--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you are before the altar where…" description: "\"When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_altar_when-you-are-before-the-altar-where-chri_2762327.jpg" --- # When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you… ![“When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be…” quote by Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_altar_when-you-are-before-the-altar-where-chri_2762327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_altar_when-you-are-before-the-altar-where-chri_2762327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89c/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_altar_when-you-are-before-the-altar-where-chri_2762327.jpg) > “When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be there in silence, fear, and veneration.” [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One should feel the presence of heavenly beings in worship, prompting reverent silence and awe toward God. **In simple terms:** Worship should be reverent, feeling angels nearby. Key Takeaway Approach worship with humility and silence. Themes reverence spirituality humility Mood solemn contemplative Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - church services - personal prayer - meditative retreats Key Concepts theology angelology liturgical practice Questions to Reflect On - How does belief in angels affect your worship? - What practices help you feel reverence? A Different Perspective May be overly idealistic for modern congregations lacking belief in angels. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altar/) [Altars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altars/) [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Archangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/archangel/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ Reposes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-reposes-3178509/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Fear Veneration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-veneration-3178511/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven and earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-earth/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Repose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repose/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing Trembling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-trembling-3178510/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trembling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trembling/) [Trembling Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trembling-respect-3178512/) [Troops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troops/) [Veneration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veneration/) ## Related quotes > [You can set up an altar to God in your minds by means of prayer. And so it is fitting to pray at your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/you-can-set-up-an-altar-to-god-in-your-minds-by-means-of-prayer-and/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [You can call happy those who saw Him... But, come to the altar and you will see Him, you will touch Him, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/you-can-call-happy-those-who-saw-him-but-come-to-the-altar-and-you/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Those who confine God's love exclusively to the elect appear to me to take a narrow and contracted view of God's character and attributes…I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-confine-god-s-love-exclusively-to-the-elect-appear-to-me-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That man is formed for social life is an observation which, upon our first inquiry, presents itself immediately to our view, and our reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-warren/that-man-is-formed-for-social-life-is-an-observation-which-upon-our/) [Joseph Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-warren/) > [In this world there is one godlike thing, the essence of all that was or ever will be of godlike in this world: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/in-this-world-there-is-one-godlike-thing-the-essence-of-all-that-was/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The veneration, wherewith Men are imbued for what they call Nature, has been a discouraging impediment to the Empire of Man over the inferior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boyle/the-veneration-wherewith-men-are-imbued-for-what-they-call-nature-has/) [Robert Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boyle/) > [The modern spectacle of vanished forests and eroded lands, wasted petroleum and ruthless mining, national debts recklessly increased until they are repudiated, and continual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kirk/the-modern-spectacle-of-vanished-forests-and-eroded-lands-wasted/) [Russell Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kirk/) > [What but education has advanced us beyond the condition of our indigenous neighbors? And what chains them to their present state of barbarism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/what-but-education-has-advanced-us-beyond-the-condition-of-our/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Each superfluous line, each wrongly placed line, any color placed without veneration or care, can spoil everything, that is, the spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-van-doesburg/each-superfluous-line-each-wrongly-placed-line-any-color-placed/) [Theo van Doesburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-van-doesburg/) > [Mix a little mystery with everything, for mystery arouses veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/mix-a-little-mystery-with-everything-for-mystery-arouses-veneration/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Keep the extent of your abilities unknown.The wise man does not allow his knowledge and abilities to be sounded to the bottom, if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/keep-the-extent-of-your-abilities-unknown-the-wise-man-does-not-allow/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [It may be considered as an objection inherent in the principle, that as every appeal to the people would carry an implication of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-considered-as-an-objection-inherent-in-the-principle-that/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Religion in a magistrate strengthens his authority, because it procures veneration, and gains a reputation to it. In all the affairs of this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/religion-in-a-magistrate-strengthens-his-authority-because-it/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/princes-are-like-heavenly-bodies-which-cause-good-or-evil-times-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More by Saint John Chrysostom > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [If we approach with faith, we too will see Jesus... for the Eucharistic table takes the place of the crib. Here the Body of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/if-we-approach-with-faith-we-too-will-see-jesus-for-the-eucharistic/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [The slave should be resigned to his lot, in obeying his master he is obeying God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/the-slave-should-be-resigned-to-his-lot-in-obeying-his-master-he-is/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Every trace of the old philosophy and literatureof the ancient world has vanished from the face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/every-trace-of-the-old-philosophy-and-literatureof-the-ancient-world/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [What the soul is in the body, let Christians be in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-the-soul-is-in-the-body-let-christians-be-in-the-world/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [...there is nothing that has been created without some reason, even if human nature is incapable of knowing precisely the reason for them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/there-is-nothing-that-has-been-created-without-some-reason-even-if/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to change the minds of enemies, bringing about a change of soul, than to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonderful-work-to-change-the-minds/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy consume a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/as-a-moth-gnaws-a-garment-so-doth-envy-consume-a-man/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [What is it to be a fool for Christ? It is to control one's thoughts when they stray out of line. It is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-is-it-to-be-a-fool-for-christ-it-is-to-control-one-s-thoughts/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Let us always guard our tongue; not that it should always be silent, but that it should speak at the proper time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/let-us-always-guard-our-tongue-not-that-it-should-always-be-silent/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [It brings comfort to have companions in whatever happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-brings-comfort-to-have-companions-in-whatever-happens/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [I do not think there are many among Bishops that will be saved, but many more that perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/i-do-not-think-there-are-many-among-bishops-that-will-be-saved-but/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [When an archer desires to shoot his arrows successfully, he first takes great pains over his posture and aligns himself accurately with his mark.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/when-an-archer-desires-to-shoot-his-arrows-successfully-he-first/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Whether, therefore, we receive what we ask for, or do not receive it, let us still continue steadfast in prayer. For to fail in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/whether-therefore-we-receive-what-we-ask-for-or-do-not-receive-it-let/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life; we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/not-to-share-our-own-wealth-with-the-poor-is-theft-from-the-poor-and/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) [Explore all 169 Saint John Chrysostom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) ## More Altar quotes > [This is the sacrifice: the endless possibility that is offered up on the altar of the form...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/this-is-the-sacrifice-the-endless-possibility-that-is-offered-up-on/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [“...those others - they're looking for trends - subjects to catch a spark - but I have you - a coal from God's altar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/those-others-they-re-looking-for-trends-subjects-to-catch-a-spark-but/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [There was a time I worshipped at the altar of Rudy Martzke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-johnson-jr/there-was-a-time-i-worshipped-at-the-altar-of-rudy-martzke/) [Ernie Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-johnson-jr/) > [I'm a lapsed altar boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-m-a-lapsed-altar-boy/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [It is when we are in misery that we revere the gods; the prosperous seldom approach the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silius-italicus/it-is-when-we-are-in-misery-that-we-revere-the-gods-the-prosperous/) [Silius Italicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silius-italicus/) > [We dare not trim stones to make God an altar, for if we do we ruin everything. We would spend time bringing people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/we-dare-not-trim-stones-to-make-god-an-altar-for-if-we-do-we-ruin/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/god-is-the-lord-which-hath-shewed-us-light-bind-the-sacrifice-with/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“Sacrifice your fear on the altar of your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-van-tuyl/sacrifice-your-fear-on-the-altar-of-your-dreams/) [Barbara Van Tuyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-van-tuyl/) > [“It doesn’t really matter what altar you’re being sacrificed on, it’s gonna sting either way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-roquet/it-doesn-t-really-matter-what-altar-you-re-being-sacrificed-on-it-s/) [Angela Roquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-roquet/) > [Since once again, O Lord, in the steppes of Asia, I have no bread, no wine, no altar, I will raise myself above those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/since-once-again-o-lord-in-the-steppes-of-asia-i-have-no-bread-no/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [I was, not an altar boy, but a reader of the Epistle, and I walked in on a nun and a priest furiously French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-was-not-an-altar-boy-but-a-reader-of-the-epistle-and-i-walked-in-on/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“The quickest way to alter an altar is not with a hammer, or even religious deconstruction, but with a typo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-quickest-way-to-alter-an-altar-is-not-with-a-hammer-or-even/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Beyond the table, there is an altar, with candles lit for Billie Holiday and Willa Carter and Hypatia and Patsy Cline. Next to it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-maria-machado/beyond-the-table-there-is-an-altar-with-candles-lit-for-billie/) [Carmen Maria Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-maria-machado/) > [I acknowledge that the sacrament of the altar is very God's body in form of bread, but it is in another manner God's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wycliffe/i-acknowledge-that-the-sacrament-of-the-altar-is-very-god-s-body-in/) [John Wycliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wycliffe/) > [“Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death, set up thine altar here, and dress it with such terrors as thou hast at thy command: for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dickens-charles/oh-cold-cold-rigid-dreadful-death-set-up-thine-altar-here-and-dress/) [Dickens, Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dickens-charles/) [Browse all 131 Altar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. 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