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St. John of Kronstadt 1829-1908
“A proud man, at the time when other people are speaking of any other person’s virtues, is wickedly afraid lest this person should be superior to him in virtues, and should eclipse him, for the proud man considers himself above all, and does not think it possible to find similar or higher virtues in others. The rivalry of others is a great misfortune to him.” My Life in Christ p.138
St. Barsanuphius ca. 6th cent.
To say something with humility does not mean to speak like a teacher, but rather, just as you have heard it from the Abba and the Fathers. If it profitable to say something to a brother, and vainglory inspires you to enjoy this – then know that the enemy wishes to hinder you from doing something of profit to your brother. If you will listen to vainglory, your brother will never receive profit through you. But overthrow vainglory and disdain it, and when you say what is necessary to your brother, repent before God, saying: “Forgive me, O Lord, that I spoke out of vainglory.” (Guidance Toward Spiritual Life 287)
St. Macarius the Great ca. 300-390
Abba Macarius said, “If you reprove someone, you yourself get carried away by anger and you are satisfying your own passion; do not lose yourself, therefore in order to save another.” (The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Macarius 17)
St. Maximus the Confessor ca. 580-662
The world has many poor in spirit, but not in the right way; and many who mourn, but over money matters and loss of children; and many who are meek, but in the face of impure passions; and many who hunger and thirst, but to rob another’s goods and to profit unjustly. And there are many who are merciful, but to the body and to its comforts; and clean of heart, but out of vanity; and peacemakers, but who subject the soul to the flesh; and many who suffer persecution, but because they are disorderly; many who are reproached, but for shameful sins. Instead, only those are blessed who do and suffer these things for Christ and following his example. For what reason? “Because theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” and “they shall see God,” and so forth. So that it is not because they do and suffer these things that they are blessed (since those just mentioned do the same), but because they do and suffer them for Christ and following his example. (Four Hundred Chapters on Love: Third Century, 47)
Blessed Elder Paisios the Athonite 1924-1994
The things that take place…, so many grave sins. Not even the Holy Fathers had forseen such sins in the Sacred Canons. It’s like Sodom and Gomorrah when God had said, “I don’t believe that such sins exist; I should go and see for myself.”
Source: http://frjosiah.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/the-outrageous-spiritual-condition-of-contemporary-man/
Rom. 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
A monk must be extremely cautious of carnal and animal zeal, which outwardly appears pious but in reality is foolish and harmful to the soul.
Worldly people and many living the monastic life, through ignorance and inexperience, often praise such zeal without understanding that it springs from conceit and pride. They extol this zeal as zeal for the faith, for piety, for the Church, for God. It consists in a more or less harsh condemnation and criticism of one’s neighbours[…] Deceived by a wrong conception of zeal, these imprudent zealots think that by yielding themselves to it they are imitating the holy fathers and holy martyrs, forgetting that they – the zealots – are not saints, but sinners.
[…] Divine zeal is a fire, but it does not heat the blood. It cools it and reduces it to a calm state. The zeal of the carnal mind is always accompanied by heating of the blood, and by an invasion of swarms of thoughts and fancies. The consequences of blind and ignorant zeal, if our neighbour opposes it, are usually displeasure with him resentment, or vengeance in various forms; while, if he submits, our heart is filled with vainglorious self-satisfaction, excitement and an increase of our pride and presumption. (The Arena)
St. John Chrysostom 349-407
Sin makes man a coward; but a life in the Truth of Christ makes Him bold.
(On the Statues, VIII.2)
Saint John of Kronstadt
Sometimes in affliction of your soul you wish to die. It is easy to die, and does not take long; but are you prepared for death? Remember that after death the judgement of your whole life will follow. You are not prepared for death, and if it were to come to you, you would shudder all over. Therefore do not waste words in vain. Do not say, ”It is better to die,” but say, How can I prepare for death in a Christian manner?” By means of faith, by means of good works, and by bravely bearing the miseries and sorrows that happen to you, so as to be able to meet death fearlessly, peacefully and without shame, not as a rigorous law of nature, but as a fatherly call of the eternal, heavenly, holy, and blessed Father unto all the everlasting Kingdom. My Life in Christ, p. 18
