Desert Fathers When I Fall I Get Up Again

They asked Abba Sisoes, 'If a brother sins, surely he must practise penance for a year?' He replied, 'That is a hard saying.' The visitors said, 'For six months?' He replied, 'That is a great bargain.' They said, 'For twoscore days? 'He said, 'That is a great deal, as well. 'They said to him, 'What then? If a brother falls, and the agape is about to be offered, should he but come to the afraid, also? 'The old homo said to them, 'No, he needs to do penance for a few days. Just I trust in God that if such a man does penance with his whole heart, God will receive him, even in three days.'

From The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection

You must never be afraid, if you are troubled by a overflowing of thoughts, that the enemy is besides strong against you, that his attacks are never ending, that the state of war volition last for your lifetime, and that y'all cannot avert ceaseless downfalls of all kinds. Know that our enemies, with all their wiles, are in the easily of our divine Commander, our Lord Jesus Christ, for Whose honour and glory you lot are waging war. Since He himself leads you into battle, He will certainly non suffer your enemies to utilise violence against you and overcome y'all, if you practise not yourself cross over to their side with your will. He volition Himself fight for you and will deliver your enemies into your easily, when He wills and as He wills, as it is written: 'The Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies earlier thee' (Deut. xxii, 14).

+ From Unseen Warfare , St. Theophan the Recluse and St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

Until a human being's earthly life finishes its class, up to the very deviation of the soul from the body, the struggle between sin and righteousness continues within him. However, high a spiritual and moral state one might achieve, a gradual or even headlong and deep fall into the abyss of sin is always possible. Therefore, communion of the holy Body and Blood of Christ, which strengthens our contact with Him and refreshes us with the living streams of the grace of the Holy Spirit flowing through the Body of the Church, is necessary for everyone.

+ St. John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco, "The Church as the Body of Christ," Man of God: Saint John of Shanghai & San Francisco

Grumbling is acquired by misery and it can exist put aside by doxology (giving praise). Grumbling begets grumbling and doxology begets doxology. when someone doesn't grumble over a problem troubling him, but rather praises God, then the devil gets frustrated and goes off to someone else who grumbles, in guild to cause everything to go even worse for him. You lot come across, the more than one grumbles, the more ane falls into ruin.

Sometimes the devil deceives us and makes u.s.a. unable to exist pleased with anything; however, i tin can gloat all things in a spiritual manner, with doxology, and secure God'southward constant blessing.

+ St. Paisios of Mt. Athos, Elderberry Paisios of Mountain Athos Spiritual Councils 4: Family unit Life

"Only nil causes such exceeding grief equally when anyone, lying under the captivity of sin, calls to mind from where he has fallen, because he turned bated to carnal and earthly things, instead of directing his mind in the beautiful ways of the noesis of God. So you find Adam concealing himself, when he knew that God was present and wishing to exist subconscious when called by God with that voice which wounded the soul of him yourself? Why are you lot concealed? Why practise you avoid Him Whom you one time longed to meet? A guilty conscience is so burdensome that information technology punishes itself without a judge, and wishes for covering, and yet is blank earlier God."

+ St. Ambrose Milan, Concerning Repentance, Book 2

"Recollect the fall of the stiff, that 1000 mayest remain humble under thy virtues. And think of the heavy sins of those who barbarous and repented; and of the praise and honour they received afterwards, so that thou mayest larn courage during repentance."

+ St. Isaac the Syrian, "Six Treatises on the Behaviour of Excellence", Mystical Treatises by Isaac of Nineveh

"Do not fall into despair considering of stumbling. I practise not mean that y'all should not experience contrition for them, just that you should not think them incurable. For it is more expedient to exist bruised than expressionless. In that location is, indeed, a Healer for the man who has stumbled, even He Who on the Cross asked that mercy be shown to His crucifiers, He Who pardoned His murders while He hung on the Cross. 'All manner of sin,' He said, 'and irreverence shall be forgiven unto men,' that is, through repentance."

+ St. Isaac the Syrian, The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 64, "On Prayer, Prostrations, Tears, Reading, Silence, and Hymnody"

The Apostles wavered in their faith in Jesus as the Messiah, because they predictable and desired to come across in Him an earthly king, in whose kingdom they could sit at the right and the left paw of the Lord.

The thief understood that the Kingdom of Jesus of Nazareth, despised and given over to a shameful death, was not of this earth. And it was precisely this Kingdom that the thief now sought: the gates of earthly life were closing after him; opening before him was eternity. He had settled his accounts with life on earth, and now he thought of life eternal. And here, at the threshold of eternity, he began to understand the vanity of earthly celebrity and earthly kingdoms. He recognized that greatness consists in righteousness, and in the righteous, blamelessly tortured Jesus he saw the King of Righteousness. The thief did not ask Him for glory in an earthly kingdom but for the salvation of his soul.

The religion of the thief, born of his esteem for Christ's moral greatness, proved stronger than the religion of the Apostles, who although captivated past the loftiness of Christ'due south pedagogy, based their organized religion to a nonetheless greater extent on the signs and wonders He wrought.

Now there was no miraculous deliverance of Christ from His enemies — and the Apostles' faith was shaken.

But the patience He exhibited, His absolute forgiveness, and the organized religion that His Heavenly Father heard Him so clearly, indicated Jesus' righteousness, His moral superiority, that one seeking spiritual and moral rebirth could not exist shaken.

And this is precisely what the thief, enlightened of the depth of his fall, craved. He did non inquire to sit down at the right or the left hand of Christ in His Kingdom, only, conscious of his unworthiness, he asked in humility merely that he be remembered in His Kingdom, that he he exist given even the lowest place.

+ St. John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Franscisco, From Man of God: Saint John of Shanghai & San Francisco, "Why the Wise Thief Was Pardoned"

"Discouragement does not permit the one who falls to get dorsum upwardly, and laziness throws down the one who is upright. The latter deprives us constantly of the appurtenances that we gain; it does not let the states to escape from the evils that are to come. Laziness throws u.s. down fifty-fifty from heaven, while discouragement hurls us downwards even to the very abyss of wickedness. Indeed, nosotros can chop-chop return from there if we exercise not become discouraged."

+ St. John Chrysostom,  "Homily 1: When He Returned from the Countryside"  from On Repentance and Almsgiving (Fathers of the Church)

Just as the Lord is solicitous well-nigh our salvation, then too the murder of men, the devil, strives to pb a homo into despair.

A lofty and sound soul does not despair over misfortunes, of whatsoever sort they may exist. Our life is every bit it were a house of temptations and trials; but we volition not renounce the Lord for as long as He allows the tempter to remain with us and for as long as we must wait to exist revived through patience and secure passionless!

Judas the betrayer was fainthearted and unskilled in boxing, and then the enemy, seeing his despair, attacked him and forced him to hang himself, but Peter, a house rock, when he fell into cracking sin, similar ane skilled in battle did not despair nor lose heart, but shed biting tears from a called-for eye, and the enemy, seeing these tears, his eyes scorched equally by burn, fled far form him wailing in pain.

And and so brothers, St. Antioch teaches, when despair attacks us let us not yield to it, but being strengthened and protected by the light of organized religion, with slap-up backbone let usa say to the evil spirit: "What are yous to us, estranged from God, a fugitive from heaven and evil servant? You dare do nothing to united states. Christ, the Son of God, has authority both over the states and over everything. It is against Him that we have sinned, and earlier Him that nosotros will be justified. And you, destroyer, go out us. Strengthen past His venerable Cross, nosotros trample under foot your serpent'due south head" (St. Antioch, Soapbox 27).

+ St. Seraphim of Sarov, "The Spiritual Instructions to Laymen and Monks", printed in Trivial Russian Philokalia: St. Seraphim of Sarov

"My brethren, do all that is in your ability non to fall, for the strong athlete should not autumn, only, if you practise fall, get up once again at once, and proceed the contest. Even if you fall a thousand times, because of the withdrawal of God'south grace, rise up again at each time, and keep on doing so until the day of your decease. For information technology is written: 'If a righteous human being falls seven times,' that is, repeatedly throughout his life, 'seven times shall he ascent over again' [Proverbs 24:16]."

+ St. John of Karpathos, From the collection of messages to monks in India

"If the poison of pride is swelling up in y'all, turn to the Eucharist; and that Bread, Which is your God humbling and disguising Himself, volition teach you humility. If the fever of selfish greed rages in you, feed on this Bread; and you will learn generosity. If the cold wind of appetent withers you lot, hasten to the Breadstuff of Angels; and charity volition come to blossom in your eye. If you feel the crawling of intemperance, attend yourself with the Mankind and Blood of Christ, Who expert heroic self-control during His earthly life; and y'all will go temperate. If you are lazy and sluggish about spiritual things, strengthen yourself with this heavenly Food; and you will abound fervent. Lastly, if you feel scorched by the fever of impurity, go to the banquet of the Angels; and the spotless Flesh of Christ will make you pure and chaste."

+ St. Cyril of Alexandria

"All of us sin constantly. We slip and fall. In reality, we fall into a trap set by the demons.

The Holy Fathers and the Saints e'er tell united states of america, 'It is important to get upward immediately after a fall and to go on on walking toward God'. Even if we fall a hundred times a mean solar day, it does not matter; we must get upwards and get on walking toward God without looking dorsum.

What has happened has happened – it is in the past. Just keep on going, all the while asking for help from God."

+ Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, Our Thoughts Determine our Lives

O God great and supreme, Who fine art adored past all created beings, Fountain of Wisdom, Abyss of Goodness in very truth unfathomable, and Sea illimitable of loving-kindness: do Thou, the aforementioned Primary who lovest flesh, the God of things eternal and of wonders, to the understanding of Whom none among men by taking thought can attain, look down and hear us, Thine unworthy servants, and wheresoever in Thy great Proper name we shall bring this Oil, ship K downwards the souvenir of thy healing, and remission of sins: and heal him (her) , in the multitude of Thy mercies. Yea, O Lord Who fine art easy to be entreated; Who lonely art merciful and lovest flesh; Who repentest Thee of our evil deeds; Who knowest how that the mind of man is applied unto wickedness, fifty-fifty from his youth up; Who desirest not the death of a sinner, only rather that he should plow again and live; Who for the salvation of sinners didst go incarnate, however withal remain in God, and didst Thyself become a created being for the sake of thy creatures; Thou hast said: I am non come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; Grand didst seek the wandering sheep; Thou didst diligently seek out the lost piece of silverish, and having found information technology, Thou didst say: He that cometh unto Me I volition in no wise cast out; Chiliad didst not abhor the sinful woman who washed Thy precious feet with her tears; Thou didst say: As ofttimes equally thou fallest ascend, and thou shalt be saved; Thou fine art He who didst say: In that location is joy in sky over one sinner who repenteth. Do Thou, O tender-hearted Chief, look down from the peak of Thy sanctuary, overshadowing us sinners, Who are also Thine unworthy servants, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, at this hour, and take upward Thine abode in thy servant, Due north., who acknowledgeth his (her) iniquities, and draweth near unto Thee in faith; and accepting him (her), cleanse him (her) make him (her) pure from every sin; and abiding ever present with him (her), preserve him (her) all the remaining years of his (her) life; that, walking e'er in Thy statues, he (she) may in no wise again become an object of cancerous joy to the Devil; and Thy Holy Name may be glorified in him (her).

For Thy holding information technology is to prove mercy and to save the states, O Christ-God; and unto Thee do nosotros ascribe glory, together with they Father who is from every lasting, and Thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, at present, and e'er, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

+ Second Priest's Prayer in the Office of Holy Unction

Struggle with all your ability to gain Paradise. And exercise not mind to those who say that everyone will be saved. This is trap of Satan so that nosotros won't struggle.

+ Elderberry Paisios of Mt. Athos

'If yous fall, ascent and you shall be saved.' Y'all are a sinner, you continually fall, learn as well how to rise; be careful to acquire this wisdom. This is what the wisdom consists in: learning by eye the psalm, 'Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy slap-up goodness,' inspired by the Holy Spirit to the rex and prophet David, and say it with sincere faith and trust, with a contrite and humble heart. After your sincere repentance, expressed in the words of Male monarch David, the forgiveness of your sins shall immediately smoothen upon you lot from the Lord, and your spiritual powers will be at peace. The well-nigh important thing in life is to be zealous for mutual dear, and non to judge anyone. Everybody shall answer for himself to God, and y'all must await to yourself. Beware of malice.

+ St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ [paperback]  or  [hardback]

You don't need a Kindle device to read the Kindle version of this volume, which is bachelor a very reduced cost. Attempt Amazon's Costless Kindle Deject Reader app for your estimator, phone, or tablet.

Let the states non so make ourselves unworthy of entrance into the bride-bedroom: for equally long as nosotros are in this world, even if we commit countless sins it is possible to wash them all away past manifesting repentance for our offenses: but when once nosotros have departed to the other globe, fifty-fifty if we display the virtually earnest repentance information technology will be of no avail, not even if we gnash our teeth, beat our breasts, and utter innumerable calls for succor, no one with the tip of his finger volition apply a drop to our burning bodies, just we shall only hear those words which the rich man heard in the parable 'Betwixt u.s. and you a dandy gulf has been stock-still.' [Luke xvi. 26]

Let us and then, I beseech you, recover our senses here and let us recognize our Master equally He ought to be recognized. For but when we are in Hades should we abandon the hope derived from repentance: for there only is this remedy weak and unprofitable: but while we are here even if it is practical in old age itself it exhibits much force. Wherefore besides the devil sets everything in motion in order to root in u.s. the reasoning which comes of despair: for he knows that if nosotros repent even a picayune we shall not do this without some advantage. But just as he who gives a cup of cold h2o has his recompense reserved for him, so too the man who has repented of the evils which he has done, even if he cannot exhibit the repentance which his offenses deserve, volition have a commensurate reward. For not a single item of skillful, however modest it may exist, will be overlooked by the righteous guess. For if He makes such an exact scrutiny of our sins, every bit to crave punishment for both our words and thoughts, much more will our good deeds, whether they exist great or small, be reckoned to our credit at that day.

Wherefore, fifty-fifty if k art not able to return again to the most exact land of discipline, yet if k withdraw thyself in a slight degree at least from thy present disorder and excess, fifty-fifty this will not be incommunicable: only set thyself to the task at once, and open the entrance into the place of contest; just as long as thou tarriest outside this naturally seems difficult and impracticable to thee. [Matt. xxv. 34; 249 Luke xvi. 26]. For earlier making the trial even if things are easy and manageable they are wont to nowadays an appearance of much difficulty to us: simply when we are really engaged in the trial, and making the venture the greater part of our distress is removed, and confidence taking the place of tremor and despair lessens the fearfulness and increases the facility of functioning, and makes our practiced hopes stronger.

For this reason also the wicked 1 dragged Judas out of this world lest he should make a fair commencement, and then render past means of repentance to the betoken from which he savage. For although it may seem a foreign affair to say, I volition not acknowledge even that sin to be too groovy for the succor which is brought to us from repentance. Wherefore I pray and beseech yous to banish all this Satanic way of thinking from your soul, and to render to this land of salvation.

+ St. John Chrysostom, An Exhortation to Theodore After His Fall, Letter 1

Where shall I begin to lament the deeds of my wretched life? What first-fruit shall I offering, O Christ, for my present lamentation? But in Thy compassion grant me release from my falls.

Come, wretched soul, with your flesh, confess to the Creator of all. In future refrain from your former brutishness, and offer to God tears in repentance.

+ The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Mon 1.1-ii
Text of the Canon

"'If he trespass against you vii times in a solar day, and seven times in a day plow again to you lot, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him' (Lk. 17:four).

As the Searcher of hearts, the Lord knows that men are liable to very frequent trespass, and that, having fallen, they oft rise upwards again; therefore He has given us the commandment to oft forgive trespasses, and He Himself is the commencement to fulfill His holy discussion. As soon as you say from your whole heart, 'I repent,' you will be immediately forgiven."

+ St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ [paperback]  or  [hardback]

"Only the gospel of Christ fully knows the mystery of sin and the trouble of sin and everything which hides inside information technology. The prodigal son of the Gospel is the perfect example of the repentant sinner. The Gospel shows us that human being, through his free will, can share his life with Earth and with Sky, with Satan and with God, with paradise and with hell. Sin gradually strips human being of everything divine in him, paralyzes his every divine inclination and desire, until it finally throws him into the bosom of Satan. And so man reaches the plight of grazing the swine of his master, the Devil. The swine are passions, which are always greedy and epicurean. In such a life, the unfortunate man is nothing more than insane. In a shocking parable of the Gospel, the Lord says nigh the prodigal son, 'he came to himself,' (Luke 15:17) How did he come to himself? He came to himself through repentance. Through sin, man becomes mad, insane. Every sin, even the about seemingly insignificant 1, is always an insanity of the soul. Through repentance, man comes to his senses becomes complete again, comes to himself. Then he cries out loud to God, runs to Him, and cries towards Sky, 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight' (Luke 15:21). And what is the heavenly Male parent doing? He is e'er infinitely merciful upon seeing His child in a state of repentance. He has pity for him, runs, embraces him, and kisses him. He orders His heavenly hosts, the holy angels: 'Bring forth the all-time robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his mitt, and shoes on his feet: and bring here the fatted dogie, and impale information technology; and let us eat, and be merry: for this is My son who was dead, and is alive again; and he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.' (Luke xvi:22-24) And this is taking place for each and every one of us, and for the sake of every sinner who repents. Namely, joy and happiness is taking place in the heaven of the All-merciful Lord and God, and together with Him, all of the holy angels."

+ St. Justin Popovich, From the preface to the volume of Fr. Justin, Sinful Souls, Belgrade, 1968; quoted from Orthodox Religion & Life in Christ, "Select Writings of Fr. Justin"

ane-10. And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, who was a chief publican, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who He was, and could non for the crowd, because he was of picayune stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to run across Him: for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the identify, He looked upward, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come up downwardly: for today I must abide at thy firm. And he made haste, and came downward, and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He has gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he likewise is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Human being is come up to seek and to save that which was lost. The Lord seizes the mightiest of the devil's vessels and destroys his cities. See how the Lord not merely makes publicans His disciples, but He even takes prisoner—in society to relieve him—the chief of publicans, Zacchaeus. No one doubts that a publican is an abomination: how much more so is the chief publican, who is foremost in wickedness? For the publicans derived their living from no other source than the tears of the poor. But even this primary publican is not despised by the Lord. In return only for showing eagerness to see Jesus he receives salvation. He desired to see Jesus, which is why he climbed up into the sycamore tree, merely before he had defenseless sight of Jesus, the Lord had already seen him. In the aforementioned manner, the Lord always anticipates united states of america if only He sees that nosotros are willing and eager. When the Lord sees Zacchaeus, He urges him to come downwards apace, for He intends to stay at his business firm. And Zacchaeus was not slow to obey—when Christ commands anything, we must not hesitate—only he came downward and received Him joyfully, even though many people murmured.

Let us see how Zacchaeus reaped the benefit of Christ's entrance into his house. He says, The half of my goods I give to the poor. Do you see his fervor? He began to disburse without stint, not giving just a piffling, but all that he had. Fifty-fifty what he held back, he held back so that he could requite to those whom he had wronged. From this we acquire that there is no benefit at all to a man who gives alms to others of money he has obtained unrighteously and ignores those whom he defrauded in obtaining that money. See what Zacchaeus does with this money: if he defrauded anyone he restores to him fourfold, thus remedying the harm he had done to each man he defrauded. This is true almsgiving. He not only remedies the harm, but he does so with increment. This is in accord with the law, which allowable that that the thief brand fourfold restitution (Ex. 22:ane). If we consider well, nosotros see that zip at all remained of Zacchaeus' money. Half he gave to the poor, and of the half that remained to him, he gave fourfold to those whom he had wronged. Merely since the living of the primary publican was derived from fraud and extortion, and since he paid dorsum fourfold all that he had wrongly taken, it follows that he stripped himself of everything he had. From this we see that his thinking goes beyond the prescription of the law, for he had become a disciple of the Gospel, and he loved his neighbor more himself. And what he promised to do, he did: he did not say, "I shall give one-half, and I shall restore fourfold," simply instead, Behold, I give and I restore. For he had heard the counsel of Solomon, Say not, Come back another time, tomorrow I will give (Prov. 3:28).

Christ proclaims to him the good tidings of his salvation. Past this house He means Zacchaeus, for the Lord would not call a building without a soul a son of Abraham. It is clear that that the Lord named this living principal of the house a son of Abraham, because Zacchaeus was like the patriarch in two respects: he believed and was counted righteous by faith, and with money he was magnanimous and generous to the poor. See that the Lord says that Zacchaeus is now a son of Abraham, and that in his present beliefs the Lord sees the likeness to Abraham. The Lord did not say that Zacchaeus had ever been a son of Abraham, but that he is now a son of Abraham. Before, when he was a main publican and and revenue enhancement collector, he diameter no resemblance to that righteous man, and was not his son. To silence those who were complaining that the Lord went to be the guest of a sinful homo, He says, The Son of Homo is come up to seek and to save that which was lost.

This is the caption of the literal words; but information technology is easy to understand these things in another sense besides, for moral do good. Anyone who is chief amidst many in wickedness is little in spiritual stature, for flesh and spirit are opposites to 1 another, and for this reason he cannot encounter Jesus for the crowd. Crowded in by a multitude of passions and worldly affairs, he is not able to see Jesus acting, moving and walking nigh. Such a man as this cannot recognize Christian acts for what they are—Christ acting and moving in us. Simply such a homo, who never sees Jesus passing by and cannot perceive Christ in Christian acts, will sometimes change from negligence and come up to his senses. And so he will climb up to the acme of the sycamore-fig, passing by every pleasure and sweet, every bit signified by the figs, and counting them equally foolish and dead. Becoming college than he was and making ascents in his heart (Ps. 83:6), he is seen by Jesus and can see Jesus, and the Lord says to him, Make haste, and come downwards, which ways, "Through repentance you accept ascended to a higher life; come down now through humility lest pride and high mindedness make you lot fall. Brand haste, and humble yourself. If you humble yourself, I must abide at your firm, for it is necessary that I bide in the house of a humble man. Upon whom shall I look, if not upon him who is humble and meek, who trembles at My words? (Is. 66:two) Such a homo gives half of his appurtenances to the destitute demons. For our substance is twofold: flesh and spirit. The righteous homo imparts all his fleshly substance to the truly poor, the demons who are destitute of everything skillful. But he does not let go of his spiritual substance, for every bit the Lord likewise said to the devil concerning Job, Behold, I give into thine mitt all that he has, but touch not his soul (Job 1:12). And if he has taken whatever thing from whatever human by false allegation, he restores it to him fourfold. This suggests that if a homo repents and follows a path that is contrary to his former way of wickedness, he heals his quondam sins through the four virtues (backbone, prudence, righteousness, and self-control), and thus receives salvation and is called a son of Abraham. Like Abraham, he besides goes out of his land and out of his kinship with his former wickedness and out of the house of his begetter (Gen. 12:i), significant, he comes out from his old self and rejects his former status. He himself was the firm of his begetter, the devil. Therefore, when he went out of the house of his father, that is, when he went out of himself and changed, he plant salvation, equally did Abraham.

— St. Theophylact, Zacchaeus Dominicus, Luke 19:1-10 from the Explanation of the Gospel of St. Luke

In them [the Lives of the Saints] information technology is clearly and obviously demonstrated: There is no spiritual expiry from which 1 cannot be resurrected by the Divine power of the risen and ascended Lord Christ; there is no torment, there is no misfortune, there is no misery, in that location is no suffering which the Lord will not change either gradually or all at once into quite, compunctionate joy considering of faith in Him. And again there are countless soul-stirring examples of how a sinner becomes a righteous human in the lives of the Saints: how a thief, a fornicator, a drunkard, a sensualist, a murderer, and adulterer becomes a holy homo─there are many, many example of this in the Lives of the Saints; how a selfish egoistical, unbelieving, atheistic, proud, avaricious, lustful, evil, wicked, depraved, angry, spiteful, quarrelsome, malicious, envious, malevolent, boastful, vainglorious, unmerciful, gluttonous man becomes a man of God─there are many, many instance of this in the Lives of the Saints

By the aforementioned token in the Lives of the Saints in that location are very many marvelous examples of how a youth becomes a holy youth, a maiden becomes a holy maiden, an old man becomes a holy quondam man, how an sometime woman becomes a holy sometime woman, how a child becomes a holy child, how parents become holy parents, how a son becomes a holy son, how a daughter becomes a holy daughter, how a family unit becomes a holy family, how a community becomes a holy community, how a priest becomes a holy priest, how a bishop becomes a holy bishop, how a shepherd becomes a holy shepherd, how a peasant becomes a holy peasant, how an emperor becomes a holy emperor, how a cowherd becomes a holy cowherd, how a worker becomes a holy worker, how a estimate becomes a holy guess, how a instructor becomes a holy instructor, how an teacher becomes a holy instructor, how a soldier becomes  holy soldier, how an officeholder becomes a holy officeholder, how a ruler becomes a holy ruler, how a scribe becomes a holy scribe, how a merchant becomes a holy merchant, how a monk becomes a holy monk, how an architect becomes a holy architect, how a md becomes a holy doctor, how a taxation collector becomes a holy taxation collector, how a student becomes a holy pupil, how an artisan becomes holy artisan, how a philosopher becomes a holy philosopher, how a scientist becomes a holy scientist, how a statesman becomes a holy statesman, how a government minister becomes a holy minister, how a poor man becomes a holy poor man, how a rich man becomes a holy rich man, how a slave becomes a holy slave, how a master becomes a holy primary, how a married couple becomes a holy married couple, how an author becomes a holy author, how an artist becomes a holy artist. . .

— St. Justin Popovich, Orthodox Faith & Life in Christ, "Introduction to the Lives of the Saints"

"Even if you lot are not what you should be, y'all should non despair. It is bad enough that yous accept sinned; why in addition exercise you incorrect God by regarding him in your ignorance as powerless? Is he, who for your sake created the great universe that you behold, incapable of saving your soul? And if you say that this fact, as well as his incarnation, only makes your condemnation worse, then repent; and he will receive your repentance, as he accustomed that of the prodigal son (Luke xv:xx) and the prostitute (Luke 7:37-l). But if repentance is too much for you, and you sin out of habit even when y'all do non want to, prove humility similar the publican (Luke 18:13): this is plenty to ensure your salvation. For he who sins without repenting, yet does not despair, must of necessity regard himself as the lowest of creatures, and volition not dare to judge or censure anyone. Rather, he will curiosity at God's compassion."

+ St. Peter of Damaskos, "Book I: A Treasury of Divine Knowledge, That Should Not Despair Even if We Sin Many Times," The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. iii)

"Do not exist surprised that you fall every 24-hour interval; practice non give up, but
stand your footing courageously. And convincingly the affections who guards you lot will honour your patience. While a wound is still fresh and
warm it is like shooting fish in a barrel to heal, but old, neglected and festering ones are hard to cure, and crave for their care much handling, cutting, plastering and cauterization. Many from long neglect become incurable. Merely with God all things are possible [Matthew 19:26]."

+ St. John Climicus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Pace v.30

"We have within united states of america securely rooted weaknesses, passions, and defects. This can not all be cut out with one precipitous motility, but patience, persistence, care and attention. The path leading to perfection is long. Pray to God so that he will strengthen you. Patiently accept your falls and, having stood up, immediately run to God, not remaining in that identify where you have fallen. Do not despair if yous go on falling into your old sins. Many of them are strong considering they have received the force of habit. Only with the passage of fourth dimension and with fervor will they be conquered. Don't allow anything deprive you of hope."

— St. Nectarios of Aegina

I received your letter of the alphabet, my child, and I saw your anxiety. Just don't be lamentable, my child. Don't worry then much. Even though you take fallen over again, get upward again. You lot accept been called to a heavenly road. Information technology is non surprising for someone running to stumble. It simply takes patience and repentance at every moment.

Therefore, always practise a metanoia when y'all are incorrect and don't lose time, because the longer yous expect to seek forgiveness, the more you let the evil one to spread his roots inside you. Don't let him make roots to your detriment.

Therefore, don't despair when you fall, but get up eagerly and do a metanoia saying, "Forgive me, my dearest Christ. I am human and weak." The Lord has non abandoned you. But since y'all withal have a great bargain of worldly pride, a groovy bargain of vainglory, our Christ lets yous make mistakes and fall, so that you lot perceive and come up to know your weakness every day, so that yous get patient with others who make mistakes, so that you practise not gauge the brethren when they brand mistakes, but rather put up with them.

So every time you fall, become upward again and at one time seek forgiveness. Don't hide sorrow in your center, because sorrow and despondency are the joy of the evil one. They fill one's soul with bitterness and give nativity to many evils. Whereas the frame of mind of someone who repents says, "I take sinned! Forgive me Father!" and he expels the sorrow. He says, "Am I not a weak homo? So what practice I await?" Truly, my child this is how it is. So take courage.

Only when the grace of God comes does a person stand on his feet. Otherwise, without grace, he always changes and always falls. So be a man and don't exist afraid at all.
Exercise you see how that brother you lot wrote about endured the temptation? Yous, likewise, should do likewise. Acquire a brave spirit against the temptations that come. In any instance, they will come. Forget nigh what your despondency and indolence tell yous. Don't be agape of them. Just every bit the previous temptations passed by the grace of God, these, too, will pass in one case they practise their job.

Temptations are medicines and healing herbs that heal our visible passions and our invisible wounds. And so take patience in guild to profit every day, to store upwards wages, residual, and joy in the heavenly kingdom. For the night of death is coming when no one volition exist able to piece of work anymore. Therefore, hurry. Fourth dimension is brusque.

You should know this too: a victorious life lasting only one day with trophies and crowns is ameliorate than a negligent life lasting many years. Because one man'southward struggle, with knowledge and spiritual perception that lasts one 24-hour interval, has the aforementioned value as another man's struggle, who struggles negligently without knowledge for fifty years.

Without a struggle and shedding your blood, don't expect freedom from the passions. Our globe produces thorns and thistles later on the Autumn. Nosotros have been ordered to make clean it, but only with much pain, bloody hands, and many sighs are the thorns and thistles uprooted. So weep, shed streams of tears, and soften the globe of your heart. Once the ground is wet, y'all tin easily uproot the thorns.

— Elder Joseph the Hesychast

"Do non say: 'I have sinned much, and therefore I am not bold enough to fall down before God.' Do not despair. Merely practice non increase your sins in despair and, with the assistance of the All-merciful One, you will non exist put to shame. For He said, 'he who comes to Me I will not bandage out.' (John. 6:37) And so, be bold and believe that He is pure and cleanses those who draw near to Him. If you desire to accomplish truthful repentance, show it with your deeds. If yous accept fallen into pride, prove humility; if into drunkenness, show sobriety; if into defilement, show purity of life. For it is said, 'Plow away from evil and exercise adept.' (I Pet. 3:11)"

— St. Gennadius of Constantinople, The Gilded Concatenation, 87-89

Since the enemy watches y'all constantly, waiting for an opportunity to sow evil in you, be doubly watchful over yourself, lest y'all fall in the nets spread for you. As soon as he shows you some fault in your neighbor, hasten to repel this thought, lest it have root in y'all and abound. Bandage it out, then that no trace is left in you, and supervene upon it by the thought of the good qualities you lot know your neighbour to possess, or of those people generally should accept. If you withal feel the impulse to pass judgment, add to this the truth that y'all are given no say-so for this and that the moment you assume this authority you thereby brand yourself worthy of judgment and condemnation, not before powerless men, but before God, the all-powerful Judge of all. This reversal of thoughts is the strongest means, non only for repelling accidental disquisitional thoughts, simply also for completely freeing yourself of this vice.

— From Unseen Warfare, St. Theophan the Recluse and St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

"For to sin, even in the example of those who are most righteous, is easy, while repentance is non easy for everyone considering decease is near; and even before death comes at that place is despair. It is good, then, not to autumn; or, if we fall, to rise again. And should we fall, nosotros should not despair and so estrange ourselves from the Lord'south dearest. For if He so chooses, He can bargain mercifully with our weakness. Only we should not cut ourselves off from Him or feel oppressed when constrained by His commandments, nor should we lose eye when we fall brusk of our goal. Rather, let united states of america learn that a thou years in the sight of the Lord are only a unmarried day, and a unmarried twenty-four hours is as a yard years (cf. Ps. xc:4). Let u.s.a. be neither jerky nor tardy, and let u.s. exist ever prepare to make a new start. If you fall, rise upwardly. If you fall again, rise upwardly once again. Only do not abandon your Physician, lest you be condemned equally worse than a suicide because of your despair. Wait
on Him, and He volition exist merciful, either reforming yous, or sending you trials, or through some other provision of which you are ignorant."

+ St. Peter of Damaskos, "Twenty-Four Discourses," VIII Mortification of the Passions, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 3)

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