Such is friendship, that through it we love places and seasons; for as bright bodies emit rays to a distance, and as flowers drop their sweet leaves on the ground around them, so friends impart favour even to places where they dwell. With friends even poverty is pleasant. Words cannot express the joy which a friend imparts; only they can know who have experienced. A friend is dearer than the light of heaven, for it would be better for us that the sun were exhausted than that we should be without friends. ~ St. John Chrysostom
Category: Food for Thought
A Lenten Prayer
During the weekdays of Great Lent, we say the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian (306-373 AD).
O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, despondency, ambition and idle talking, give me not. (Prostration)
But, rather, a spirit of chastity, humble-mindedness, patience and love, bestow on me Thy servant. (Prostration)
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my failings and not condemn my brother, for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. (Prostration)
Then the prayer once more in full, with one prostration at the end.
If unable to physically do a prostration, “bend the knees of your heart” instead.
Scripture brought me to the Gate of Paradise, and the mind stood in wonder as it entered. ~ St. Ephraim the Syrian
Let books be your dining table, and you shall be full of delights. Let them be your mattress, and you shall sleep restful nights. ~ St. Ephraim the Syrian
The Runners
They were runners together in tandem
A perfect relay of mind and heart
Striving together towards a finish
Which each crosses separately
And we were the bystanders
Cheering them on.
They were upholding each other
Carrying each other toward the end
And we were the bystanders
Cheering them on
With bursting hearts.
© Anastasia Sharon Braun
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ~ Hebrews 12: 1-2
St. Patrick Enlightener of Ireland
Thank you Vera, for sharing the St. Patrick icon!
St. Patrick is so beloved and well-known, that I’m posting this today… for both calendars (March 17/March 30).
St. Patrick led an amazing life. Born in Scotland around the year 385 AD, he was the son of a deacon and the grandson of a priest. Patrick wasn’t particularly religious during his youth, but he lived a quiet life.
That all changed at the age of sixteen, when he was kidnapped by pirates raiding the British coast. Taken to Ireland and sold as a slave, Patrick spent the next six years as a herder on an isolated mountain.
Labouring in solitude, he remembered the faith of his youth, and turned to prayer, finding solace in God. Patrick had a vision revealing he would soon be free and that a ship would be waiting for him. An opportunity arose for his escape, and he fled… traveling many days on foot, until he reached the coast to find the ship from his vision, preparing to sail to Gaul (France).
St. Patrick studied for several years in a monastery under the holy Bishop Germanus. He was ordained a priest and eventually consecrated a bishop. St. Patrick had another vision, that the people in the land of his captors were calling him back to Eire. St. Patrick understood that this was to be his mission… he was to return to Ireland and help establish the Church there. He was one of several missionaries who arrived in Ireland around 432 AD.
When asked to explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity in a simple manner, St. Patrick used a tiny shamrock (a low growing plant of the clover family) with its three lobed leaves on a single stem, to demonstrate how God the Father- God the Son- and God the Holy Spirit are the Holy Trinity; Three in One, One in Three… Undivided.
Once, during his travels, he destroyed an idol where human sacrifices would occur. This idol sat on a large rock. When the saint struck the idol with his crozier (bishop staff), the idol crumbled to dust, and the imprint of the crozier remained upon the rock.
As a bishop he faced many struggles and dangers, including hostility from those loyal to the pagan gods. With God’s help, St. Patrick worked through these obstacles while guiding his flock, and baptising new converts. St. Patrick prayed tirelessly, and continued his work of establishing churches and monasteries. It is said he chanted the entire Psalter every day.
His writings include several works of prayers, and letters. One of these prayers is well known as the Lorica (Breastplate) of St. Patrick… A prayer for protection.
During a perilous journey to share the Christian faith in King Loegaire’s territory, the saint discovered they were in mortal danger of an ambush. He prayed the Lorica Prayer, and to those lying in ambush, the saint and his company of monks appeared to them as if they were wild deer, and not humans. Because of this miracle, the Lorica Prayer is also known as The Deer’s Cry.
The early fifth century Enlightenment of Ireland by St. Patrick and his brethren, has been called the most successful single missionary venture in the history of the church.
This post is collected from various sources over the years… and are but a smidgeon of the countless, wondrous, and miraculous events, regarding the life of St. Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland.
Today we also celebrate the 7th century British St. Owen of Lichfield.
Bending the Knees of Our Heart
To fast in the soul means keeping silent more and praying more frequently by oneself saying “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” At first this prayer will be only in our minds, then, because of the mind’s prayerful effort, suddenly, we know not how, this prayer passes into our hearts. It is possible that at this moment we may even weep and in this way we are baptized anew in the unseen font of our tears. There are all kinds of tears: tears of exaltation, tears of joy, tears of sadness, but the most precious are tears of compunction and repentance. ~ Metropolitan Vitaly (Archbishop of Montreal and Canada)
Flower of Repentance
Our Self-Sown Wild-Garden’s Seating Area -2012
Happy Clean Monday – the first day of Great Lent!
The springtime of the Fast has dawned, the flower of repentance has begun to open. O brethren, let us cleanse ourselves from all impurity. And sing to the Giver of Light: Glory be to Thee, who alone lovest mankind. ~ Aposticha Vespers Cheesefare Week
What does Lent have to do with flowers?
The word ‘Lent’ comes from the Old English word ‘lechten’, which means ‘spring season’… and Lent is a Spiritual Spring; a time of hope, regeneration and new beginnings.
Through internal quietude, contemplation, and reviewing our heart’s desires, Lent helps us let God in again, to make our life lighter and brighter. It helps recharge our spiritual batteries.
May we cultivate buds of virtue – through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving… wending our way through the green pastures of the Holy Spirit.
The Lenten Spring has come! Flowers of repentance are opening!
Let us begin our Great Lenten journey together in spirit, singing praises to the Giver of Light!
Threshold
Today’s 28 Layer Blini Crepe Cake contained… almost zero calories?
Tomorrow’s appeasement-chickpeas are placidly soaking.
Bon Voyage! Wishing you a blessed and fruitful Great Lent!
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the season of repentance. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, that having sailed across the great sea of the Fast, we may reach the third-day Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls. ~ Aposticha Sunday Night Forgiveness Vespers
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. ~ Romans 13: 11-14
Forgive Me
Floral wedding confetti on church entrance floor mosaic – St. Sophia, Canada
Today is Forgiveness Sunday. Tomorrow Great Lent begins.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ~ St. Matthew 5:7
A pebble tossed into a pond radiates countless ripples.
Forgiveness does this too. It releases waves of empathy and compassion, affecting everyone it touches, including ourselves.
Mercy is a powerful gift, restoring peace of mind, and helping us to move forward, sloughing off anger or resentment. Giving or receiving forgiveness bestows healing to our spiritual and physical health.
Great Lent begins tomorrow. Today, on Forgiveness Sunday, we greet each other by asking mutual forgiveness. (Whether in person if possible, or by a phone call or email) What a delightfully liberating way to start the Fast… with clean slates; in the spirit of mercy and Christian love.
Forgive me. God Forgives!
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ~St. Matthew 6:14 – 15
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ~ Ephesians 4:32
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~ Colossians 3:13
Sincere repentance is a gift of God such that, although we may not have committed any severe fall into sin or evil deed, we still see ourselves in our true light, see how weak we are, how much we sin in the mind, in our feelings, and especially in our imagination. Looking honestly at ourselves, we have nothing left to say except “Lord God have mercy on me, help me, and forgive, forgive, forgive me!” Then forgiveness will come into our souls like Pascha, and we are as it were born anew. And if the Lord should forgive, who will condemn us? ~ Metropolitan Vitaly, Paschal Encyclical, 2001
Sometimes we do not see any outlet, any escape from our sins, and they torment us: on account of them, the heart is oppressed with sorrow and weary. But Jesus looks upon us, and streams of tears flow from our eyes, and with the tears all the tissue of evil in our soul vanishes. We weep with joy that such mercy has suddenly and unexpectedly been sent to us. ~ St. John of Kronstadt
This Prayer Never Fails!
Starry Cross from Dome – St. Sophia Church, Canada
Thy Will be Done!
Bee Kind
The bee is more honoured than the other animals, not because she labours, but because she labours for others. ~ St. John Chrysostom