Tag: pray
We need St Francis now
NCR, by Joan Chittister on Sep. 27, 2010. Some things never go way. The best ones, in fact, come back to us in whole new ways. Saints are like that. The church calendar that formed me, for instance, provided the Catholic community one feast day after another designed to remind us of the heroes of… Read More ›
What Do You Have Time For?
One of the obsessive concerns of contemporary society is speed. Everything we produce we produce to go faster than the ones before it. Planes go faster than the speed of sound, though no one cares. Computer upgrades costing hundreds of dollars are downloaded every day to take milliseconds off the operating speeds of the versions… Read More ›
Leave Vengeance to God
One of the brethren, that had been insulted by another, came to Abbot Sisois and told him the scorn that had been put upon him, and said, “I am set to revenge myself, Father.” And the old man began to entreat him to stay and leave vengeance to God. “I am determined and shall not… Read More ›
I do not know the work of men
There was an anchorite who was gazing with the antelopes and who prayed to God, saying, “Lord, teach me something more.” And a voice came to him, saying, “Go into this monastery and do whatever they tell you.” He went there and remained in the monastery, but he did not know the work of the… Read More ›
Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks!
When Abba Apollo heard the sound of singing from the monks who welcomed us, he greeted us according to the custom which all monks follow… He first lay prostrate on the ground, then got up and kissed us and having brought us in he prayed for us; then, after washing our feet with his own… Read More ›
His True Work: Hospitality
It was said of an old man that he dwelt in Syria on the way to the desert. This was his work: whenever a monk came from the desert, he gave him refreshment with all his heart. Now one day a hermit came and he offered him refreshment. The other did not want to accept … Read More ›
Antony and Dryness of Spirit
When Abba Antony was living in the desert, he was greatly troubled by dryness of spirit. Tied in knots by the multiplicity of his thoughts he cried out to God. “Lord, I earnestly desire to be on the path of salvation but my chaotic thoughts don’t allow me. What shall I do in this tribulation,… Read More ›
Praying for Them
Weep for those who die in their wealth and who with all their wealth prepared no consolation for their own souls, who had the power to wash away their sins and did not will to do it. Let us weep for them, let us assist them to the extant of our ability, let us think… Read More ›
What Mighty Opponents Oppose Us
Once, when about to eat, having risen up to pray about the ninth hour, Antony perceived that he was caught up in the spirit, and, he stood and saw himself, as it were, from outside himself, and that he was led in the air by certain ones. Next certain bitter and terrible beings stood in… Read More ›
Inner Knowing, the Gift of Inner Knowledge
From time to time, we all have a feeling of inner knowing. Call it “inside information”: God gives us secret insight. Before 9/11, one of the men who died in the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania had an inner knowledge that something was about to occur, and prepared for it. God gives us “inside” tips…. Read More ›