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The Holy Fathers on love and mercy. Sayings of the Saints.Love is above all canons and statutes. St. Gabriel of Samtavri (Urgebadze) — Whoever collects prayers and works of mercy in his treasury becomes rich in God. St. Ephraim the Syrian — God accepts and loves the merciful and humanitarian, and if he is a righteous person, He weaves the brightest crowns for him, and if he is a sinner, He forgives his sins as a reward for compassion for a slave like himself. St. John Chrysostom — Almsgiving is the queen of virtues, very soon raising people to the heavenly arches, the best defender. St. John Chrysostom — Almsgiving is a great deed, love it: there is nothing equal to it, it can both make up for sins and save from judgment. St. John Chrysostom — Do not exchange your love for your brother for love of a thing, because by loving your brother you have acquired within you the One who is most precious in the world. St. Isaac the Syrian of Nineveh — Love is the giver of prophecy, love is the culprit of miracles, love is the abyss of insight, love is the source of fire in the heart, which the more it flows, the more it inflames the thirsty. St. John the Baptist — Without love and mercy, every work is unclean. If anyone keeps his virginity, if he fasts or stays in the dust, if he prays and receives the poor, if he builds churches or does anything else, moreover, without love, all this will be recognized as nothing before God, because it is not pleasing to Him. So, do nothing without love. St. Ephraim the Syrian — Love is born of purity of heart, a pure conscience, and unfeigned faith. St. Ignatius Bryanchaninov Almsgiving infected with the disease of vanity ceases to be almsgiving and is boasting and hard-heartedness. St. John Chrysostom Love for one’s neighbors is beautiful and praiseworthy, as long as its concerns do not distract us from the love of God. St. Isaac the Syrian of Nineveh When mercy is within you, then holy beauty is portrayed in you, with which you are likened to God. Isaac the Syrian of Nineveh An unmerciful ascetic is a barren tree. St. Isaac the Syrian of Nineveh Whoever loves his neighbor fulfills his love for God, because God transfers his mercy to Himself. St. Basil the Great Love is the perfection of people in this life. St. Isaac the Syrian of Nineveh It will be a great help to you on the day of judgment if you have given compassion to people here. St. Ephraim the Syrian The one who loves his friend in God and loves his enemy for the sake of God has true love.” St. Gregory Dvoslov “Do not do evil to your neighbor, do not grieve him, do not slander him, do not curse him, do not humiliate him, do not reproach him, and thus you will begin to do good to your brother little by little, comforting him with words, sympathizing with him, or giving him what he needs, and so, climbing from one step to another, you will reach the top of the ladder with God’s help. For little by little, by helping your neighbor, you will come to the point where you will desire his benefit as your own and his success as your own. This is what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.” St. Abba Dorotheus “Let us love one another, and we will be loved by God. Let us bear with one another, and He will bear with our sins. Let us not repay evil for evil, and He will not repay us for our sins. We will find the remission of our sins in forgiving our brothers; for God’s mercy toward us is hidden in our mercy toward our neighbors.” |
