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

life, “You will know them by their fruits" (St. Matthew 7:16), but when we are
asked by God how we lived our lives on earth, we should be ready to answer,
“I lived it for others.” God gives us life, talents, opportunities and grace not to
absorb them like a sponge for our own personal use, but to scatter our gifts
among as many people as humanly possible. Like a battery we must radiate
power and use these precious gifts, not to allow these great graces to dry up
like an unused sponge.
WRITINGS OF THE FATHERS:
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+ Oh, how great is the loving-kindness of God! On those who have defected
from Him, and who are in the throes of wickedness, He has bestowed such an
amnesty for their wicked deeds and so great a sharing in grace that they may
even call Him Father.
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem
+ What is grace? It is something which is given “gratis”. What is given gratis?
That which is bestowed rather than paid as owed.
- St. Augustine
+ Where virtue is there are many snares.
- St. John Chrysostom
+ Prize virtue and do not be a slave of glory; for the former is immortal, while
the latter quickly fades.
- A Desert Father
+ Do not be afraid when you hear of virtue. For virtue is not far from us; it is not
external to us. The work is in us, and it is easy, if we but have the will.
- St. Anthony of Egypt
+ For the grace of God would not be grace in any way unless it were gratuitous
in every way.
- St. Augustine
+ We plainly assert our unconditional opinion that the grace of God is
abounding, and sometimes overflows the narrow limits of man’s lack of faith.
- St. John Cassian
+ Man, even though he strives with all his might for God’s grace, cannot
become master of what is good unless he has acquired it simply by the gift
of Divine bounty, and not by efforts of his own toil.
- St. John Cassian
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