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Church Fathers V3 - Fr George Grube - Saint Mina Coptic Orthodox ...

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+ Abba Rouphous says that a greater glory awaits the monk who is obedient to<br />

an elder than to the hermit who lives by his own will in the solitude of the desert.<br />

- <strong>Fr</strong>om the Desert <strong>Fathers</strong><br />

+ A holy woman said, “While a person is in a monastery, obedience is preferred<br />

to ascetic practice. The former teaches humility, the latter teaches pride.”<br />

- <strong>Fr</strong>om the Desert <strong>Fathers</strong><br />

+ Take away temptations and no one will be saved.<br />

- <strong>Fr</strong>om the Desert <strong>Fathers</strong><br />

+ Discretion is the greatest of all the virtues.<br />

- <strong>Fr</strong>om the Desert <strong>Fathers</strong><br />

+ Sound doctrine does not enter the heart that is hardened and disobedient.<br />

- St. Justin Martyr<br />

+ Even though the <strong>Fathers</strong> often reduced their practice of bodily discipline<br />

because of age or lack of physical strength, they never relaxed their practice<br />

of the moral virtues at all. For in the place of bodily asceticism they had bodily<br />

weakness, which is able to constrain the flesh. But we cannot keep the soul<br />

sinless so that the intellect may be illumined unless we practice the virtues of<br />

the soul.<br />

- St. Peter of Damaskos<br />

+ The love of God lies in the love of people, and there is no other way. At the<br />

Last Judgment I shall not be asked whether I was successful in my ascetic<br />

exercises, how many bows and prostrations I made in the course of prayer.<br />

I shall be asked, Did I feed the hungry? Clothe the naked? Visit the sick and<br />

the prisoners? That is all I shall be asked. About every poor, hungry and<br />

imprisoned person the Savior says “I”: “I was hungry and thirsty, I was sick<br />

and in prison.” To think that He puts an equal sign between Himself and anyone<br />

in need...I always knew it, but now it has somehow penetrated into my sinews.<br />

It fills me with awe!<br />

- Mother Maria<br />

+ One must be in obedience to a superior; for through that he who is obedient<br />

prospers mightily in the formation of his soul: and in addition he obtains by this<br />

means understanding of things, and comes to heartfelt contrition.<br />

- St. Seraphim of Sarov<br />

+ There are three things especially pleasing to God. Illnesses suffered with<br />

patience, works done without ostentation and for His love only, and submission<br />

to a spiritual elder with perfect self- denial. The last thing will gain the greatest<br />

crown.<br />

- Abba Joseph the Thebite<br />

-53-

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