Orthodox Prayer Life:
The Interior Way
by Matthew the Poor
2003
by Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press
Goodreads

Last Monday, I shared quotations from Orthodox Prayer Life, pages 212-228

Here are some today from pages 229 to the end of the book.

One of my favorite quotes from The Ladder:

“The man wearing
blessed, God-given mourning,
like a wedding garment,
gets to know the spiritual laughter of the heart.”
St John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, 7.44

We may liken fasting to a burning coal
and prayer to frankincense.
Neither has value without the other,
but together,
the sweet savor of their incense fills the air.

“When a man begins to fast,
he straightaway years in his mind
to enter into converse with God.”
St Isaac the Syrian, Homily 37

“…They are so enflammed by the Spirit
with such joy and love that,
if it were possible,
they could gather every human being
into their very hearts,
without distinguishing the bad and the good.”
St Macarius the Great, Homily 18.8

“What, succinctly, is purity?
It is a heart that shows mercy to all created nature.”
St Issac the Syrian

“What is the sign that a man has attained to purity of heart?
When he sees all men as good
and none appears to him to be unclean and defiled.”
St Issac the Syrian, Homily 37

I hope these quotations on this book were helpful for your Lent.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THESE NOTES
Have you read this book?
Any reflection on these quotes?