Give thanks

Before all else, let us list sincere thanksgiving first on the scroll of our prayer. On the second line, we should put confession and heartfelt contrition of soul. Then let us present our petition to the King of all. This is the best way of prayer as it was shown to one of the brethren by an angel of the Lord.   

 

 

Be Eucharistic

Give thanks unto God

Attend the Divine Liturgy today 

 

Blessed Thanksgiving to all!  Presbytera Candace

Don't be surprised if...

Do not be surprised if you fall every day and do not surrender. Stand your ground bravely and you may be sure that your guardian angel will respect your endurance. 

Help for Confession

Son, obedient servant of the Lord, do not be so fooled by the spirit of conceit that you confess your sins to your spiritual father as though they were someone else’s. Lay bare your wound to the healer. Only through shame can you be freed from shame. Tell him, and do not be ashamed, “This is my wound, Father; this is my injury. It happened because of my negligence and not from any other cause. No one is to blame for this, no man, spirit or body or anything else. It is all through my negligence.” He who exposes every serpent shows the reality of his faith, while he who hides them still walks the trackless wastes. 

On healing the wounds of the soul

A fresh, warm wound is easier to heal than those that are old, neglected and festering and that need extensive treatment, surgery, bandaging and cauterization.  Long neglect can render many of them incurable.  However, all things are possible with God (cf Matt 19:26). 

On forgiveness and pride

When you are depressed, bear in mind the Lord's command to Peter to forgive a sinner seventy times seven (cf. Matt. 18:22).  And you may be sure that He Who gave this command to another will Himself do very much more.  But if, on the other hand, we become too self-assured, let us remember what has been said about the person who keeps the whole spiritual law and yet, having slipped into one passion, that of pride, is guilty of all (cf. James 2:10). 

The vainglorious man

A vainglorious man is a believer - and an idolator.  Apparently honoring God, he actually is out to please not God but men.  To be a showoff is to be vainglorious, and the fast of such a man is unrewarded and his prayer futile, since he is practicing both to win praise.