Humility and Repentance

Humility the mark of Christianity

"This is the mark of Christianity--however much a man toils, and however many righteous deeds he performs, to feel that he has done nothing, and in fasting to say, 'This is not fasting,' and in praying, 'This is not prayer,' and in perseverance at prayer, 'I have shown no perseverance; I am only just beginning to practice and to take pains'; and even if he is righteous before God, he should say, 'I am not righteous, not I; I do not take pains, but only make a beginning every day.'" - Saint Macarius The Great (4th Century Monk)

Don't be Great; Be Good

"Quit trying to be great. Be an ordinary person -- but good. Greatness is not a virtue -- being good is." -- Fr. Stephen Freeman, Facebook Post, 07/20/2017

Love Those Who Criticize You

"It is not the self-critical who reveals his humility (for does not everyone have somehow to put up with himself?). Rather it is the man who continues to love the person who has criticized him." -- St. John Klimakos

Meekness the Mother of Love

"Meekness prays quietly and sincerely for a neighbor however troublesome he may be. Meekness is a rock looking out over the sea of anger which breaks the waves which come crashing on it and stays entirely unmoved. Meekness is a bulwark of patience, the door, indeed the mother of love, and the foundation of discernment. For it is said: 'The Lord will teach His ways to the meek' (Ps. 24:9). And it is meekness that earns pardon for our sins, gives confidence to our prayers and makes a place for the Holy Spirit." -- St. John Klimacos

Humility the Remedy for All Evil

"Listen to what the Lord Himself tells us: 'Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart and you shall find rest for your souls' (Mt. 11:29). There you have it in a nutshell: He has taught us the root and cause of all evils and also the remedy for it, leading to all good. He shows us that pretensions to superiority cast us down and that it is impossible to obtain mercy except by the contrary, that is to say, by humility. Self-elevation begets contempt and disobedience begets perdition whereas humility begets obedience and the saving of souls. And I call that real humility which is not humble in word and outward appearance but is deeply planted in the heart; for this is what He meant when He said that 'I am meek and humble of heart." -- St. Dorotheos of Gaza

Only In Love Can the Spirit Fill Us

"Be ready for the Spirit's filling. This happens only when we have cleansed our souls of falsehood, anger, bitterness, sexual impurity, uncleanness and covetousness. It happens only when we have become compassionate, meek and forgiving to one another, only when facetiousness is absent, only when we have made ourselves worthy. Only then does the Spirit come to settle within our hearts, only when nothing is there to prevent it. Then He will not only enter but also fill us." -- St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 19.5.19-21

Repentance

Repentance is the renewal of baptism.

Repentance is a contract with God for a second life.

A penitent is a buyer of humility.

Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort.

Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care.

Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.

A penitent is an undisgraced convict.

Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins.

Repentance is purification of conscience.

-- St John Klimakos

Vanity Is the Occupation of the World

"Why do you beat the air and run in vain? Every occupation has a purpose, obviously. Tell me then, what is the purpose of all the activity of the world? Answer, I challenge you! It is vanity of vanity: all is vanity." -- St John Chrysostom

Easier to Forsake Religion than Ego

"It is a thousand times easier for a person to say and admit their religion is completely wrong, rather than to say and admit that their thinking and their life is wrong. It is much easier for a person to abandon their religion than their ego, and they are always looking for a religion that does not jeopardize their ego." -- Metropolitan Meletios of Nikopolis, God, Christ, Other Religions.

Consider All Men to be Your Brothers

"If your heart has been softened either by repentance before God or by learning the boundless love of God towards you, do not be proud with those whose hearts are still hard. Remember how long your heart was hard and incorrigible. Seven brothers were ill in one hospital. One recovered from his illness and got up and rushed to serve his other brothers with brotherly love, to speed their recovery. Be like this brother. Consider all men to be your brothers, and sick brothers at that. And if you come to feel that God has given you better health than others, know that it is given through mercy, so in health you may serve your frailer brothers." -- St Nikolai of Serbia, Prologue, 31 March

St. Benedict's 12 Steps of Humility (In Brief)

"Brothers, divine Scripture calls to us saying: 'Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted' (Luke 14:11; 18:14). In saying this, therefore, it shows us that every exaltation is a kind of pride, which the Prophet indicates he has shunned, saying, Lord, my heart is not exalted; my eyes are not lifted up and I have not walked in the ways of the great nor gone after marvels beyond me (Ps 130 [131]:1). And why? If I had not a humble spirit, but were exalted instead, then you would treat me like a weaned child on it's mothers lap (Ps 130 [131]:2).

1. Keep the fear of God always before your eyes and never forget it. (Ps 35 [36]:2)

2. Love not your own will, rather the will of God (John 6:38).

3. Submit to your superiors in all obedience for the love of God (Phil 2:8).

4. In your obedience, even under difficult, unfavorable or unjust conditions, embrace suffering and endure it (Matt 10:22; Ps 26 [27]:14; Rom 8:36; Ps 43 [44]:22; Ps 65 [66]:12).

5. Do not conceal from your abbot any sinful thoughts, but confess them humbly (Ps 36 [37]:5; Ps 105 [106]:1; Ps 117 [118]:1).

6. Be content with the lowest and most menial treatment, and regard yourself as a poor and worthless workman(Ps 72 [73]:22-23).

7. Admit with your tongue and also be convinced in your heart that your are inferior (Ps 21 [22]:7; Ps 87 [88]:16; Ps 118 [119]:71, 73).

8. Do only what is endorsed by the common rule of the monastery and the example set by your superiors.

9. Control your tongue and remain silent (Prov 10:19; Ps 139 [140]:12).

10. Do not be given to ready laughter (Sir 21:23).

11. Speak gently and without laughter, seriously and with becoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising your voice, as it is written: "A wise man is known by his few words."

12. Always manifest humility in your bearing no less than in your heart (Luke 18:13; Ps 37 [38]:7-9; Ps 118 [119]:107).