No benefit comes from a just man's prayer if he who asks for it finds more pleasure in sin than in virtue. For Samuel mourned over Saul when he sinned, but he was not able to obtain God's mercy, for… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
He who is a beginner on the way must not be brought to practise the commandments by kindness alone, but must more often be induced to continue the struggle by being rigorously reminded of God's judgment. In this way he… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
When what has been created in time according to the temporal order has reached maturity, it ceases from natural growth. But when what has… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
There are lots of those who speak but few who do. However, no one should distort the word of God by his own negligence,… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
If you make provision for the desires of the flesh and bear a grudge against your neighbor on account of something transitory, you worship… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
The Logos came down out of love for us. Let us not keep Him down permanently, but let us go up with Him to… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
Whatever a man loves he inevitably clings to, and in order not to lose it he rejects everything that keeps him from it. So… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
A passion is a contranatural movement of the soul or an irrational love, or an blindfold hatred toward any material thing, or because of… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
Unclean spirits increase the passions in us, making use of our negligence, and inciting them. But the angels decrease our passions, inciting us to… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
For him who is perfect in love and has reached the summit of dispassion there is no difference between his own or another's, or… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
Peace is truly the complete and undisturbed possession of what is desired. — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
Whoever sees in himself the traces of hatred toward any man on account of any kind of sin is completely foreign to the love… — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
As we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly — Maximus the Confessor Copy Share Image
