of Thy Holy Spirit on the members of my body, as Thou hast kindled the desire to seek after Thee, the ONLY ONE TRUE GOD, Hear now my prayer. Neither life nor light nor joy have I, neither wisdom nor strength except Thee, O God, I am not worthy to look upon Thee, for the multitude of my sins. But as Thou hast said the Thy disciples, "Whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye will receive", and "If ye ask anything in My name, I will do it", in daring I call to Thee. Cleanse me of every impurity of flesh and spirit and teach me how to pray to Thee worthily. Bless this day which Thou hast given me, Thy unworthy servant, and with the power of Thy blessing, permit me at all times, and in every place, with pure heart, to speak and act unto Thy glory, with patience, wise humility and love, in the spirit of peace, meekness, magnanimity and wisdom, and to regard Thee before my own needs. Make known to me, O Lord, the way of Thy will, according to Thy boundless goodness, and grant me to walk blamelessly before Thy face. |
(cont.) - morning prayer - arch. Sophrony
Thou King of Peace, seest into the depths of hearts and innermost parts.
Thou knowest my poverty and mindlessness. Thou knowest my blindness and ignorance, but Thou seest my heart's desire and my soul's sickness and sorrow are not hidden from Thee. Hearken then unto my prayer, and by Thy Holy Spirit direct me to the true land. Whenever my corrupt will should lead me along strange paths, then I pray Thee, SPARE ME NOT, but by constraint bring me back to the path of Thy Holly Commandments. By the power of Thy Love, let me follow in Thy footsteps, wherever Thou goest. Protect me from every soul-destroying word and deed, from every agitation of heart and mind which may sorrow Thy Holy Spirit or grieve my brother. Teach me what it is fitting to say and how to fittingly say it. If it be Thy will that I keep silent, give me the sense to keep silent in the spirit of peace, not like those who outrage or trouble my neighbor. Order me in the ways of thy statutes and even my last breath do not let me deviate from the light of Thy commandments, so that Thy commandments shall be the sole low of all my being, both now and ever. O My Blessed Maker, Be merciful to me, Thy fallen creature, be generous with me in my humility and sorrow, and hide not from me the way of Thy salvation. Many and great things I ask of Thee, O My God, but forget not my corruption and my uselessness. Therefore, have mercy on me, and turn not Thy face from me, on account of my audacity, but all the more, increase in me the holy audacity, and make me worthy, most wretched of men, to love Thee, as Thou hast commanded us, with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength. With all my being, may I love Thee. O Lord King, by Thy Holy Spirit, Teach me prudence and wisdom. Grant me to know Thy Truth before I descend into my grave. Prolong my days in this world so that I may bring to Thee the worthy fruits of repentance. Do not carry me off in the midst of my days, nor in the darkness of my mind. But when Thou mercifully permittest the end of my cursed life, warn me, so that my soul will be prepared to see Thee. On that great day, at that dread hour, be with me, O LORD, and grant me the ineffable joy of Thy salvation. Cleanse me of my hidden things and from all unlawfulness lurking in me, and grant me to bring a good defense at Thy Dread Judgement. Yea, Lord, according to Thy great mercy and Thy immeasurable love for mankind, hear my prayer. Amen. |
"Abba Macarius said, 'If you rebuke someone and do it with anger, you have allowed a passion to control you. You have not saved anyone and have destroyed yourself'."
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Our father
I received on e-mail a divine version of the song of "Our father".
Andrea Bocelli sings it in English together with a choir. I put the link in the section for music (not everybody reads the English corner). It is so beautiful, I cried. Just hear it... http://gloria.tv/?media=479543&language=3SsSaAhCEfb |
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Do we really have the same faith as Saint Maximus ? Let us read:
"The extremities of the earth, and everyone in every part of it who purely and rightly confess the Lord, look directly towards the Most Holy Roman Church and her confession and faith, as to a sun of unfailing light awaiting from her the brilliant radiance of the sacred dogmas of our Fathers, according to that which the inspired and holy Councils have stainlessly and piously decreed. For, from the descent of the Incarnate Word amongst us, all the churches in every part of the world have held the greatest Church alone to be their base and foundation, seeing that, according to the promise of Christ Our Savior, the gates of hell will never prevail against her, that she has the keys of the orthodox confession and right faith in Him, that she opens the true and exclusive religion to such men as approach with piety, and she shuts up and locks every heretical mouth which speaks against the Most High. (Maximus, Opuscula theologica et polemica, Migne, Patr. Graec. vol. 90)". The faith of this great catholic saint is that the Apostolic See of Rome has divine origin. Let's read what Saint Maximus says: "the blessed Pope of the most holy Catholic Church of the Romans, that is, the Apostolic See, which is from the incarnate of the Son of God Himself, and also all the holy synods, accodring to the holy canons and definitions has received universal and surpreme dominion, authority, and power of binding and loosing over all the holy churches of God throughout the whole world. (Maximus, Letter to Peter, in Mansi x, 692). ". Those who tell us they follow the Early and Holy Fathers of the Church, are they following the real doctrine of Saint Maximus ? Are they saying like him and with him that the Church of Rome has received "universal and supreme dominion, authority, power of binding and losing" ? Or, in fact, they reject what Saint Maximus was saying ? |
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"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." – Arthur Ashe
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dedication for the Great Lent
"Fasting is a great thing but love is even greater".
St. Nikolai Velimirovich - The Prologue of Ohrid How do you understand this? Me, for instance, I am making a trip to see my parents in Romania this March. They are not really fasting, and are thinking to make a lot of goodies for me when I come. Think they will be very upset if I refuse them, so I am really thinking not to. |
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New York's answer to the Sistine Chapel:
Priest spends six years covering every wall of his church in vivid byzantine style religious paintings http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...27_634x424.jpg http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/...15_634x501.jpg http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...yle-icons.html |
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Fasting for me is the ABC of relation with God;if I cannot abtain myself temporarily from bodily pleasures I feel unworthy to even call upon God! Fasting is discipline for my body and mind,is like exercising to be a solder in the God's Army. About your trip and fasting during that time, it will be better to ask your spiritual father for guidance. |
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March 17 - Today's Scripture Readings
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Proverbs 12.8-22 A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of perverse mind is despised. Better is a man of humble standing who works for himself than one who plays the great man but lacks bread. A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits has no sense. The strong tower of the wicked comes to ruin, but the root of the righteous stands firm. An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. From the fruit of his words a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent man ignores an insult. He who speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure for ever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan good have joy. No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight. Genesis 9.8-17 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will look upon it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” |
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Readings for April 2, 2015
Venerable Titus the Wonderworker (9th); Martyrs Amphianos and Aedesios of Lydia (306); Martyr Polycarp of Alexandria (4th); Venerable Gregory of Nicomedia Thursday of the Sixth Week of Lent Prov 23.15-24.5 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way. Be not among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. Hearken to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad, let her who bore you rejoice. My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. For a harlot is a deep pit; an adventuress is a narrow well. She lies in wait like a robber and increases the faithless among men. Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine, those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things. You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. “They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.” Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief. By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge than he who has strength; Gen 46.1-7 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” Then Jacob set out from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their cattle and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt. unsubscribe |
Today's Scripture Readings
Holy Wednesday
Job 2.1-10 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said to Satan, "€śWhence have you come?"€ť Satan answered the LORD, "€śFrom going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it."€ť And the LORD said to Satan, "€śHave you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause."€ť Then Satan answered the LORD, "€śSkin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face."€ť And the LORD said to Satan, "€śBehold, he is in your power; only spare his life."€ť So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and afflicted Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. Then his wife said to him, "€śDo you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die."€ť But he said to her, "€śYou speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"€ť In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Exod 2.11-22 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together; and he said to the man that did the wrong, "€śWhy do you strike your fellow?"€ť He answered, "śWho made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?"€ť Then Moses was afraid, and thought, "€śSurely the thing is known."€ť When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh, and stayed in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father'€™s flock. The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. When they came to their father Reuel, he said, "€śHow is it that you have come so soon today?"€ť They said, "€śAn Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and even drew water for us and watered the flock."€ť He said to his daughters, "€śAnd where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."€ť And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. She bore a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, "€śI have been a sojourner in a foreign land."€ť |
The Lamentations- First Stasis
1.In a grave they laid Three,
yet,O Christ Thou art Life, and the armies of the angels beheld amazed, giving glory that Thou chose to condescend. 2.How,O Life,dost Thou die? How dost Thou dwell entombed, Who hast slashed through all the bonds their graves? 3.We,O Lord,exalt Thee, O Christ Jesus,our King, and we venerate Thy Passion and burial through which Thou hast brought redemption from our sins. 4.Thou hast set the measures of the earth,yet this day in a narrow tomb dost dwell,Jesus,King of all, Who hast raised those who were dead up from their tombs. 5.O mine own Christ Jesus, Thou art King of the world. Why hast Thou come down to Hades to seek the dead? Is it not to set the race of mortals free? 6.He Who is the Master of creation appears as a corpse and lies entombed in a fresh-hewn grave, though He emptied every gravesite of its dead. 7.In a grave they laid Thee, yet,O Christ,Thou art Life. By Thy death hast Thou abolished the realm of death, and upon the world hast poured down streams of Life. 8.Fairer in His beauty than all creatures on earth, He is seen now lying lifeless,his beauty gone, yet all beauty in creation springs from Him. 9.O mine own sweet Jesus, Saving light of the world, can the darkness of the grave hide Thy Light within? Neither thought nor word can say what Thou hast borne. 10.Neither Nature's reason, nor the angels,O Christ, grasp the mystery enfolding Thy burial, beyond all our understanding and all words. 11.I revere Thy passion Thine entombment I praise, and I magnify Thy might,Loving Friend of man, they have ransomed me from passion that corrupt. 12.When Thy mother saw Thee brought to slaughter,O Lamb, she was stabbed with painful torment,her anguished sobs called the flock to join her bitter cries of grief. 13."Woe is me!"the Virgin mourned through heart-breaking sobs. "Thou art,Jesus,my most precious,beloved Son! Gone is my light,and the Light of all the world!" 14."God and Word eternal, O my Gladness and Joy! How shall I endure Thy three days inside the tomb when my heart is breaking with a mother's grief"? 15."Who will give me water and a fountain of tears", cried the Virgin Bride of God in her deep despair, "that in grief for my sweet Jesus I might weep". Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. 16.We will sing Thy praises, Word and God of all things, with Thy Father and Thy Holy Spirit Thou art praised, and we glorify Thy burial divine. Both now and forever and unto the ages of ages.Amin. 17.Thou art known as blessed, Theotokos,most pure. With our faithful hearts we honour the burial suffered three days by Thy Son,Who is our God. 18.In a grave they laid Thee, yet,O Christ Thou art Life, and the armies of the angels beheld amazed, giving glory that Thou chose to condescend. |
Forgiveness of others is the well-spring that extinguishes the fire of hell in our hearts and replaces it with the light of paradise.
Vladika Lazar Puhalo |
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If you find that there is no love in you, but you want to have it, then do deeds of love, even though you do them without love in the beginning. The Lord will see your desire and striving and will put love in your heart. † St. Ambrose of Optina https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...a9067b5cea4559 |
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