Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers

meekness

16 Entries

A gentle soul retains words of wisdom, for the Lord will guide the meek in judgment, or rather, in discretion. St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), STEP 24: On Meekness, Simplicity, and Guilelessness Which Come Not From Nature but From Conscious Effort, and About Guile

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Even devils in their craftiness and beastly manners and with their arrogant minds; they become like dust when they face a modest person. St. Isaac the Syrian

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If it is a mark of extreme meekness, even in the presence of one’s offender, to be peacefully and lovingly disposed towards him in one’s heart, then it is certainly a mark of hot temper when a person continues to quarrel and rage against his offender, both by words and gestures, even when by himself. St. John Climacus, “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), Step 8: On Freedom From Anger and On Meekness

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Imitate the Publican and you will not be condemned with the Pharisee. Choose the meekness of Moses and you will find your heart which is a rock changed into a spring of water. Amma Syncletica

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In the hearts of the meek the Lord finds rest, but a turbulent soul is a seat of the devil. St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), STEP 24: On Meekness, Simplicity, and Guilelessness Which Come Not From Nature but From Conscious Effort, and About Guile

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Let all of us who wish to attract the Lord to ourselves draw near to Him as disciples to the Master, simply, without hypocrisy, without duplicity or guile, not out of idle curiosity. He Himself is simple and not composite, and He wants souls that come to Him to be simple and guileless. For you will surely never see simplicity bereft of humility. St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), STEP 24: On Meekness, Simplicity, and Guilelessness Which Come Not From Nature but From Conscious Effort, and About Guile

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Meekness and humility of heart are virtues without which it is impossible to inherit the Heavenly Kingdom, to be happy on earth, or to experience inner calm. Counsels of Venerable St. Antony (Putilov) of Optina

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Meekness consists in praying calmly and sincerely for a neighbor when he causes many turmoils. St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), STEP 24: On Meekness, Simplicity, and Guilelessness Which Come Not From Nature but From Conscious Effort, and About Guile

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Meekness is a rock overlooking the sea of anger, which breaks all the waves that dash against it, yet remains completely unmoved. St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), STEP 24: On Meekness, Simplicity, and Guilelessness Which Come Not From Nature but From Conscious Effort, and About Guile

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Meekness is an immovable state of soul which remains unaffected, whether in evil report or in good report, in dishonor or in praise. St. John Climacus, “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), Step 8: On Freedom From Anger and On Meekness

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Meekness is an unchangeable state of mind, which remains the same in honor and dishonor. St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), STEP 24: On Meekness, Simplicity, and Guilelessness Which Come Not From Nature but From Conscious Effort, and About Guile

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Repentance and humility establish the soul. Charity and meekness strengthen it. Monk Evagrius

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Struggle to delude your own prudence, and by so doing, you will find salvation and uprightness through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. He who has the strength for this step, let him take courage; for he has become an imitator of Christ his Master, and has been saved. St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), STEP 24: On Meekness, Simplicity, and Guilelessness Which Come Not From Nature but From Conscious Effort, and About Guile

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Believe that dishonors and reproaches are medicines that heal the pride of thy soul, and pray for those who reproach thee, as for true physicians of thy soul, being assured that he who hates dishonor, hates humility, and he who avoids those who grieve him, flees from meekness. Venerable Dorotheos

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"There is nothing stronger than meekness, nothing more powerful; it preserves our soul in quiet, and strives to lead it as into a harbor, and is the cause of every kind of satisfaction for us; and nothing else can give the soul repose and great quiet as well as meekness and humble mindedness." St. John Chrysostom

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103. Once we have entrusted our hope about something to God, we no longer quarrel with our neighbor over it. REF:Saint Kosmas Aitolos +1779

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