Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers

contrition

3 Entries

There are five occupations which help to gain God's benevolence. The first is pure prayer; the second, psalmody; the third, reading the Holy Scriptures; the fourth, contrite remembrance of one's sins, of death and the terrible judgment; the fifth, work with one's hands. "Reflections on the Eight Thoughts", Abba Evagrius, "Early Fathers From the Philokalia," translated from the Russian text, "Dobrotolubiye," by E. Kadloubovsky and G.E.H. Palmer, eighth edition, (London: Faber and Faber, Ltd., 1981), pp. 113 - 114

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If you have no contrition, know that you are possessed by vanity, for it prevents the soul from being contrite. monks Callistus and Ignatius (Directions to Hesychasts no. 25, Writings from the Philokalia on Prayer of the Heart; Faber and Faber pg. 196)

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210. Without contrition of the heart it is altogether impossible to rid ourselves of evil. Now the heart is made contrite by threefold self-control: in sleep, in food and in bodily relaxation. For excess of these three things leads to self-indulgence; and this in turn makes us accept evil thoughts, and is opposed to prayer and to appropriate work. REF:Saint Kosmas Aitolos +1779

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