Archimandrite Ilie Cleopa
 

In the End, Two Things Will Help Us

Church is our mother. Through Church we enter the world, the life and through it we leave this world and enter the eternal one.

Fighting Thoughts – Past as Fault, Future as Fear, Sin as Constant Temptation

The devil, in order to trouble you, sends you all sorts of thoughts. About past, future, present, about the sins that you did or could do, through dreams or visions that may seem to be “from God.”

Temptations Attack from Outside and Inside

From the inside, that is from the heart come all our sins. For Christ has said to the Apostles: “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man” because it would mean to wash your hands “but that which cometh out of the mouth”. Because what comes out, comes from the heart. From the heart come adulteries, crimes, pride, insults. As in hell, they come out of our heart, and when they do, we are tempted from the inside.

Marriage is for Life

There are few exceptions when the Church allows the separation of spouses.

Why are Some Good Deeds Useless?

When people restrain themselves from food but are gossiping and envy someone, it is considered a sin. What is the use of the bodily fasting if we ignore the spiritual fasting? What is the use of helping others if we amass fortune by stealing? What is the use of good deeds if we are proud? We are mixing good deeds with vainglory. The devil wins again. Even if we make good deeds, it is useless, because we are mixing them with evil.

You are healthy, young and strong – but don’t count on this

Don’t count on the fact that you are healthy, beautiful, rich or young! These are shadows and dreams. Our life is short. Very, very short. We need to live here for the eternal life. 

Without self-sacrifice there is no salvation

Usually, when it comes about himself, man is always unfair and changes the scale; he is more rightful towards himself, he chooses the better, the biggest, and the most beautiful part: he cries and rejoices for himself more than for others. But, Christ crucified on the Cross the love for oneself, and gave His life for us. 

God’s saints can greatly sanctify, but none as the Holy Mother of God

Brethren, you should have much piety towards Virgin Mary, for joyful is the family and the house that has inside it an icon of Our Lady and every morning reads her Akatist and Paraklesis, and all know by heart prayers to her. 

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