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2018-04-29T05:43:41-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Gluttony brings you down to earth; Church Fathers: Day 271

Last updated on: April 29, 2018 at 5:43 am By Pete Socks

The abbot Serapion tells St. John Cassian that we can see what gluttony is like by watching the flight of the beautiful and noble eagle. We can make an admirable illustration of the passion of gluttony—with which a monk, however spiritual and excellent, is sure to be hampered—if we compare it to the eagle. For the eagle soars above the highest clouds in its flight high in the sky, and withdraws itself from the eyes of all mortals and from... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

2018-04-27T05:38:21-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The opposite of gluttony is moderation; Church Fathers: Day 270

Last updated on: April 27, 2018 at 5:38 am By Pete Socks

You’re never too sick or weak to be virtuous, says St. John Cassian. To avoid gluttony, eat to keep yourself healthy, not to satisfy every craving. So it is very true and most excellent what the Fathers have said: that the right way to fast and abstain is found in moderation and controlling the body. This, they say, is the goal of perfect virtue for everyone: that, although we still have the desire for food, we exercise self-restraint in the... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

2018-04-25T05:41:49-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Be moderate and give thanks; Church Fathers: Day 269

Last updated on: April 25, 2018 at 5:41 am By Pete Socks

You don’t have to starve yourself to be a Christian, says St. Clement of Alexandria. If you’re at a gourmet feast, eat moderately, show respect for your hosts, and give thanks to God. We don’t have to keep away entirely from various kinds of food. We just shouldn’t be obsessed with them. We should eat what’s set before us, as becomes a Christian, showing respect for our host by a harmless and moderate participation in the party. We should look... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

Church Fathers

Mike Aquilina

Saint Benedict Press

Saint Clement of Alexandria

2018-04-24T05:54:48-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Don’t run away from sloth; Church Fathers: Day 268

Last updated on: April 24, 2018 at 5:54 am By Pete Socks

Sloth, laziness, boredom—these are problems that can sap our energy for doing what needs to be done. St. John Cassian remembers the wise words of an experienced monk who told him that running away from laziness will never work. When I was beginning my stay in the desert, I told Abbot Moses, the chief of all the saints, that I had been terribly troubled yesterday by an attack of laziness, and that I could only be freed from it by... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

2018-04-23T05:47:12-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rise above popular opinion; Church Fathers: Day 267

Last updated on: April 23, 2018 at 5:47 am By Pete Socks

If you look to what other people think of you for your reward, says St. Ambrose, you have your reward here on earth—but you miss the reward of eternal life. Clearly, blessed is the life that is not valued by the opinion of outsiders, but is known, as judge of itself, by its own inner feelings. It needs no popular opinion as its reward in any way; nor has it any fear of punishments. Thus the less it strives for... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

2018-04-23T05:41:25-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Off the Shelf 069 with Sonja Corbitt – Fulfilled

Last updated on: April 23, 2018 at 5:41 am By Pete Socks

Sonja Corbitt is the Bible Study Evangelista and creator of the magnificent LOVE the Word Bible study method. She’s a Catholic Scripture teacher with a story teller’s gift—a Southern belle with a warrior’s heart and a poet’s pen. She is the author of Unleashed, Fearless, and Alive. Sonja Corbitt returns to Off the Shelf this time to discuss her fascinating book Fulfilled: Uncovering the Biblical Foundations of Catholicism. This book is PACKED with information and particularly focuses on the role of... Read more

Off the Shelf

2018-04-22T05:26:15-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Beware of desiring praise; Church Fathers: Day 266

Last updated on: April 22, 2018 at 5:26 am By Pete Socks

Most of us need people to think well of us—that’s how we get and keep the jobs that feed our families. But St. Augustine warns us that it’s far too easy to let that praise go to our heads. The devil wants us to find our joy in the praise of others rather than in God. Wanting to be feared and loved by other people, for no other reason than to experience a joy that is really no joy, is... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

2018-04-21T05:28:39-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Keep struggling against vanity; Church Fathers: Day 265

Last updated on: April 21, 2018 at 5:28 am By Pete Socks

Vanity, or “vainglory” as old English writers used to call it, is a hard vice to conquer, says St. John Cassian. When you think you’ve beaten it, then you’re proud of your victory—and vanity is back again. All vices grow feeble when conquered, and when beaten are day by day made weaker, and lessen and subside both in place and time—or at any rate, as they are unlike the opposite virtues, are more easily shunned and avoided. But vanity, when... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

2018-04-20T05:30:29-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We are all equal in God’s sight; Church Fathers: Day 264

Last updated on: April 20, 2018 at 5:30 am By Pete Socks

When riots broke out in Thessalonica, the emperor Theodosius furiously ordered that the city should be punished. Thousands died when soldiers were let loose on their own fellow citizens. When Theodosius came home, the bishop, St. Ambrose, refused to let him into church until he had gone through months of public penance. When the emperor arrived at Milan, he as usual went to enter the church. But Ambrose met him outside the outer porch and refused to let him cross... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

2018-04-19T07:05:17-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The better you get, the humbler you need to be; Church Fathers: Day 263

Last updated on: April 19, 2018 at 7:05 am By Pete Socks

Maybe you think you’re doing pretty well in your faith. That’s when you need to be even humbler, says St. Ignatius of Antioch—otherwise the devil will attack you through your pride. I have great knowledge of God, but I restrain myself. I don’t want to perish through boasting. And even if I were confirmed in things that have to do with God, yet then it would be good for me to be even more fearful, and not listen to those... Read more

A Year with the Church Fathers

Church Fathers

Mike Aquilina

Saint Benedict Press

Saint Ignatius of Antioch

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