November 18, 2022
Wisdom from St. Theophan the Recluse
"A soul untried by sorrows is good for nothing...there is but one road to the Kingdom of God--a cross, voluntary or involuntary...we must continually accept trials and tribulations at God's hand, and also the spirit of contrition which He imparts: for these and other things are a most powerful instrument in our purification."
"He who in total humility puts himself in the hand of the merciful God, attracts the Lord to himself, and becomes strong in His strength."
"Although expecting everything from God and nothing from ourselves, we must nevertheless force ourselves to action, exerting all our strength, so as to create something to which divine help may come, and which the divine power may encompass. Grace is already present within us, but it will only act after man has himself acted, filling his powerlessness with its own power."