The Forgotten Way

Take to heart what I am telling you- as soon as you wake up in the morning don't procrastinate for a second saying, "Let me warm up a little more." 

Miserable as we are we scatter our love into senselessly vain and frivolous things as if we had it in excess. 

Don't you consider it a blessing to know how to talk to God in prayer?

Saintly mothers raise saintly children as demonstrated through the lives of modern saints and elders. 

Catechism pp. 26, 30

The Birth of Christ

Nobody can force you to live a life of great ascetism, which for many is foolishness; but no one can keep you from it. 

The enemy is lack of faith in God; lack of training and mastering yourself.

Carelessness and neglect are unbearable enemies. 

O soul why didn't you pray? Why did you pray superficially? 

Many go to hell because of unjustifiable carelessness. 

The day to repent is now so that the passions do not take root.

If we just want the aesthetics of traditional practices apart from the ascetical foundation, we are in danger of forming an idol of tradition itself.

Catechism pp. 25-29

Jesus Christ Son of Man

The Gospel

Prayer becomes deeper in prison, or in the forest. 

One must walk straight in the Lord's path on the path of spiritual peace without getting caught in the Typicon's confusion.

The snail moves slowly, but it travels with its whole house; we should progress towards God in like manner. 

You must avoid those deceiving thoughts which convince you that you're doing the "right thing". 

When you love, your heart is present, it is awake. It is not proper to do your prayer rule only out of obligation, because we become stiff.

St. Isaac the Syrian teaches, "Fear for the body is often so strong in a man as to make him incapable of any deeds worthy of honor or praise."

2025-2026 High school students reflect on their spiritual growth within their Faith class. 

Catechism pp. 22-23

The Consequences of the Fall

The Expectation of the Savior

 

One should know that the devil greatly fears the watchful man.

O man if you only knew your own value.

Blessed is the one who prays intensely. 

This means that we must be grateful and in a state of awareness. This provides much greater benefit than many prayers or prostrations done mechanically. 

St. Isaac the Syrian teaches, "A fire cannot be ignited in wet wood, nor can the divine fervor be kindled in a heart that loves ease."

You make 100 prostrations rush, rush, rush. Even if you make them properly what do you do afterwards. 

Striving for uniformity with God's will in the midst of difficulties takes practicing perseverance and cultivating prayer in trials and hardships.

Feminism today is satisfied to steal just a little piece of you. 

Catechism pp. 20-21

Divine Providence 

After finishing his prayer rule a man considers himself absolved of the duty to pray and fruitlessly sets off deceiving himself.

Man is the Master of His creation and has been given the freedom to rise to God. 

Don't think you're insignificant beings and that your prayer is not heard. 

Then it dawned on me that I like the ringing of the bells. It's a song that has significance. 

Who can complain he did not know? The moment that a man experiences that inner trembling is vital. 

We have been blessed by the examples of our family and the saints to lay aside concern for personal health to come to the aid of the suffering. 

Catechism p. 19

The Visible World and The Invisable World

So, the question is why didn't you love? The answer is clear because you hated and preserved enmity.

I am the Author of all things. Why did you focus on worldly thing and not Me?

Instead of being distressed about doing something "bad" the concern should be this- I need to be present.

The fact that without God you can do nothing is fundamental and must be proclaimed. 

Do we realize that God will call us to account for all that He has given us?

St. Isaac the Syrian prayed for the reptiles, St. Paisios was at peace with all creation, even vipers, and Fr. George Calciu befirended a cockroach while in isolation- what is our capacity to love all of creation? 

Catechism pp. 15-18

God as Maker of the Universe

The Creation of World and the Human Person

How many times should I say the Jesus prayer each day? How many prostrations should I do each day?

Can you imagine how much we have been given, how rich we are, and how indebted we are?

Be in a state of constant attention, to have your thoughts on God in your own way.

Anyone can and should pray saying, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on a sinner!" 

It is not grievous if you don't get to do your whole prayer rule, but with one condition- be in a state of awareness of God's presence. 

St. John Climacus, in Step 26 of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, provides an "alphabet for all" a combination of 24 ascetical practices meant to mortify the body, reorient our soul, and restructure our life. 

Catechism pp. 12-15

The Idea of God in the New Testament

The Qualities of God

Obviously, there are set prayers, but there are personal prayers too. 

You have not accomplished anything if you think like this, "God I did my prayer rule, now give me something because I have done my duty." 

He who prays only when he prays is not praying. Therefore, prayer must spring forth from the heart.

Prayer is literally our life now and forever. 

Look mother the sheep is pawing the ground with its hoof before going to sleep. Why is it paying? And my mother said, "It is worshipping." 

When the father leads the charge against spiritual attacks the whole family wins.

Catechism pp. 10-12

God is One

The idea of God in the Old Testament 

If this prayer doesn't exist, you're simply a featureless clod of dirt, just in the way of others, blocking their path. 

Know that when parents are educating their children the first thing they teach them is how to pray.

Do not lose the time of this day! Do you know the value of time and how you can waste it?

Seriously reflect on the Judgement and the answer you will give then.

The father's zeal and inner work lifts his wife and children and is not accomplished in isolation. 

Christ is crucified for you at the moment you are estranged in any way from your brother's soul

St. John of the Ladder is commemorated on the 4th Sunday of the Great Fast and on March 30th and here is why we love him.

Catechism pp. 8-10

Divine Revelation 

Scripture and Holy Tradition 

Go to sleep and arise with Christ's cares. 

The prayer rule kindles our fervor. 

God is a God of the heart.

Striving to acquire unceasing watchfulness and inner peace.

Ladies of all ages can never let their guard down against the demon of lust. 

Prayer should be a desire and habit; it should be continuous. 

Christianity is not always pleasant, and the world would like to make it polite and whitewashed instead of honest. Guile and discomfort frequently infect our conversations. 

Catechism pp. 4-8

- What is Faith?

- Faith as Obedience to God

1. Sunday through Thursday: Romanian Roundtable- Reflections on "Every Sigh Can Be a Prayer" the teachings of Elder Aresenie Papacioc

 

2. Friday- Faith Formation- Reflections on Catcheism: A Short Guide to Orthodox Christianity by Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev

 

3. Saturday: Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete

A falling away from God in all things is disregard for His love, His commandments, and our own salvation- it is utter destruction. 

Suicide is the intentional act of taking one's own life.

Despair is when a person gives up all hope of salvation.

Hatred of God is the active opposition of God, treating Him with contempt and rejecting His will. 

Spiritual paralysis is spiritual stagnation, where our soul's movement towards God has halted. 

Hopelessness is to fall into despair and distrust God's mercy.

General confession is thorough cleansing of our soul that can help us grow in humility, avoid forgetfulness, and trust in God's mercy. 

Insensitivity is callousness and hardness of heart. It is difficulty in responding to our neighbor with love. 

Mercilessness is lacking compassion and a desire to forgive. It is ruthlessness.

Scorn for one's neighbor is ultimately to be unconcerned with their suffering and salvation. 

Self-inflation is the boasting of one's own importance; it is a high self-esteem.

Self-vaunting is boasting, bragging, or speaking pridefully about ourselves.

Haughtiness is an attitude of disdainful pride and arrogance. 

All-Souls Saturdays are time to intensify our liturgies, prayers, alms, and sacrifices on behalf of the deceased. 

Senselessness is being ignorant, stupid. and unreasonable. 

Frivolous talk is conversation that is shallow, trivial, and lacks serious purpose.

Treachery is a breach of loyalty; it is a betrayal of trust. 

Irony is false self-abasement. It is a form of lying to appear humble. 

Dissimulation is the concealment of one's thoughts or true character.

Love of power is a compulsive desire to control others and a need for dominance.

Unteachability is a resistance to accept the guidance, instruction, and corrections from others. It stems from self-reliance. 

Lack of Fear of God is a loss of deep respect, reverence, and remembrance of God.

Celebrating sacrificial love. 

Contumely is the harsh treatment of our neighbor that comes from haughtiness and conceit. 

Curiosity is the strong desire to learn something new, unknown, or unusual.