John of Kronstadt quotes - page 5
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
Strengthen yourself by the undoubting invocation of the Holy Ghost the Comforter. He is well known to you. You so often invoke Him upon the Holy Gifts, and He, at your prayer, unfailingly and continually transubstantiates them, and you yourself partake again and again of the fruits of His divine acts.
John of Kronstadt
The Christian has no reason to have in his heart any ill feeling whatever against anyone. Such ill feeling, like every other evil, is the work of the devil. The Christian must only have love in his heart. And as love cannot think of evil, he cannot have any ill feeling against others.
John of Kronstadt
If the Holy Virgin, the Mother of God, through Her union with God, and through Her unprecedented service to the Lord of all, most speedily becomes everything to all those who ask with faith and love for Her intercession, delivering them from every evil, and bestowing upon them everything which leads to their salvation, in accordance with their prayer, then will not the Lord Himself do still more? Only do not be unbelieving; do not be cold to Him in your soul and insensible as a stone, but stir up within you your faith, your gratitude for God's benefits, the sincere recognition of your sins, and your great love for your Savior, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, Who loves you with an immeasurable love.
John of Kronstadt
Glory, O Lord, to the power of Thy Cross, which never fails! When the enemy oppresses me with a sinful thought or feeling, and I, lacking freedom in my heart, make the sign of the Cross several times with faith, suddenly my sin falls away from me, the compulsion vanishes, and I find myself free... For the faithful the Cross is a mighty power which delivers from all evils, from the malice of the invisible foe.
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
Give yourself up entirely to God's providence, to the Lord's Will, and do not grieve at losing anything material, nor in general at the loss of visible things; do not rejoice at gain, but let your only and constant joy be to win the Lord Himself. Trust entirely in Him: He knows how to lead you safely through this present life, and to bring you to Himself - into His eternal Kingdom.
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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