Christian Saints

"Outside the true Church are: Infidels, Jews, heretics, apostates, schismatics, and the excommunicated."

"The Jews are those who profess the Law of Moses; have not received baptism; and do not believe in Jesus Christ."

"The church shall be catholic, chaste and free: catholic in faith and the communion of saints, chaste from all contagion of evil, and free from all secular power."

"Dear friends, in their experience of union with God, Saints attain such a profound knowledge of the divine mysteries in which love and knowledge interpenetrate, that they are of help to theologians themselves in their commitment to study, to intelligentia fidei, to an intelligentsia of the mysteries of faith, to attain a really deeper knowledge of the mysteries of faith, for example, of what purgatory is. With her life St Catherine teaches us that the more we love God and enter into intimacy with him in prayer the more he makes himself known to us, setting our hearts on fire with his love. In writing about purgatory, the Saint reminds us of a fundamental truth of faith that becomes for us an invitation to pray for the deceased so that they may attain the beatific vision of God in the Communion of Saints (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1032). Moreover, the humble, faithful, and generous service in Pammatone Hospital that the Saint rendered throughout her life is a shining example of charity for all and encouragement, especially for women who, with their precious work enriched by their sensitivity and attention to the poorest and neediest, make a fundamental contribution to society and to the Church."

"I believe in the communion of Saints. And, forasmuch as meat and drink are transmuted in us daily into spiritual substance, I believe in the Miracle of the Mass. And I confess one Baptism of Wisdom, whereby we accomplish the Miracle of Incarnation. And I confess my life one, individual and eternal that was, and is, and is to come."

"The communion of saints does not concern only those brothers and sisters who are beside me at this historic moment, or who live in this historic moment, but also those who have concluded their journey, the earthly pilgrimage and crossed the threshold of death. They too are in communion with us. Let us consider, dear brothers and sisters, that in Christ no one can ever truly separate us from those we love because the bond is an existential bond, a strong bond that is in our very nature; only the manner of being together with one another them changes, but nothing and no one can break this bond. “Father, let’s think about those who have denied the faith, who are apostates, who are the persecutors of the Church, who have denied their baptism: Are these also at home?” Yes, these too. All of them. The blasphemers, all of them. We are brothers. This is the communion of saints. The communion of saints holds together the community of believers on earth and in heaven, and on earth the saints, the sinners, all."

"Most people when they think of Initiation have in mind a step to be gained for themselves. They think of the Initiate as a man who has developed himself very highly, and has become a great and glorious figure, as compared with the man of the outer world. That is true; but the whole question will be better understood if we try to look down on it from a higher point of view. The importance of Initiation does not lie in the exaltation of an individual, but in the fact that he has now become definitely one with a great Order, the Communion of Saints, as it is very beautifully put in the Christian Church, though few ever pay attention to the real meaning of those words."

"The Platonic Socrates was a pattern to subsequent philosophers for many ages... His merits are obvious. He is indifferent to worldly success, so devoid of fear that he remains calm and urbane and humorous to the last moment, caring more for what he believes to be the truth than for anything else whatever. He has, however, some very grave defects. He is dishonest and sophistical in argument, and in his private thinking he uses intellect to prove conclusions that are to him agreeable, rather than in a disinterested search for knowledge. There is something smug and unctuous about him, which reminds one of a bad type of cleric. His courage in the face of death would have been more remarkable if he had not believed that he was going to enjoy eternal bliss in the company of the gods. Unlike some of his predecessors, he was not scientific in his thinking, but was determined to prove the universe agreeable to his ethical standards. This is treachery to truth, and the worst of philosophic sins. As a man, we may believe him admitted to the communion of saints; but as a philosopher he needs a long residence in a scientific purgatory."

"Collaborate as members of the communion of saints, in the salvation of our country and our world."

"It has in all ages been allowed that the communion of saints extends to those in paradise as well as those upon earth as they are all one body united under one Head. And "Can death’s interposing tide / Spirits one in Christ divide?" But it is difficult to say either what kind or what degree of union may be between them. It is not improbable their fellowship with us is far more sensible than ours with them. Suppose any of them are present, they are hid from our eyes, but we are not hid from their sight. They no doubt clearly discern all our words and actions, if not all our thoughts too; for it is hard to think these walls of flesh and blood can intercept the view of an angelic being. But we have in general only a faint and indistinct perception of their presence, unless in some peculiar instances, where it may answer some gracious ends of Divine Providence. Then it may please God to permit that they should be perceptible, either by some of our outward senses or by an internal sense for which human language has not any name. But I suppose this is not a common blessing. I have known but few instances of it. To keep up constant and close communion with God is the most likely means to obtain this also."

"Nec dubium enim est, quod hic primus homo Adam, antequam peccaret, tipum Redemptoris domini praetulisset. Ipsi enim in passionis sopore obdormiens, de latere suo dum aquam cruoremque producit, virginem inmaculatamque eclesiam sibi exhibuit, redemptam sanguine, latice emundatam, non habentem maculam aut rugam, id est limphis ablutam propter maculam, extensam in crucem propter rugam."

"Scripturus bella regum cum gentibus adversis, martyrum cum paganis, eclesiarum cum hereticis, prius fidem meam proferre cupio, ut qui ligirit me non dubitet esse catholicum. Illud etiam placuit propter eos, qui adpropinquantem finem mundi disperant, ut, collectam per chronicas vel historias anteriorum annorum summam, explanitur aperte, quanti ab exordio mundi sint anni. Sed prius veniam legentibus praecor, si aut in litteris aut in sillabis grammaticam artem excessero, de qua adplene non sum inbutus; illud tantum studens, ut quod in eclesia credi praedicatur sine aliquo fuco aut cordis hesitatione reteneam, quia scio, peccatis obnoxium per credulitatem puram obtenire posse veniam apud Deum."

"When Antony] entered the cave he saw the lifeless corpse in a kneeling position, its head erect and its hands stretched out toward heaven. At first he thought that Paul was still alive and so he knelt down beside him to pray, but when he heard no sighs from the praying man, as he usually did, he fell upon him in a tearful embrace, realizing that even as a corpse the holy man, by means of his reverent posture, was praying to God for whom all things live."

"Χρυσὸϛ δοκιμάζεται ἐν καμίνῳ πυρὸϛ καὶ μοναχὸϛ ἐν πλήθει μοναχῶν γνωσθήσεται. Ἀλλ’ ὁ ἀκίβδηλοϛ σωθήσεται."

"Φάοϛ καθαρὸν ἐπὶ γῆϛ μοναχὸϛ ἀπαθήϛ, πὰρ’ ᾧ οὐχ εὑρέθη ϕιλαργυρία. “Φιλαργυρία γὰρ πάντων κακῶν ῥίζα,” ἤ οὐ τίκτει καρπὸν ἀγαθόν ποτε."

"Στέϕανοϛ μοναχοῦ εἰρήνη καὶ ἁγιασμόϛ. Ὁ κεκτημένοϛ αὐτὰ ὅψεται τὸν Κύριον."

"Ῥιπίζεται μοναχὸϛ ὑπὸ λαίλαποϛ λογισμῶν. Ῥήμασι δὲ ἀγγελικοῖϛ στηριζέτω ἑαυτὸν κραταιῶϛ."

"Ῥεῖθρον Ίορδάνου καθάρσιον ἁμαρτημάτων δάκρυα. Χριστὸϛ γὰρ εἶπε, “Μακάριοι οἱ κλαίοντεϛ, ὅτι γελάσονται.”"

"Πηγὴ ἀένναοϛ ὁ Χριστόϛ. Ἐκ ταύτηϛ ἀρυόμενοϛ τὴν δυσώδη πυρκαϊὰν ἀποσβέσον."

"Νόμοϛ πηγὴ ζωῆϛ μοναχοῦ ἐν χείρι πρακτικοῦ."

"Ἱλαρὸϛ τῇ ὄψει μοναχόϛ ἀσκητοῦ ἀνάπαυσιϛ καὶ λογισμῶν πονηρῶν καθαίρεσιϛ."

"Θησαύρισον, μοναχὲ, ἐν οὐρανῷ ἀπέραντοι γὰρ τῆϛ ἀναπαύσεώϛ σοι αἰῶνεϛ."

"Ἡσυχία μοναχοῦ μετὰ καθαρὰϛ καρδίαϛ δυσωπεῖ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον."

"Ζωὴ μοναχοῦ κατὰ μίμησιν ἀγγέλου γινέσθω, καταϕλέγουσα ἁμαρτίαν. Ζωὴ γὰρ μοναχοῦ ἐστιν ἡ τῶν μετανοούντων ὁλοκάρπωσιϛ."

"Ἐν πάντι καιρῷ ἔστω ὁ χιτὼν τοῦ μοναχοῦ ἄσπιλοϛ οὐκ ὁ ὕϕαντοϛ ἀλλ’ ὁ πνευματικόϛ. Ἐν μέσῃ γὰρ νυκτὶ ὁ τοιοῦτοϛ συνεισελεύσεται τῷ νυμϕίῳ Χριστῷ εἰϛ τὴν παστάδα. Ἔλαιον ἐπικομιζέτω ὁ μοναχὸϛ εἰϛ ἀπάντησιν τοῦ νυμϕίου."

"Εὐχομένου μοναχοῦ καθαρῶϛ ἐν νυκτεριναῖϛ εὐχῆϛ. Ἐν ἡμέρᾳ δὲ τοῦτο λαμπρύνει Κύριοϛ καὶ ὡϛ ἡμέραν καθαρὰν ἀναδείξει."

"He also said: “Let your consciousness always dwell on the Kingdom of Heaven and soon you shall inherit it.”"

"He also said: “The monk’s treasure is voluntary destitution; lay [it] up in heaven, brother, for the ages of repose are limitless.”"

"He also said: “By whispering, the serpent expelled Eve from Paradise, and he who bites back at his neighbor is like it, for he ruins the soul of him who hears and does not keep his own safe.”"

"He also said: “It is good to eat flesh and to drink wine and not to eat the flesh of your brothers in backbiting.”"

"Abba Hyperechios said: “Just as a lion is fearsome to the wild asses, so is the well-tried monk to lascivious logismoi.”"

"We affirm that the natures are different that are united in one true unity, but from both has come only one Christ and Son; not because, due to their unity, the difference in their natures has been eliminated, but rather, because divinity and humanity, reunited in an ineffable and indescribable union, have produced for us one Lord and Christ and Son. We will profess only one Christ and Lord, not in the sense that we worship the man together with the Logos, in order not to suggest the idea of separation by saying "together', but in the sense that we worship only one and the same, because he is not extraneous to the Logos, his body, with which he also sits at his Father's side, not as if "two sons" are sitting beside him but only one, united with his own flesh."

"That anyone could doubt the right of the holy Virgin to be called the Mother of God fills me with astonishment. Surely she must be the Mother of God if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, and she gave birth to him! Our Lord’s disciples may not have used those exact words, but they delivered to us the belief those words enshrine, and this has also been taught us by the holy fathers."

"Since Christ Himself said in reference to the bread: "This is My Body," who will dare remain hesitant? And since with equal clarity He asserted: "This is My Blood," who will dare entertain any doubt and say that this is not His Blood?... You have been taught these truths. Imbued with the certainty of faith, you know that what seems to be bread is not bread but the Body of Christ, although it seems to be bread when tasted. You also know that what seems to be wine is not wine but the Blood of Christ although it does taste like wine."

"Hail, then, from us, O holy mystycal Trinity, who has gathered us all together in this church of Mary, the Mother of God. Hail, from us, Mary, Mother of God, majestic treasure of the whole world, the lamp unquenchable, the crown of virginity, the sceptre of orthodoxy, the indestructible temple, the dwelling of the Illimitable, Mother and Virgin, through whom He is called in the holy Gospels "Blessed who cometh in the name of the Lord." Hail, thou who didst contain Him, thou through whom the Holy Trinity is glorified and adored throughout the world; through whom heaven rejoices, through whom angels and archangels are glad; through whom devils are put to flights, through whom the temper-devil fell from heaven; thorugh whom the fallen creature is taken up into heaven; through whom all creation, held fast by the madness of idolatry, has come to the knowledge of the truth; through whom holy baptism has come to believers, and the oil of gladness; through whom churches are erected throughout the world; through whom the nations are brought to repentance. And what more shall I say? Through whom the only-begotten Son of God has shone forth, a light " to those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death" (see Lk. 1:97); through whom the Prophets foretold, through whom the Apostles preached salvation to the nations; through whom the dead are raised, and kings reign."

"Noi per la fede di Cristo siamo pronti a subire tutto: le catene, il carcere, tutti gli incomodi della vita e la stessa morte."

"If Hyperechios were with us today, he would not be on Wikipedia, or Twitter, or Facebook, or any of our phantasmagoriae of social media."

"Χιόνοϛ λαμπρότεροϛ εὐρεθήσεται μοναχὸϛ ἀνώτεροϛ τῶν σαρκικῶν ἐπιθυμίαν ὑπάρχων. Χριστὸν ἀντὶ χρυσοῦ ποθῶν, ὅψεται αὐτὸν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀγαθοσύνηϛ στεϕανοῦντα αὐτόν."

"To renounce one’s own will is a sacrifice of blood. It means that one has reached the point of laboring to death and of ignoring one’s own will. The statement ‘Behold, we have left everything and have followed you’ is about perfection; it is not about property and small amounts of money, but about thoughts and desires. You, however, have not yet come to this perfection; when you approach there, you will hear what you have to do. For the time being, simply remain carefree in all matters and concerns. As for your property, keep it for now for your nurture. The Lord Jesus Christ will bring you to that ineffable joy; for he is eternal light. Amen."

"Be vigilant in attending to yourself, … that you may set God before you at all times."

"And as for the conversation, when you see yourself almost theologizing, remember that silence is more admirable and more glorious than that."

"Humility means not reckoning oneself as anything in every situation and cutting off one’s own will in everything and calmly enduring whatever occurs externally."

"Do grant, O my Lord Jesus, that when my lips approach Thine to kiss Thee, I may taste the gall that was given Thee. And when my shoulders lean against Thine, make me feel Thy scourgings. And when my flesh is united with Thine in the Holy Eucharist, make me feel Thy Passion. And when my head comes near to Thine, make me feel Thy thorns. And when my heart is close to Thine, make me feel Thine embrace."

"We know that Father Nimatullah lived a holy life. He was a man of prayer, totally 'enraptured by God'. He spent days and nights in meditation, prayer and adoration of the Eucharist. The Virgin Mary was his patron and Father Nimatullah prayed Her Rosary. He was also a very humble, sensitive and patient person who lived his monastic vows of 'obedience, chastity and poverty' to perfection."

"He observed that the ordinary, everyday life is a continuous martyrdom, since the monk must always be a model to his brother monks, guarding himself from becoming a source of scandal; instead, the hermit lives alone, away from all external temptations."

"During the two civil wars of 1840 and 1845, he suffered greatly with his people. His brother, Fr Elisha, suggested he withdraw to a hermitage, but he replied: "Those who struggle for virtue in community life will have greater merit"."

"Those who struggle for virtue in community life will have greater merit [than hermits]."

"Better death than to be appointed Superior General."

"Blessed be the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin."

"A monk's first concern, night and day, should be not to hurt or trouble his brother monks."