Love and Forgive All

It is a little-known fact that your humble narrator is a tremendous softie. His heart is particularly warmed when he reads the heavenly life God wishes us to lead and the holy disposition we should bear at all times and in all places toward God and our neighbor. Fr. Fenton has posted a few words on this topic I found inspiring:

Many church fathers, commentators, preachers--both within the boundaries of the holy Church and outside those boundaries--have maintained that the Lord's commandments to "love one another" and "love your enemies" and "be merciful" may be difficult, but it is not impossible. For Our Lord does not demand the impossible. But He does require that we submerge our passions of anger, hatred, grudge-bearing, and refusal to forgive and instead embrace all men--especially those who have insulted us or wronged us or treated us ungratefully, unkindly, or unlovingly.

He also quotes a sermon from Pope St. Gregory the Great. Give it a read. And may the Spirit strengthen us all to bring these words to life in our everyday.

More Praise for the Monastic Diurnal (LAP)

In between my posts, Huw had a few things to say about the Monastic Diurnal published by Lancelot Andrewes Press:

[A] copy of The Monastic Diurnal arrived from Lancelot Andrewes Press. This volume is SO very much smaller than the breviary: it's actually smaller than my set of travel icons! This was my present to myself, but I'm very thankful to Fr John, Subdeacon Ben and L.A.P. for their ministry in making it available!

Haven't ordered one yet? What are you waiting for?

A Fitting Caption

Since I posted this pic earlier, I see someone has Photoshopped it a bit:

This guy could have a future with Reuters. (If he'd said they were waiting for a patriotic American.)

The Other Memorable Event of Blessed George Karslides

I mentioned in an earlier post that another event stood out in the life of Blessed Elder George Karslides. Here it is. The reason it stuck out in a hagiography will be clear:

Concerning this nun others relate the following: When she came to the Elder, she kissed his hand and he also bowed and kissed her hand. Simultaneously, he gave her a slap on the face saying: "Since you see why don't you speak? The people have so much need today." She was adorned with the gift of foreknowledge and according to the elder she needed to keep the saying of the Apostle: "Do not be negligent of the gift in you." (p. 112).