My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
THE HOLY WRITINGS OF SAINT NEKTARIOS OF AEGINA (Part II)
by Dr. Constantine Cavarnos, Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. Holy Trinity Orthodox Mission
[The holy writings of Saints Nektarios are spiritually uplifting, beneficial, and inspiring, especially during the Holy Nativity Fast which we are observing at the present time: November 15-24 December.]
SPIRITUAL TRAINING
Spiritual training (pneumatiki gymnastiki) is ascesis for piety. It is most valuable, "having promise for the life that now is, and for that which is to come." The efforts made for the sake of piety bring spiritual gladness.
Saint Theophylaktos says: "Train yourself for piety, that is, for pure faith and the right life. Training, then, and continual effort are necessary; for he who trains exercises until he perspires, even when there is no contest."
Training accustoms one to be lenient, temperate, capable of controlling his anger, subduing his passions (desire), doing works of charity, showing love for his fellow men, practicing virtue. Training is virtuous ascesis, rendering one's way of life admirable.
Ascesis is practice, meditation, training, self-control, humility, love of labor.
FASTING
Fasting is an ordinance of the Church, obliging the Christian believer to observe it on specific days concerning fasting, our Savior Jesus Christ teaches: "When thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father Who is in secret and thy Father, Who seethe in secret, shall reward thee openly." From what the Savior teaches we learn:
a) that fasting is pleasing to God, and
b) that he who fasts for the uplifting of his mind and heart towards God shall be rewarded by God, Who is most liberal Bestower of Divine Gifts, for his devotion.
In the New Testament fasting is recommended as a means of preparing the mind and the heart for divine worship, for long prayer, for rising from the earthly, and for spiritualization.
INNER ATTENTION
Attention is the first Teacher of Truth and consequently absolutely necessary. Attention rouses the soul to study itself and its longings, to learn their true character and repulse those that are unholy. Attention is the guardian angel of the intellect, always counseling it thusly: be attentive. Attention awakens the soul, rouses it from sleep...Attention examines every thought, every passion, every memory. Thoughts, desires (passions), and memories are engendered by various causes, and often appear masked with splendid garb, in order to deceive the inattentive intellect and enter into the soul and dominate it. Only attention (vigilance, watchfulness) can reveal their hidden form. Often their dissimulation is so perfect that the discernment of their true nature is very difficult and requires the greatest attention. One must remember the saving words of the Lord Jesus Christ: "Be wakeful and pray that you enter not into temptation." He who is wakeful does not enter into temptation, because he is vigilant and attentive.
PRAYER
True prayer is undistracted, prolonged, performed with humility and a contrite heart, and an alert intellect. The vehicle of prayer is always humility, and prayer is a manifestation of humility. For being conscious of our own weakness, we invoke the power of God.
Prayer unites one with God, being a divine conversation and spiritual communion with the Divine Being that is most beautiful and highest.
Prayer is forgetting earthly things, an ascent to Heaven. Through prayer we flee to God.
Prayer is truly a heavenly armor, and is alone can keep safer those who have dedicated themselves to God. Prayer is the common medicine for purifying ourselves from passions, for hindering sin and curing our faults. Prayer is an inexhaustible treasure, an unruffled harbor, the foundation of serenity, the root and mother of myriad's of blessings.
HOLY COMMUNION
The Mysterion (Sacrament) of the Divine Eucharist that has been handed down by the Lord Jesus Christ is the highest of all the Mysteria (Sacraments); it is the most wondrous of all the miracles which the power of God has performed; it is the highest which the wisdom of God has conceived; it is the most precious of all the gifts which the love of God has bestowed upon men. For all the other miracles result through a transcendence of certain laws of Nature, but the Mysterion (Sacrament) of the Divine Eucharist transcends all these laws. Hence it may justly be called, and be viewed as, the miracles and Mysterion of Mysteria (Sacrament of Sacraments)).
Do you want to become a partaker of blessings conferred by Divine Communion? Do you want your salvation? Have fear of God, faith in the Mysterion (Sacrament) of Divine Communion, and love for God and for your neighbor.
(To be continued)
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PRAYERS FROM THE DIVINE LITURGY OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM THAT ALSO REVEAL THE MANY BLESSINGS OF GOD FOR THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN BELIEVER DURING WORSHIP WHO IS PRESENT AND ATTENTIVE:
"Look down, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, from Thy Holy dwellings-place, and from the Throne of Glory of Thy Kingdom, and come to sanctify us, Thou Who sittest on High with the Father, and are here invisibly present with us. And do Thou deign by Thy Mighty hand to give to us of Thy immaculate Body and of Thy Precious Blood, and through us to all the people."
"We give thanks to Thee, O King invisible, Who by Thy boundless power, has formed all things, and by the fullness of Thy mercy has brought forth all things from nothing into being. Do Thou Thyself, O Master, look down from Heaven upon those who have bowed down not before flesh and blood, but unto Thee, the Almighty God. Do Thou, therefore, O Master, administer these Offerings to all of us for our benefit according to the individual need of each. Do Thou travel with those who travel by sea, land and by air, heal the sick. Thou Who art the physician of our souls and bodies."
AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE AT THE DIVINE LITURGY, AND WHAT WE RECEIVE WHILE THERE, AND WHO ARE NOT INSPIRED BY THE HOLY EUCHARIST:
"To Thee, O Merciful Lord, we commit our whole life, and hope, and Thee we beseech and pray and supplicate: render us worthy to receive Thy Heavenly and Fearful Mysteries (Sacraments) of this Holy and Spiritual Table with a pure conscience, for remission of sins, for forgiveness of transgressions, for communion of the Holy Spirit, for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, for boldness to approach Thee, neither unto judgment nor unto condemnation."
Are you inspired now? Do you understand know why you are there? Do you understand that you are in the presence of God? Do you understand not that the Divine Liturgy is not just a ritual?
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George