John of Kronstadt quotes - page 5
When you are in the temple, remember that you are in the living presence of the Lord God, that you stand before His face, before His eyes, in the living presence of the Mother of God, of the holy angels, and of the first-born of the Church - that is, our forefathers, the prophets, Apostles, hierarchs, martyrs, reverend Fathers, the righteous, and all the saints. Always have the remembrance and consciousness of this when you are in the temple, and stand with devotion, taking part willingly and with all your heart in the Divine service.
John of Kronstadt
We must by every means humble our hearts and subdue our proud intellect, lest we should be like the contemporaries of the prophets, who looked on them only as sweet-voiced singers, and nothing more; they did not wish to fulfill their commands, they even despised, persecuted, beat and killed them; lest we should be like those, by whom 'no prophet is accepted in his own country' (Lk. 4:24).
John of Kronstadt
How do we receive the highest mystery of Divine love to us ? the mystery of the Christian faith? With our mind, heart and life; with our free will? Are all the three powers of our souls penetrated by holy faith, as were the souls of the saints? The kingdom of heaven 'is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened' (Lk. 13:21). The three measures are the three powers of the soul.
John of Kronstadt
He who is accustomed to give account of his life at confession here will not fear to give an answer at the terrible judgment-seat of Christ. It is for this purpose that the mild tribunal of penitence was here initiated, in order that we, being cleansed and amended through penitence here below, may give an answer without shame at the terrible judgment-seat of Christ.
John of Kronstadt
Avarice causes a diminution of love. It sows hatred within us against others for embezzling or stealing what's ours. Heartfelt goodwill, on the other hand, makes us love those towards whom we're generous. Forced generosity provokes antipathy. Avarice comes from the devil, whereas generosity is of God.
John of Kronstadt
Icons have a great sense in Orthodox Church. It is simply ignorant to say that Orthodox pray to icons. Of course not. Icons represent all good and heavenly. Icons are means of teaching, reminding, expression of faith. We venerate Saints and worship God, and icons help us to remember why.... -- "When you look upon the Icon of the Mother of God, with her Eternal Infant, marvel how most truly the Godhead was united with human nature, glorify the goodness and omnipotence of God, and, recognising your own dignity as man, live worthily of the high calling to which you are called in Christ – that is, the calling of a child of God and an heir to eternal bliss.
John of Kronstadt
A true Christian behaves in this life so that it may be a preparation for the future one and not only a life here below. In his actions, he does not think what will be said of him here but of what will be said there in heaven; he represents to himself that he is always in the presence of God, of the angels and all the saints, and remembers that someday they will bear witness to his thoughts, words, and deeds.
John of Kronstadt
The longer we go on without confessing, the worse it is for us, the more entangled we become in the bonds of sin, and therefore the more difficult it is to give account. We ought to confess our sins more frequently, in order to strike and scourge the sins by the open avowal of them, and in order to feel a greater loathing of them. He who is accustomed to give account of his life at confession will not fear to give an answer at the terrible judgment-seat of Christ.
John of Kronstadt
Many of us live as if we don't have to die and give an account of our lives. What does this mean? Doesn't this happen because such people think that all they have to do is to repent just before they die and they will receive a full pardon? Of course, God does not turn away those who come to Him even at the eleventh hour, that is, if they turn to Him with all their hearts. However, if your heart was far away from God for the longest part of your life, do you think that you will be able to move it toward God, to arouse in you a feeling of repentance before you die? Oh, brothers! It will be exactly then that your heart will be set against you.
John of Kronstadt
In the Orthodox Church we honor the Theotokos Mary more than all the saints and angels of heaven because she was found worthy to give birth to Christ, the Savior of the world. "Our Lady, the Mother of God, is the most beautifully adorned temple of the Holy Trinity. She is, after God, the treasury of all blessings, of purity, holiness, of all true wisdom, the source of spiritual power and constancy.
John of Kronstadt
What do I need? I need true, Christian, living, active love? I need a loving heart, compassionate towards my neighbors; I need joy at their welfare and abundance, sorrow for their sorrows and sickness, for their sins, infirmities, disorders, deficiencies, misfortunes, poverty; I need warm and sincere sympathy for them in all the circumstances of their lives, to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep. It is time that we ceased to give place to our self-love, to egoism, to live only for ourselves, to draw everything to ourselves only - riches and pleasures and worldly honours. We ought not to live, but to die; we ought not to rejoice, but to suffer, we who bear within ourselves the poison of self-love...
John of Kronstadt
We ought to have the most lively spiritual union with the heavenly inhabitants, with all the saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs, prelates, venerable and righteous men, as they are all members of one single body, the Church of Christ, to which we sinners also belong, and the living Head of which is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This is why we call upon them in prayer, converse with them, thank and praise them. It is urgently necessary for all Christians to be in union with them if they desire to make Christian progress; for the saints are our friends, our guides to salvation, who pray and intercede for us.
John of Kronstadt
The Holy Ghost accomplishes all wonders and miracles. By the same Spirit** power is given to one, and to another works of power. You have only to speak with faith, and need have no anxiety as to the fulfilment of the word; the Holy Ghost will care for this. Believe firmly that you always think, feel, speak, move, and act in God - so to say, in His bosom: "Dwelleth in Me and I in him." He has enclosed you upon all sides...
John of Kronstadt
John of Kronstadt
Occupation: Russian SaintBorn: October 19, 1829
Died: December 20, 1908
Quotes count: 122
Wikipedia: John of Kronstadt
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