The Forgotten Way

Saturday Afternoon Side Note - Squirrel Appreciation Day

The world knows that it is supposed to live liturgically. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- The Duck Lady and the Chipmunk

What is idle chatter and what are its consequences?

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Warfare at All Times

“When you make the beginning of a good deed, first prepare for the temptations that will come to you.” ~ St. Isaac the Syrian

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Death is Whispering

"For this dear brother 

whether you will live a long or short life

throughout your life never forget,

do not forget that you will die." - St. Paisius of Sihastria 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Cunning Compliments

The hidden snares of compliments sometimes draw blood. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- All I Want for Christmas Is...

All I really want is to be able to do a metany by the time evening prayer rolls around on Christmas night, so we pre-examined the potential spiritual pitfalls heading into the Nativity. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-Formed From the Womb

The modern elders encouraging and guiding us to preserve Baptismal grace.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Detachment from Our Detachment

We cannot allow ourselves to become attached to secondary goods and disciplines. Our primary aim is purity of heart and union with Christ.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Not Angry Just Cleaning

Striving to overcome laziness and irritability in our work with diligence and interior peace. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Fanning the Fragile Flame of Zeal

Zeal and fire can be extinguished by adding too much too soon. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Burned at the End

The spiritual struggle lasts until we are in the coffin. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Is the Fire Really Out?

The flames of the passions can flare up long after we thought the fire of sin was out.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- The Curse of the Salami

St. Isaac the Syrian says, "For a man can never complete the work of repentance."  

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Finder's Keepers?

St. Augustine teaches, "If you have found and not restored you have stolen."

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Race Day

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run but one receives the prize, run in such a way that you may obtain it." 1 Corinthians 9:24 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- The forerunner

"There is an evil spirit, called the forerunner, who assails us as soon as we awake from sleep and defiles our first thought." - St. John Climacus

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Heaven is Better Than Living

God calls us to Himself when our soul is most ready. 

Saturday afternoon at St. John's Skete- Hallowed Hiking

Brazenness can plunge us over cliffs, fear can paralyze us, but trust keeps us moving forward on the path.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-This is NOT Dr. Seuss

Have I watched over my children and the company they keep, the books they read, the entertainments they engage in, the social media they use?

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-No Time Off

Meaningful moments in the mundane. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Hateless Hatred

He who loves father, mother, or children more than Me is not worthy of me.  

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Salvific Stuffies

Illness as medicine to the passions.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-Outer Darkness

Behold the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night, will the door be opened for you?

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-Work and Peace

The value of manual labor as a family.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Hell is Worse Than a Spanking

Sometimes we need corrected, and it is done for our good done out of love.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-Byzantine Assembly

"The world is thy ship and not thy home." St. Therese of Lisieux 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Pirate Fasting

Scurvy may be preferrable over self-love. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Mercy and Ice Cream

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-Shocks at the Skete

Learning the need for firm purpose of amendment can be a painful process. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-What is a Skete?

Striving to live domestic monasticism. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Bodily Comfort

Rejecting comfort to prepare for the cross.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Lawn Lessons

Keep mowers and marriages moving forward.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-Mortal Stench

Cleaning out the car and cleaning out the soul.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Bird Funeral

Simple lessons on keeping the last things first.

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete- Slips and Falls

We should never trust ourselves even in the small things. 

Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete-Inspirations from the Swiss Guard

Trying to learn self-control as a family.