The Lord told us to pray in secret – that means in your heart – and he instructed us to “shut the door.” What is this door he says we must shut, if not the mouth? For we are the temple in which Christ dwells, for as the Apostle said: “You are the temple of the Lord.” And the Lord enters into your inner self into this house, to cleanse it from everything that is unclean, but only while the door — that is, your mouth – is closed shut.
–Saint Aphrahat the Persian 270-345)
Prayer, according to its quality, is communion and union of man with God, by its action it upholds the world. It is reconciliation with God. It is the mother, but also the daughter, of tears. It is the atonement of sins, a bridge over temptations, a wall against affliction, a crushing of conflicts, a work of Angels, the food of the Incoporeal, future gladness, boundless work, source of virtues, cause of grace, invisible progress, food of the soul, illumination of the mind, an axe against despair. a proof of hope, a cure for sorrow, the wealth of monks, the treasure of hesychasts, the reduction of anger, the mirror of progress, the demonstration of stature, an indication of one’s condition, a revelation of future things, a sign of glory. For one who truly prayers, prayer is the court, the judgment hall and the tribunal of the Lord before the judgement to come.
–Saint John Climacus (c. 525-606)
The Church needs a perennial Pentecost. She needs fire in her heart, words on her lips, prophecy in her outlook.
–Pope Paul VI (1897-1978)
The Church of Christ is always, so to speak, in a situation of Pentecost: she is always gathered in the Upper Room in prayer, and at the same time, driven by the powerful wind of the Spirit, she is always on the streets preaching.
–Saint John Paul (1920-2005)
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.
–Saint Augustine (354-430)
Do what you can and pray for what you cannot yet do.
–Saint Augustine (354-430)
