“My heart, beset by passions, hath been weakened by the evil one ... Do Thou by Thy lifegiving Cross by which Thou hast enlivened all those in Hades, awaken me and grant me life."

St Innocent of Alaska, Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas (Repose Mar 31) still speaks to us today:

"Non-spiritual people do not even suspect how difficult it is to control the wandering of thoughts. Being occupied with worldly affairs, they consider their thoughts to be busy with worthwhile concerns. Only when they begin to strive toward a spiritual life and try to reflect on spiritual topics, do they begin to notice that their thoughts are murky..."

Audio: https://soundcloud.com/since33/saint-innocent-of-alaska-on-striving-from-the-way-into-the-kingdom-of-heaven

To take up your cross means to tolerate everything without complaining, regardless of how unpleasant things might become. For example, if someone has insulted you or laughed at you or provoked you, bear it all without anger or resentment. Similarly, if you helped someone and he, instead of showing gratitude, made up deceitful tales about you or if you wanted to do something good but were unable to accomplish it, bear it without despondency. Did some misfortune befall you? Did someone in your family become ill, or despite all your efforts and tireless labor did you repeatedly suffer failure? Has some other thing or person oppressed you? Bear all with patience in the name of Jesus Christ. Do not consider yourself punished unjustly, but accept everything as your cross.

+ St. Innocent of Alaska (Mar 31)

“While walking the path of Christ, you should not rely only on yourself. If Jesus Christ, our Great Benefactor, had not given us help every step of the way, no one could have reached salvation. Even the Apostles, when left to themselves, were unable to follow Jesus and faintheartedly dispersed. But when on Pentecost they received help from above, they joyfully followed His path, and then neither dangers nor difficulties nor death itself could discourage them.
What is this help given by Jesus Christ to Christians? This help is the Grace of the Holy Spirit. God’s grace surrounds us, and with it the Lord draws us to Himself. All who wish can receive this help and become filled with it.

The Holy Spirit, being God, equal to the Father and the Son, is the source of life and strength. He gives to believers wisdom, inner peace and inspiration, not according to their merits but for Jesus Christ’s sake.”

St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas (Repose Mar 31)

"A certain monk told me that when he was very sick, his mother said to his father, 'How our little boy is suffering. I would gladly give myself to be cut up into pieces if that would ease his suffering.' Such is the love of God for people. He pitied people so much that he wanted to suffer for them, like their own mother, and even more. But no one can understand this great love without the grace of the Holy Spirit."

+St. Silouan the Athonite

Run from places of sin as from the plague. For when fruit is not present, we have no frequent desire to eat it.

+St John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent 3.9

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. -Proverbs 10:19

“Do not say, after spending a long time in prayer, that nothing has been gained; for you have already gained something. And what higher good is there than to cling to the Lord and persevere in unceasing union with Him?”

+St John Climacus (of The Ladder), commemorated on the 4th Sunday of Great Lent.

Our struggle is “not against flesh and blood, but against ... the rulers of the present darkness ... the hosts of wickedness in heavenly places ..." (Ephesians 6:12)

On the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate St John Climacus (of the Ladder), abbot of St Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century). His book “The Ladder Of Divine Ascent” is intended for monks and the spiritually advanced, and should perhaps most beneficial to laypeople when slowly and carefully read in small portions.

Here are just two selections:

On loving God

"The man who really loves the Lord, who has made a real effort to find the future Kingdom, who is really pained by his sins, who is really mindful of eternal torment and judgment, who really lives in fear of his own departure, will not love, carry, or worry about money, or possessions, or parents, or worldly glory, or friends, or brothers, or anything at all on earth. (1/3)

But having shaken off all ties with earthly things and having stripped himself of all his cares, and having come to hate even his own flesh, and having stripped himself of everything, he will follow Christ without anxiety or hesitation. . ." (2/3)

On human suffering

"Those who aim at ascending with the body to Heaven, indeed need violence and constant suffering, especially in the early stages of their renunciation, until our pleasure-loving disposition and unfeeling hearts attain to love of God and chastity by manifest sorrow. This is a great toil, very great indeed, with much unseen suffering, especially for those who live carelessly, until by simplicity, deep angerlessness, and diligence, we make our mind, which is a greedy kitchen dog addicted to barking, a lover of chastity and watchfulness. But let us who are weak and passionate have the courage to offer our infirmity and natural weakness to Christ with unhesitating faith, and confess it to Him; and we shall be certain to obtain His help, even beyond our worth, if only we continually plunge to the depth of humility." (3/3)

St Mary of Egypt (5th Sun. of Lent) embarked upon the journey of repentance in a few short moments of sincere repentance, which inaugurated seventeen years of sanctity… Could we possibly find the smallest desire to repent—even in these last hours of Great Lent…”?

“Have we profitably spent the days of Great Lent attending the divine services, in prayer, in reading spiritual material which profits the soul, and in watchfulness? If not, let us not despair. The Master is merciful accepting the last as the first, as we will hear on the Paschal night. He sees the intent, and He honours any effort. From the depths of vile sin, St Mary made such an effort. Could we possibly find the smallest desire to repent—even in these last hours of Great Lent prior to Holy Week—as we turn our spiritual gaze inwardly? Lord, save me, I am perishing! Could we find the slightest ounce of Faith to utter these words from the depths of our heart? It is better to make a beginning now than make no beginning at all.”

—Fr Ioannis Fortomas

“Zosimas, you have struggled valiantly, as far as this is in the power of man. However, there is no one who is righteous (Rom 3:10). So that you may know how many other ways lead to salvation, leave your native land, like Abraham from the house of his father (Gen 12:1), and go to the monastery by the Jordan.” Thus spoke an angel to the Venerable Zosimas, a message he faithfully heeded.

St Zosimas (Apr 4) would later meet St Mary of Egypt in the desert and preserve her story. When God wished to give St Mary rest, He sent the holy ascetic Zosimas to hear her confession and to give her holy communion. He then received her holy soul into paradise. St Zosimas himself would repose in peace at the age of 100, in the early 6th century.

“Let us the faithful praise Zosimas the offspring of the wilderness, the angel in the flesh and the boast of monastics. With him, let us acclaim holy Mary of Egypt whose life transcended the limits of nature. Together, let us cry to them: Glory to him who strengthened you! Glory to him who sanctified you! Glory to him who through you works healing for all!”
—Troparion, Tone 1

“People, turn to God in your prayer! Know that He is not only a merciful Father, but also a righteous, honest Judge. We will answer not only for deeds, but also for every word. You can’t hide from Him and you won’t find any lawyers. Judge not that ye be not judged. Start the trial with yourself…Let us try to hurry to God, through the bosom of our Mother Church, where we will find joy and consolation!”

—Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye