762 (JOY/ SORROWS/ TEMPTATION/ DEATH)
762 (JOY/ SORROWS/ TEMPTATION/ DEATH) Beware of too much joy (I mean outward joy and too much comfort, for these are a temptation even more difficult than sorrow. During this temptation the person relaxes (in the wrong sense) his spiritual struggle and diminishes his spiritual "nerve". Let us remember,
761 (PASSION/ FALL/ REPENTANCE)
761 (PASSION/ FALL/ REPENTANCE) Why do we often fall into that passion, that bad habit, even though we decided never to do it again? This occurs due to three reasons: The lack of sobriety, i.e. alertness and attention to ourselves. With sobriety, you become aware of the danger at
760 (FALL/ BAD HABITS/ SIN/ ALERT/ REPENTANCE/ STRUGGLE)
760 (FALL/ BAD HABITS/ SIN/ ALERT/ REPENTANCE/ STRUGGLE) Truly, there is no other way to avoid the ever-repeated sin than to be careful and avoid little things (i.e., the small retreats associated with it). According to the Patristic sayings: "He who is careful of the little things will not
759 (PROGRAMME/ PRECISION/ PRETEXTS) (OBSTACLES/ STUBBORNNESS/ EVIL OBSTINACY) (NEIGHBOUR/ LOVE/ COMPASSION) (PRAYER/ HESYCHASM/ GOD)
759 (PROGRAMME/ PRECISION/ PRETEXTS) Beware of the pretexts which the enemy may put before you, and hence, do not so easily go out of your schedule, lest you regret it later. Remember the psalm, “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice sinned works with pretexts”.
758 (PATERNAL ADVICES/ CARNAL WAR/ SIGHTS/ VILE THOUGHTS)
758 (PATERNAL ADVICES) If you apply exactly what we write here - I mean the Paternal Advices - you will directly see the benefit arising from observing them (as well as vice versa). (CARNAL WAR/ SIGHTS/ VILE THOUGHTS) Do you face carnal war? You would do well to avoid
757 (SPIRITUAL LIFE/ EARTHLY CONCERNS/ PROGRAMME/ STUDY/ PRAYER)
757 (SPIRITUAL LIFE/ EARTHLY CONCERNS/ PROGRAMME/ STUDY/ PRAYER) - If you wish to begin to live a spiritual life, you should turn a little to yourself, and with the help of the evening account of the day, step outside of the daily cares of life... - If you wish
756 (HAPPINESS/ CONSCIOUSNESS)
756 (HAPPINESS/ CONSCIOUSNESS) Happiness... How captivating this word is!!! All people, the whole world is searching for it... And this is because it is inherent in man from the time he was created to try to live this experience... However, many people look for it in the wrong things