THE WISDOM OF THE PRAYERS OF THE HOURS The first wisdom is the unity of the church when praying, with one soul The church used to pray with “one soul" lifting up one voice to God (Acts 4:24). This will not occur unless the church is praying with one prayer, or the majority are leading …
On the Eucharist St. Ignatius of Antioch "I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible" (Letter to the …
The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles (Didache) on the Eucharist Celebrate the Eucharist as follows: Say over the cup: “we give you thanks, Father, for the holy vine of David, your servant, which you made known to us through Jesus your servant. To you be glory for ever”. Over the broken bread say: “we give …
Glorious Feast of the Resurrection It is the Day of the Resurrection, and my Beginning has good auspices. Let us then keep the Festival with splendor, and let us embrace one another. Let us say Brethren, even to those who hate us; much more to those who have done or suffered anything out of …
+ “It is strange, while we care and increase our concern for our bodies, and eat delicious food for our health, and go out in the open air; we find our souls at the end subject to the diseases and the pains. At the same time, the saints, who scorned their bodies and mortified them …
+ “The Bible says “He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt10:38). Carrying the cross includes the fatigue of the fast because the fast subdues the wild soul, and crucifies the desires, and by that, the soul will be purified and spiritual wings will grow for …
Without a doubt, the one who fights against the flow of the world finds violent opposition from the world and from Satan its prince. He finds many trying to make him fail and to deter his resolve. This is what happened with Dr Youssef (Fr Matta El Maskeen). He encountered violent opposition from the world, …
The Conscience Some have a strict conscience that doubts everything and thinks that right is wrong, and others have a free conscience that justifies many actions. Conscience also has a relation to offense, as the following examples will show: Is beauty, for example, a stumbling block? Suppose there is a beautiful girl: some look at …
A Pure Conscience The life of the Christian has three distinguishing aspects: deeds, words and thought. Thought comes first, then words, since our words express openly the interior conclusions of the mind. Finally, after thoughts and words, comes action, for our deeds carry out what the mind has conceived. So, when one of these results …
Sin is a fearful evil and dangerous sickness of the soul. Sin weakens it sneakily and hands it paralyzed into eternal hell. It is however bad that it depends on our own will. It is a fruit of our own disposition. Sin is a fearful evil, but not incurable. Repentance cures it easily. For as …
