“He created us when we were not,
and for our sakes, made all things that are seen:
heaven, sea, air, all that is in them, living creatures, plants, seeds…
Into us alone — of all that are in earth,
He breathed the living soul that we have.
on what is our daily bread
“Saint Maximos the Confessor understands by “daily bread” the nourishment of the soul with the heavenly bread which is the Word of God and the union of the soul with God by meditation upon Him and praying to Him incessantly in the heart.”
The Way of A Pilgrim
prayer of saint ephrem
Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, idle curiosity, love of power, and useless chatter. Rather grant to me, Your servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience , and love. Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother; for You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.
rejoice
O our good and sweet Lord
stir up our souls that they may continually
nourish themselves with
Thee and remain alive
Thou art our Bread of Life
The Prologue
February 28
know your friends
“Let him be your father who is able and willing to labour with you in hearing the burden of your sins; and your mother contrition, which can cleanse you from impurity; and your comrade who toils and fights side by side with you in striving toward the heights.”
Saint John Climacus
the God of all
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
blessings in disguise
“A little fire softens a large piece of wax. So too, a small indignity often softens, sweetens and wipes suddenly all the fierceness and hardness of our heart.”
Saint John Climacus
pure repentance
“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
journey to Pascha
France – near the beaches of Normandy
“Repentance is the door through which we enter Lent, the starting point of our journey to Pascha. And to repent signifies far more than self pity or futile regret over things done in the past. The Greek term “metanoia” means “change of mind” : to repent is to be renewed, to be transformed our inward viewpoint, to attain a fresh way of looking at our relationship to God and others.”
Bishop Kallistos
The Inner Unity of the Lenten Triodion : The Triodion
unshakable peace
“Precious to all men is peace of soul. With those who have acquired peace of soul, the body can be in constant motion, at work, or in pain, but their souls, cleaving to God, remain always in unshakable peace. Saint Seraphim of Sarov teaches: “We must endeavor by every means to keep peace of soul.”
Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic
Prologue 15 February
gladsomelife.com 