We have not lost those who leave the world from which we must ourselves depart; but we have sent them before us into that other life, where the better they are known to us, the dearer to us will they become.
–Saint Augustine (354-430)
The Lord calls himself the vine and those united to him branches in order to teach us how much we shall benefit from our union with him, and how important it is for us to remain in his love. By receiving the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of union between us and Christ our Savior, those who are joined to him, as branches are to a vine, share in his own nature.
–Saint Cyril of Alexandria (378-444)
The pursuit of the contemplative life is something for which a great and sustained effort on the part of the powers of the soul is required: an effort to rise from earthly to heavenly things, an effort to keep one’s attention fixed on spiritual things, an effort to pass beyond and above the sphere of things visible to the eyes of flesh. –Saint Gregory the Great (c. 540-604)
Every day you provide your bodies with good to keep them from failing. In the same way your good works should be the daily nourishment of your hearts. Your bodies are fed with food and your spirits with good works. You aren’t to deny your soul, which is going to live forever, what you grant to your body, which is going to die.
–Saint Gregory the Great (c. 540-604)
Do not fall into despair because of stumbling. I do not mean that you should not feel contrition for them, but that you should not think them incurable. For it is more expedient to be bruised than dead. There is, indeed, a Healer for the man who has stumbled, even He Who on the Cross asked that mercy be shown to His crucifiers.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
We must be firmly convinced that we have nothing of our own, except our vices and sins. We must all be on our guard against pride and empty boasting and beware of worldly or natural wisdom. A worldly spirit loves to talk a lot but does nothing, striving for the exterior signs of holiness that people can see, with no desire for true piety and interior holiness of spirit.
–Saint Francis of Assisi (1181–1226)
