St. Katherine

“There is need not only of faith, but also of a spiritual way of life-that we may keep the Spirit that was given once for all.”

Do not lose your temper with those who sin.

It is necessary to look into the heart with mind and see what is done there. Is it peaceful or not? If not, then find out in what you have sinned. 

Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, "You are a saint," the other, "You won't be saved." Both of these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins. 

Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us...He took upon Himself a low degree that He might give us a higher one. He became poor, that in His poverty we might become rich.

By His Incarnation the Lord has clearly taught us all the mysteries of Faith, which were not known, or only little known, in the Old Testament.

Whoever does not fight the one who despises him, neither in word not in thought, has received true knowledge and demonstrates a firm trust in God.

As separation from light is darkness, so also alienation from God is deprivation of all good things which He has.

Acquiring the Spirit of God is the true aim of our Christian life, while prayer, fasting, almsgiving and other good works done for Christ's sake are merely means for acquiring the Spirit of God.

Meekness is an unchanging state of mind, which both in honor and dishonor remains the same. Meekness consists in praying sincerely and undisturbedly in the face of afflictions from one's neighbor.

There is a humility which a man gains by his own struggles: knowing his own insufficiency, accusing himself for his failings, not allowing himself to judge others.

God hears and fulfills the prayer of a man who fulfills His commandments. "Hear God in His commandments", says St. John Chrysostom, "So that He might hear you in your prayers." A man who keeps the commandments of God is always wise, patient, and sincere in his prayers. Mystery of prayer consists in the keeping of God's commandments.

To judge sins is the business of one who is sinless, but who is sinless except God?

The Saviour of our race, employing all means to free man from deception, has shared with us who obey Him heavenly and divine good things. But to the disobedient he has shown that there awaits them not temporal torments that abide for a time, but eternal and everlasting torments. 

A man becomes spiritual insofar as he lives a spiritual life. He begins to see God in all things, to see His power and might in every manifestation.