Don’t be deceived regarding the knowledge of what will be after your death: what you sow here, you will reap there. After leaving here, no one can make progress. Here is the work, there the reward, here the struggle, there the crowns.
–Saint Barsanuphius the Great (Sixth Century)
When Christ gave the Bread He did not say “This is the symbol of My Body” but “This is My Body”. In the same way when He gave the cup He did not say “This is the symbol of My Blood” but “This is My Blood”; for He wanted us to look upon the Eucharistic elements after their reception of grace and the coming of the Holy Spirit not according to their nature, but that we receive them as they are: the Body and Blood of our Lord.
–Theodore of Mopsuestia (c. 350-428)
Whoever bids other folks to do right, but gives an evil example by acting the opposite way, is like a foolish weaver who weaves quickly with one hand and unravels the cloth just as quickly with the other.
–Saint John of Damascus (c. 676-750)
If we weave by day and undo at night, nothing gets woven. If we build by day and destroy by night, nothing is ever built. If we pray to God and do evil before Him, the nothing is woven, and a house for our soul is not built.
–Saint Nicholas of Serbia (1880-1956)
All that you lose in the name of God, you keep. All that you keep for your own sake, you loose. All that you give in the name of God, you will receive with interest. All that you give for the sake of your own glory and pride, you throw into the water. All that you receive from people as from God will bring you joy. All that you receive from people as from people will bring you worries.
–Saint Nicholas of Serbia (1880-1956)
Since everybody is calling me Holy Father, as if this was my first title, I must be and really want to be a saint.
–Saint John XXIII (1881-1963)
