Tag: Basil
Who is obedient
One of the old men said, ‘When Saint Basil came to the monastery one day, he said to the abbot, after the customary exhortation, “Have you a brother here who is obedient?” The other replied, “They are all your servants, master, and strive for their salvation.” But he repeated, “Have you a brother who is… Read More ›
St. Basil the Great
Let us remember today one of the great Fathers of the Church, St Basil, described by Byzantine liturgical texts as “a luminary of the Church”. He was an important Bishop in the fourth century to whom the entire Church of the East, and likewise the Church of the West, looks with admiration because of the… Read More ›
St. Basil: Who is the greedy person?
The harshest form of covetousness is not even to give things perishable to those who need them. “But whom do I treat unjustly,” you say, “by keeping what is my own?” Tell me, what is your own? What did you bring into this life? From where did you receive it? It is as if someone… Read More ›
The deadly weight of pride
But how shall we, casting off the deadly weight of pride, descend to saving humility? lf such an aim governed our conduct under all circumstances, we should not overlook the least detail on the ground that we would suffer no harm therefrom. The soul comes to take on a resemblance to its preoccupations and it… Read More ›
Our Lord’s life was an example of Humility
In everything which concerns the Lord we find lessons in humility. As an infant, He was straightway laid in a cave, and not upon a couch but in a manger. In the house of a carpenter and of a mother who was poor, He was subject to His mother and her spouse. He was taught… Read More ›
Have you got any saints here?
The story is told of Blessed Basil that, making a visitation of his monasteries, he said to one of the hegemons, “Have you got any saints here?” The Abba said, “Through your prayers, my lord, we all desire to be saints.” And again, Blessed Basil said to him, “No, I mean have you got any saints here?” And… Read More ›
Weekend course on Eastern Catholicism
On Friday, July 27, and Saturday, July 28, Very Reverend Mark Shuey of the Ukrainian Catholic Church will offer a weekend course on Eastern Catholicism at the Catholic Parish of St. Vincent de Paul, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, NC, 28210. Fr. Mark’s presentation will focus on the Byzantine Rite and the Divine Liturgy of St…. Read More ›
Do you have any saints?
The story is told of Blessed Basil that, making a visitation of his monasteries, he said to one of the hegemons, “Have you got any saints here?” The Abba said, “Through your prayers, my lord, we all desire to be saints.” And again, Blessed Basil said to him, “No, I mean have you GOT any… Read More ›
Live in Mindfulness
Although not much cultivated or esteemed today, the memory can be useful in our search for prayer. If, as Solzhenitsyn suggests, forgetfulness of God is the principal cause of all human woes, then remembering God becomes a significant step on the path to recovery.’ And if evil thoughts are the beginning of moral decline, thoughts… Read More ›
What is the Essence of God?
The word “to know” has many meanings. We say that we know the greatness of God, his power, his wisdom, his goodness, his providence that cares for us, and the justice of his judgement, but not his very essence . . . . He who says that he does not know the essence is not… Read More ›