With the very weapon that. . .
With the very weapon that death had used to kill Him, He gained the victory over death…death killed natural life, but supernatural Life killed death. A pro-death culture will never make sense.
— St. Ephraim the Syrian
The Son, whose birth is. . .
The Son, whose birth is beyond investigation, underwent another birth which can be investigated.
In one fell swoop, St. Ephrem eviscerates both empiricism (everything must be investigated scientifically) and fideism (faith in God means we don’t need reason)
— St. Ephraim the Syrian
Virtues are formed by. . .
“Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.”
— Ephrem the Syrian
O Lord, we cannot go to. . .
“O Lord, we cannot go to the pool of Siloe to which you sent the blind man. But we have the chalice of Your Precious Blood, filled with life and light. The purer we are, the more we receive.”
— Ephrem the Syrian
It is blasphemy if you. . .
“It is blasphemy if you pray before God while you are full of anger.”
— Ephrem the Syrian
Scripture brought me to. . .
“Scripture brought me to the Gate of Paradise, and the mind stood in wonder as it entered.”
— Ephrem the Syrian
“The Word of God is a. . .
“The Word of God is a tree of life that offers us blessed fruit from each of its branches. It is like that rock which was struck open in the wilderness, from which all were offered spiritual drink. Be glad then that you are overwhelmed, and do not be saddened because he has overcome you. A thirsty person is happy when drinking, and not depressed, because the spring is inexhaustible. You can satisfy your thirst without exhausting the spring; then when you thirst again, you can drink from it once more.”
— Ephrem the Syrian
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me. . .
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother; for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.”
— Ephrem the Syrian
“Be a lamp in brightness, and. . .
“Be a lamp in brightness, and make the works of darkness cease, so that whenever your doctrine shines, no one may dare to heed the desires of darkness.”
— Ephrem the Syrian
“Yea, O Lord and King, grant me. . .
“Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sin and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed from all ages to all ages. Amen”
— Ephrem the Syrian
