“many ascetics, in a state of God-forsakenness, fall into despair and are therefore unable to go further. But one who remembers that the Lord loves him nonetheless stands firm as a stronghold against the shifting winds.
Similar quotes
“an ascetic feat for which the soul is not yet ready does not strengthen a person. It unsettles him and leaves despondency behind instead of grace
“a person who has come to know the joy of Divine glory receives the spiritual strength to remain unshaken amid sorrows and trials, and to walk with confidence along the path leading to salvation in Christ Jesus
“endured imprisonment, contempt, hunger, and want, but didn’t fall into despair, instead being strengthened through prayer and hope in God.
“a person cannot remain stationary in spiritual life: one either advances and develops or moves backward
“The saint, in similarly difficult times, resisted alongside his people the enslavement of their homeland. From that time on, he has been the one who encourages us to spiritually resist every enslavement that targets our faith, our Church, our homeland, our education, and all the values and institutions of our local tradition. If we fail to grasp the message of spiritual resistance, we’ll fall into an enslavement that won’t come from the Hagarenes, but will be spiritual—and that’s the most difficult and most abhorrent kind.
“two things sadden me: the first is that I see a lost soul, and the second is that my own ungrateful soul does not have the same zeal to please God and has not been adorned with the virtues and deeds that are pleasing to God and His Angels.
“Showing [Jesus] that a lowly [= contemptible] mind could never be fit for contemplation, but that he who has risen above earthly things and has become superior to all things pertaining to the body, and who has withdrawn from the cares of life, having established himself apart in stillness, and has become higher than the domination of the passions.
“Do not allow the enemy to discourage you, break you, or take away your hope and support. Resist evil without losing your ability to love, befriend, care, help, believe, rejoice and be grateful — to our defenders, to people of goodwill and to God.
