Tag: rest
Breathe again
The soul weighed down with pain from the past, tortured with desire to punish and hurt, becoming a victim, yes once again, giving power to the evil done, while the inner chains become heavier as the years fly by, poisoning life, until forgiveness given, bringing forth ones true humanity once again, to child like wonder… Read More ›
His-self
Yesterday he was in a good mood, everything was right with the world and I was great, could do no wrong. This morning he insisted it was evening and did not understand why he had to sleep with his shoes off if he was just taking a nap. So I thought, this is going to… Read More ›
Attainment of peace of heart
Aelred of Rievaulx lists six stages to be passed through in the attainment of peace of heart and tranquility of mind. The rejection of worldly standards, particularly the search for pleasure or possessions and the ambition for honors. The setting aside of self-love, vanity, pride, and the comparison of self with others. Reflection on the… Read More ›
Each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality
Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and… Read More ›
Finding God … in service of our brothers.
There is a stage in the spiritual life in which we find God in ourselves – this presence is a created effect of His love. It is a gift of His, to us. It remains in us. All the gifts of God are good. But if we rest in them, rather than in Him, they… Read More ›
Is absolute poverty perfect goodness?
Someone asked amma Syncletica of blessed memory, “Is absolute poverty perfect goodness?” She replied, “It is a great good for those capable of it; even those who are not capable of it find rest for their souls in it though it causes them anxiety. As tough cloth is laundered pure white by stretched and trampled… Read More ›
Be Content You Are Not A Saint
Be content that you are not yet a saint, even though you realize that the only thing worth living for is sanctity. Then you will be satisfied to let God lead you to sanctity by paths that you cannot understand. You will travel in darkness in which you will no longer be concerned with yourself… Read More ›
The one who is displeasing to himself is pleasing to God
Let the soul harken to the divine voice, and to her own amazement and wonder she will hear it say, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’. Who is poorer in spirit than the person whose spirit finds no rest and who has nowhere to lay his head? This… Read More ›
Earthly desires are shadows
The earthly desires men cherish are shadows. There is no true happiness in fulfilling them. Why, then, do we continue to pursue joys without substance? Because the pursuit itself has become our only substitute for joy. Unable to rest in anything we achieve, we determine to forget our discontent in a ceaseless quest for new… Read More ›
Search the Scriptures
Search the Scriptures. For you are not mistaken in thinking that you find life in them, you who seek nothing else in them but Christ, to whom the Scriptures bear witness. Blessed indeed are they who search his testimonies, seek them out with all their heart. Your testimonies are wonderful, Lord, therefore my soul has… Read More ›