Words from the Saints -- August 1, 2017

"Theology without action is the theology of the devil." - St. Maximos the Confessor

"Nothing whatever pertaining to godliness and real holiness can be accomplished without grace."
--St. Augustine of Hippo

"Just as a basic concern is to be careful of anything that might be harmful to our physical health, so our spiritual concern should watch out for anything that might harm our spiritual life and the work of faith and salvation. Therefore, carefully and attentively assess your inner impulses: are they from God or from the spirit of evil?" --St. John Maximovitch
 
"Pray not pharisaically but publicanly, for you to also be justified by the Lord. Praise of prayer is not the quantity but the quality. This becomes obvious from the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee and from the word of Christ: 'When you pray, don’t babble like the idolaters, who think that with their much talking they will be heard'" (Matthew 6:7). --St. Nilus of Sinai

"A good conscience is found through prayer, and pure prayer through the conscience. Each by nature needs the other."  --St. Mark the Ascetic

"If the Holy Spirit is peace of soul, as He is said to be, and as He is in reality, and if anger is disturbance of heart, as it actually is and as it is said to be, then nothing so prevents His presence in us as anger." 
--St. John Climacus

"Do not wish what concerns you to be as seems (best) to you, but as God wishes; and you will be free from cares and thankful in your prayer." --St. Nilus of Sinai