“The vault above us is not deaf because the universe is an idiot; the silence is not the heartless silence of an endless and aimless world. Rather the silence around us is a small and pitiful stillness like the prompt stillness of a sick room. We are perhaps permitted tragedy as a sort of merciful comedy, because the frantic energy of divine things would knock us down like a drunken farce. We can take our own tears more lightly than we could take the tremendous levities of the angels. So we sit perhaps in a starry chamber of silence while the laughter of the heavens is too loud for us to hear.” WorldHeartChristianUniverseEnergyHeavenRoomsSilenceComedyTearsDivineLaughterAngelSickTragedyEndlessIdiotLoudOrthodoxStillnessSilence IsDeafChamberOrthodox ChristianMercifulHeartlessPromptsPitifulFranticFarceVaultsLevity Author:Gilbert K. Chesterton
“While He [the Lord Jesus] was sitting alone by the well, 'There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water' (John 4:7). As man, the Lord was thirsty, and saw that someone who was naturally thirsty was coming to quench her thirst. As God, however, He also saw that her heart was athirst for the water of salvation, although she did not know Him Who could give it to her. So He hastened to reveal Himself to her longing soul for, as it is written, He Himself longs for those who long for Him (cf. Ps. 9:10; Prov. 7:15).” KnowsMenGivingWellsHeartLongSoulChristianJesusWaterLordSawsWrittenDrawsSittingSalvationLongingOrthodoxThirstOrthodox ChristianThirstyCfsQuenchSitting Alone Author:Gregory Palamas
“Christianity satisfies suddenly and perfectly man's ancestral instinct for being the right way up; satisfies it supremely in this, that by its creed Joy becomes something gigantic, and Sadness something special and small.” MenWayChristianJoyChristianitySadnessSpecialInstinctOrthodoxCreedsRight WayOrthodox ChristianSomething Special Book:The Essential Gilbert K. Chesterton Source: The Essential Gilbert K. Chesterton
“...works of piety and charity... are necessary in this present life for as long as inequality prevails. Their workings here would not be required were it not for the superabundant numbers of the poor, the needy, and the sick... As long as this inequity rages in the world, these good works will be necessary and valuable to anyone practicing them and they shall yield the reward of an everlasting inheritance to the man of good heart and concerned will.” MenWorldHeartLongChristianPoorNumbersHe ManConcernedSickCharityRewardsValuableRageInequalityOrthodoxYieldGood WorkEverlastingInheritancePietyOrthodox ChristianNeedyGood HeartPresent Life Author:John Cassian
“Leave all human injustices to the Lord, for God is the Judge, but as to yourself, be diligent in loving everybody with a pure heart.” HumansHeartChristianLordJudgingPureInjusticeOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianDiligentPure Heart Author:John of Kronstadt
“The test of happiness is gratitude.” ChristianGratitudeTestsOrthodoxOrthodox Christian Author:Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and gave life to the fallen. O abyss of humility! Adam and Eve lost themselves through gluttony, the Lord fasted and died for them, in order to give them life. They were disobedient, Christ fulfilled obedience.” GivingChristianOrderLostChristLordHumilitySonPrideProudDiedObedienceFallenOrthodoxAdamFulfilledAbyssOrthodox ChristianAdam And EveGluttony Author:John of Kronstadt
“...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing Itself, can hardly be ignorant of the things which proceed from It and of which It is the source. This, then, is how God knows all things, not by understanding things, but by understanding Himself.” KnowsDoeChristianCausesUnderstandingCommonKnowingSourceCreaturesAll ThingsUniversalIgnorantOrthodoxGod KnowsUnderstanding Things Author:Pope Dionysius
“Everything we do, our every objective, must be undertaken for the sake of... purity of heart... we must practice the reading of the Scripture, together with all the other virtuous activities... to hold our hearts free of the harm of every dangerous passion and in order to rise step by step to the high point of love.” HeartChristianTogetherOrderPassionReadingStepsPracticeDangerousActivitySakeHarmScriptureObjectivesPurityOrthodoxVirtuousOrthodox ChristianHigh Points Author:John Cassian
“Love does not reflect. Love is simple. Love never mistakes. Likewise believe and trust without reflection, for faith and trust are also simple; or better: God, in whom we believe and in whom we trust, is an incomplex Being, as He is also simply love.” BelieveDoeChristianSimpleLove IsMistakeReflectionOrthodoxOrthodox ChristianSimply LoveSimple Love Author:John of Kronstadt