the God of all

open our eyes

a

 

He is “the God of all mankind…”

Jeremiah 32:27

“God belongs to all free beings.  He is the life of all, the salvation of all – faithful and unfaithful, just and unjust, pious and impious, passionate and dispassionate, monks and laymen, wise and simple, healthy and sick, young and old.  Just as the effusion of light, the sight of the sun and the changes of the seasons are for all alike.  For there is no respect of persons with God.”

 

 

Saint John Climacus

The Ladder of Divine Ascent


lenten pantry

Nourishment for the Fast

 

 

“it is important to know that the Church considers

the psalms to be an essential spiritual food

for the Lenten season”

Father Alexander Schmemann

Great Lent: A School of Repentance Its Meaning for Orthodox Christians

“…no soul can exist without God, without His Son,

without His Spirit. God is my being, my breath,

my light, my strength, my drink, my food.

He carries me as a mother

carries her infant in her arms.

More than this. Carrying me, my soul and body,

He dwells in me, and is united to me.”

 

Saint John of Kronstadt

My Life in Christ

This post is dedicated to Libby,  a wonderful woman who has 

been inspiring and organizing the Psalter Prayer Group

with an amazing group of women, for the last ten some years.

Wishing everyone a blessed and spiritually profitable Lent!




rejoice in the Lord always

rejoice in the Lord always

 

“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:5-7



pure repentance

great canon Saint Andrew

“Like as the potter gives life to his clay, Thou hast bestowed upon me Flesh and bones, breath and life; Today, O my Creator, my Redeemer and My Judge, Receive me a penitent…”

Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete

Great Lent

The Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete is chanted the first week of Great Lent and

“is a real introduction to Lent, it sets its tone and spirit, it gives  us—

from the very beginning—the true dimension of repentance.”

Fr Alexander Schmemman : Great Lent: A School of Repentance
Its Meaning for Orthodox Christians



forgiveness Sunday

Near Strasbourg France

“The Church is unity and love in Christ. We all depend on each other, belong to each other, are united by the love of Christ… Repentance is primarily the recovery of the spirit of love: “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another”

 

The condition for such real fasting is that we forgive each other as God forgives us—

“If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you….”

__________________________________________

Great Lent: A School of Repentance Its Meaning for Orthodox Christians

Father Alexander Schmemann