“The more one hurts, the more Divine consolation one receives, because otherwise it is not possible to stand the pain… God especially consoles those who hurt for others.”
Saint Paisios the Athonite
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“I thank You, that You have vouchsafed me to imitate Your Passion.”
Saint Paraskevi the Great Martyr of Rome
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“I loved Martyrdom, which so strangely cleanses the Soul!”
Saint Luke the Surgeon, Archbishop of Simferopel
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“Always, in the midst of difficulties, I find Christ more easily and my Prayer is more fervent. You say you lose Him. I honestly don’t understand you. I must be a different kind of person.”
Saint Theophan the Recluse
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“Courage, courage; gaze high and you will see the Lord, when you weep, when you seek with longing, when you bleed, then you will see how He stretched out His Beloved and Comforting hand with a Crown.”
Saint Luke the Surgeon, Archbishop of Simferopel
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“The Martyrs suffered greatly when they were tormented. They suffered in the same way as any normal person would have suffered, with the difference that they were continually united to Christ through Prayer and partook of a force which was greater than their pain, and in this way they were able to conquer. If, however, they had abandoned Prayer, even for just a moment, their pains would have become unbearable and they would have been ready to deny Christ. However, hanging onto Prayer, they were strengthened and endured the pain of their Martyrdom until the end.”
Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
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“In sorrow, God’s comfort is a balm, healing the heart with His presence.”
Saint John of Damascus
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“Remember that after temptations follows Spiritual joy and the Lord watches over those who endure temptations and sufferings for the sake of His Love. So, don’t lose heart and don’t be afraid.”
Saint Nektarios of Aegina
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“In the darkest moments of my life I found Lord Jesus’ Hand takes care of me.”
Saint Onouphrios the Great
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“Whenever we are in great pain, we should not forget the great honour that the Lord is doing us in letting us share in His Crown of Thorns.”
Saint Gavrilia, the Ascetic of Love
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“He said to her: ‘I would like you to tell me how you endured your Martyrdom.’ The Saint replied: ‘Father, if I knew back then how Eternal Life would be and the Heavenly beauty the Souls enjoy by being next to God, I honestly would have asked for my Martyrdom to last forever, as it was absolutely nothing compared to the Gifts of the Grace of God!’”
Saint Paisios and Saint Euphemia
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“The Healer stooped down to my unbearable pain.”
Saint Gregory the Theologian
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“O Lord Jesus Christ! You are my medicine when I am sick; You are my strength when I need help; You are Life itself when I fear death; You are Light when all is dark.”
Saint Ambrose of Milan
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“In proportion to your humility you are given patience in your woes; and in proportion to your patience the burden of your afflictions is made lighter and you will find consolation; in proportion to your consolation, your love of God increases; and in proportion to your love, your joy in the Holy Spirit is magnified.”
Saint Isaac the Syrian
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“O most grateful burden, which comforts them that carry it! The burdens of Earthly masters gradually wear out the strength of those who carry them; but the burden of Christ assists the bearers of it, because we carry not Grace, but Grace us.”
Saint John Chrysostom
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“Even if you just lean your head on an Icon, you will find consolation.”
Saint Paisios the Athonite
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“Since our sweet Jesus is so good, compassionate and kind, why should you despair? We seek one small thing from Him, and He gives us so much! We ask for one beam of light, and He gives us Himself as all Light, Truth, and Love. So humble yourself and rest all your hope in Him.”
Saint Joseph the Hesychast
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“In time of sorrow do not seek comfort from people. Most people are not experienced in affairs of Salvation and are poor advisors. Make the Lord your only helpmate, comforter, and tutor, and from Him alone ask help. The man to whom the Lord sends afflictions is blessed a hundredfold, because it is afflictions that cure our Souls. In enduring sorrows, a Christian is likened to Jesus Christ, who suffered for us. We should consider sorrows a gift from the Lord and a sign of His care for our Salvation. If you bear your cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He, through His mercy, will not abandon you but will touch your heart and will impart to you the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is then that you will feel an indescribable delight, a wonderful inner peace and joy such as you have never experienced before, and at the same time you will feel an influx of Spiritual strength; Prayer will become easier and your faith stronger. Then your heart will be kindled with love of God and all people. All these are Gifts of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord decides to honour you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labours, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and Grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of Divine Mercy. Occasionally the Lord allows us to get a foretaste of future blessings so that we will put forth a greater effort in seeking His Eternal Kingdom.”
Saint Innocent of Alaska
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“Continue your path with courage, with much courage. Let your heart rejoice in the Lord, and He will grant it all nourishments and all energy that is needed so that it does not collapse. Nothing should seem difficult to you.”
Saint Luke the Surgeon, Archbishop of Simferopel
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