“Wherefore on no account suffer any evil habit to master thee; but, while it is yet young, pluck the evil root out of thine heart, lest it fasten on and strike root so deep that time and labor be required to uproot it.”
“We shouldn’t harbor thoughts that are pleasing to the devil, but should destroy them with the sword of the Divine Word.”
“First cleanse your Soul of every passion and wipe it as clean of every evil as a newly cleansed mirror. Remove far from you every recollection of wrong and anger, which most of all prevents our daily Prayers from reaching God. Also remove from your heart the offenses of everyone who has ever sinned against you. Giving wings to your Prayer with mercy and compassion for the poor, approach God with fervent tears. Praying in this way you will be able to say with the blessed David, who, although he was king and burdened with countless cares cleansed his Soul of all passions: “I hated and abhorred iniquity, but I loved Your law. Seven times a day I praised You because of the judgments of Your righteousness.” My Soul kept your testimonies and I loved them very much. Let my Prayer draw near to you, Lord; enable me to understand Your Word.”
“These eight passions should be destroyed as follows: Gluttony by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the poor; anger by goodwill and love for all men; worldly dejection by Spiritual joy; listlessness by patience, perseverance and offering thanks to God; self-esteem by doing good in secret and by Praying constantly with a contrite heart; and pride by not judging or despising anyone in the manner of the boastful Pharisee (cf. Luke 18: 11-12), and by considering oneself the least of all men. When the intellect has been freed in this way from the passions we have described and been raised up to God, it will henceforth live the life of blessedness, receiving the pledge of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 1 : 22). And when it departs this life, dispassionate and full of true knowledge, it will stand before the Light of the Holy Trinity and with the Divine Angels will shine in Glory through all Eternity.”
“If you want to be ruled by God, do not want to sin. Because if you sin, how will you be ruled by God?”
“Humility begets meekness, meekness begets discernment, discernment begets foresight, foresight raises up to the perfect love of God and our neighbour.”
“Whether I want it or not, save me, O Lord. For to save a good man is no great thing, and to have mercy on the pure is nothing wonderful, for they are worthy of Thy mercy. But show the wonder of Thy mercy on me, a sinner. In this reveal Thy love for men, lest my wickedness prevail over Thy unutterable goodness and mercy. And order my life as Thou wilt.”
“A tree, even with an axe, grows again, and the wound from the arrow is healed and overgrown. But the verbal arrow is incurable, because it hits the heart. Be silent and humble.”
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