Hola, Brody!

By the daily celebration of the liturgy, we praise God for [the] gift of life and for the even more wonderful gift of friendship with [God], who willed that all [people] should become [God’s] children. Celebrating the liturgy with care draws us into the dynamism of creation, which glorifies God by the beauty it has received from [God]. The great attention to beauty in all things that typifies monks is rooted in the liturgy.”

“So we must remain resolutely Christocentric and resolutely committed to following Christ and to apply his commandments, as well as his promises — first of all to ourselves. And beware of too much rhetoric, beware of too many words and consider how people live.

“Ultimately, that is how Christianity spread and that is how Christianity renewed a weary world in late antiquity. By all means, there was an element of preaching and teaching and catechesis. But what bowled people over and turned societies round was seeing a new way of being human, and a new way of creating and fostering community, seeing and recognizing the possibility of reconciliation, of forgiveness, and of building a society, a new city, on the basis of reconciliation and forgiveness. 

Unless wheat is ground, after all, and moistened with water, it can't possibly get into this shape which is called bread. In the same way you too were being ground and pounded, as it were, by the humiliation of fasting and the sacrament of exorcism.

“At Mattins bound, At Prime reviled, Condemned to death at Terce, Nailed to the Cross at Sext, At None his blessed side they pierce, They take him down at Evensong, In grave at Compline lay; Who henceforth bids his Church observe These sevenfold hours alway.”

O Master, Lord, God the Pantocrator, the Father of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, we thank you for every condition, concerning every condition, and in every condition. For you have covered us, helped us, guarded us, accepted us to you, had compassion on us, supported us, and brought us to this hour.

Therefore, we ask and entreat your goodness, O Lover of Humanity. Grant us to complete this holy day, and all the days of our life, in all peace in your fear. All envy, all temptation, all the work of Satan, the counsel of wicked people and the rising up of enemies, hidden and manifest, take them away from us and from all your people and from this holy place that is yours. But those things which are good and profitable do provide for us. For it is you who have given us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, by the grace, compassion and love-of-humanity, of your only-begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through whom the glory, the honor, the dominion, and the adoration are due unto you, with him, and the Holy Spirit, the Life-Giver, who is of one essence with you, now and at all times, and unto the age of all ages. Amen.