Great is our negligence and slothfulness in prayer. We are always inclined to pray (and often do) negligently, just to get it over with quickly. We hurry, we skip over the surface like a rock on the water, and we do not descend into the depths of our hearts. Therefore, our prayer is like the wind--it makes a noise, passes on, and that is all.

When we offer prayers [for our enemies], not only are we justified before God, but we also help them to become enlightened. It is likely that these people don't think about God, don't pray, or even make the sign of the Cross. Who will help them? They are in absolute need of our prayers. When we pray for God to forgive and sanctify them, we simultaneously help them come to repentance. This is an immense display of love.

Depending on the battle, there will be an analogous victory. You will not find inexpensive items in the shop of Heaven. Moments of pain and sacrifice are actually a time of blessings. Behind every cross there follows a resurrection. What if we feel pain and cry ceaselessly at present? "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17)

Is it good, very good indeed, to be virtuous; the virtuous man is at peace with himself, pleasing to God, and agreeable to other people. The virtuous man unwillingly attracts everyone's attention. Why is this so? Because fragrance unwillingly attracts attention and makes everyone wish to smell it. Look at the very appearance of the virtuous man; look at his face. What sort of a face is it? It is the face of an angel. Meekness and humility are diffused through all its features, involuntarily captivating everyone by their beauty. Pay attention to his manner of speaking; from it comes an even sweeter fragrance. It is as if you were face to face with his soul, enraptured with his sweet conversation.

Every time you go in a public place and something ISN’T disgusting it’s because somebody cleaned it. Every time you feel comfortable using a public bathroom or sitting at a restaurant table or setting something on a gas station counter or playing on a playground it’s because somebody cleaned it.

God's decisions resemble an abyss. Who can fathom the mind or the decisions of the Lord? He knows how to arrange everything correctly.

Don't we have the ability to use rebuttal? Don't we have watchfulness? Isn't this a marvellous weapon against each and every evil thought? By carefully and vigilantly watching over our internal being, in order to avoid contracting pathogens and to prevent the enemy from enemy, we are able to kill the enemy with the weapon of prayer and preserve the peace of God within us.

The goal of our life is to unite with God, but sin completely hinders this. Therefore, flee from sin as from a terrible enemy, as from the destroyer of the soul, because to be without God is death, not life. Let us therefore understand our purpose; let us always remember that the Master of all calls us to union with Himself.