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Actually, all gifts have been given. . .

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Actually, all gifts have been given for reasons of temporal use and need and they will surely pass away at the end of the present dispensation. Love, however, will never be cut off. It works in us and for us, and not simply in this life. For when the burden of physical need has been laid aside in the time to come it will endure, more effectively, more excellently, forever unfailing, clinging to God with more fire and zeal through all the length of incorruption.”

— John Cassian

 

Everything we do. . .

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Everything we do, our every objective, must be undertaken for the sake of… purity of heart… we must practice the reading of the Scripture, together with all the other virtuous activities… to hold our hearts free of the harm of every dangerous passion and in order to rise step by step to the high point of love.”

— John Cassian

In proportion as the ardor of divine love brings you. . .

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In proportion as the ardor of divine love brings you nearer to God, so will a larger concourse of saintly brethren flock to you. For, as the Lord says, ‘A city set on a hill cannot be hid’ (Mt. 5:14).”

— John Cassian

The bond between friends cannot. . .

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“The bond between friends cannot be broken by chance; no interval of time or space can destroy it. Not even death itself can part true friends.”

― John Cassian

when we gaze in. . .

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When we gaze in unbounded admiration on that ineffable mercy of His, which with unwearied patience endures countless sins which are every moment being committed under His very eyes, or the call with which from no antecedent merits of ours, but by the free grace of His pity He receives us;”

― John Cassian, Conferences of John Cassian

 

As a handful of sand thrown into. . .

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“As a handful of sand thrown into the ocean, so are the sins of all flesh as compared with the mind of God.”

— St. Isaac of Nineveh

If you give something to one in need, let the. . .

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“If you give something to one in need, let the cheerfulness of your face precede your gift, and comfort his sorrow with kind words. When you do this, by your gift the gladness of his mind surpasses even the needs of his body”

+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian

In proportion to your humility you are. . .

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In proportion to your humility you are given patience in your woes; and in proportion to your patience the burden of your afflictions is made lighter and you will find consolation; in proportion to your consolation, your love of God increases; and in proportion to your love, your joy in the Holy Spirit is magnified. Once men have truly become His sons, our tenderly compassionate Father does not take away their temptations from them when it is His pleasure to ‘make for them a way to escape’ (1 Cor. 10:13), but instead He gives His sons patience in their trials. All these good things are given into the hand of their patience for the perfecting of their souls.”

+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, Ascetical Homilies (42)

Conquer men by your. . .

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Conquer men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of justice to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.”

+ St. Isaac of Nineveh , The Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian, Homily 64, “On Prayer, Prostrations, Tears, Reading, Silence, and Hymnody”

Do not disdain those who. . .

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Do not disdain those who are deformed from birth, because all of us will go to the grave equally privileged.

+ St. Isaac of Nineveh, “Homily 5: On Keeping Oneself Remote From the World and From All Things That Disquiet the Intellect,” Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian