+ “Our Lord lifted up for us His hands on the Cross and stretched out were His hands for us. And why were His hands stretched out on the Cross? In order that our hands might be stretched out to do good works since it was through His Cross that...
+ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Tim. 2:3-4). For when no one exercises in the wrestling school, how shall he [or she] win and...
+ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was (James 1:23-24). Do not let your hands drop the...
+ Blessed Feast of the Martyrs Do you desire to be like the martyrs? Be like Abel was, or Isaac, or Stephen, who chose for themselves the way of the righteous life. First of all, overcome the evil one by your good acts by living well, and when He, your...
+ …that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation (1 Thes. 3:3-4). Let us hear, who have ears to hear. The Christian...
+ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21). He hung on the Cross for you and still did not want to be an avenger for Himself. Why do you want to take...
+ Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick (Luke 5:31). Our Instructor, the Word, therefore, is He who heals the unnatural passions of our soul with His counsel and exhortations. The art of healing, strictly speaking,...
+ Blessed Fast of St. Mary The Virgin Mother diligently held in her heart everything that she had come to know about the Lord, whether from the Lord’s sayings or from His deeds, and she assiduously committed them all to memory so that, when the time should come for preaching...
+ Blessed Fast of St. Mary “Many people, when they see any of those who are pleasing to God suffering anything terrible, as for example, having fallen into sickness or poverty, are offended, not knowing that to those especially dear to God it belongs to endure these things; since Lazarus...
+ “Where would there be opportunities for struggling for great deeds if we were not allowed injury by our neighbors if they did not offend us? Establish in your heart the following truth: one thing alone is worthy of all our hatred—sin and vice, but towards men nourish exclusively love.” –...
