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St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Jesus that I know as my Redeemer cannot be less than God.

He (Jesus) became what we are that He might make us what He is.

You cannot put straight in others what is warped in yourself.

You will not see anyone who is truly striving after his spiritual advancement who is not given to spiritual reading.

Even on the cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker.

The Self-revealing of the Word is in every dimension – above, in creation; below, in the Incarnation; in the depth, in Hades; in the breadth, throughout the world. All things have been filled with the knowledge of God.

The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering men. For one who wanted to make a display the thing would have been just to appear and dazzle the beholders. But for Him Who came to heal and to teach the way was not merely to dwell here, but to put Himself at the disposal of those who needed Him, and to be manifested according as they could bear it, not vitiating the value of the Divine appearing by exceeding their capacity to receive it.

Athanasius of Alexandria Christian Biographies 12:18
On the Incarnation by St Athanasius 2:57
On the Incarnation, Athanasius of Alexandria
Who was Athanasius? Ryan Reeves 5:16
Early Christian Lives, Athanasius

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St. Anthony the Great

Expect temptation to your last breath.

Regard as free not those whose status makes them outwardly free, but those who are free in their character and conduct. For we should not call men truly free when they are wicked and dissolute, since they are slaves to worldly passions. Freedom and happiness of soul consist in genuine purity and detachment from transitory things.

One should not say that it is impossible to reach a virtuous life; but one should say that it is not easy. Nor do those who have reached it find it easy to maintain.

I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, “What can get through from such snares?” Then I heard a voice saying to me, “Humility.

He also said, “Nine monks fell away after many labors and were obsessed with spiritual pride, for they put their trust in their own works and being deceived they did not give due heed to the commandment that says, ‘Ask your father and he will tell you.'” (Deut. 32.7)

Abba Anthony said, “Whoever hammers a lump of iron, first decides what he is going to make of it, a scythe, a sword, or an axe. Even so we ought to make up our minds what kind of virtue we want to forge or we labor in vain.”

St. Antony of the Desert

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Desert Spirituality

Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart.
― Abba Poemen

Abba Zeno said, ‘If a man wants God to hear his prayer quickly, then before he prays for anything else, even his own soul, when he stands and stretches out his hands towards God, he must pray with all his heart for his enemies. Through this action God will hear everything that he asks.’

“As he was dying, Abba Benjamin taught his sons this: Do this, and you’ll be saved: Rejoice always, pray constantly, and in all circumstances give thanks.”

Abba Sisoes said: Seek God and not where God lives.

Without great vigilance a man does not advance in even a single virtue — Abba Ammonas

Monastic Tradition Basil Pennington 35:02
Early Christian Desert Communities Cynthia Bourgeault 8:47
Wisdom of the Desert
Desert Wisdom: Sayings from the Desert Fathers
Three Stories from Desert Monks 7:23
St Anthony the Great 9:09
Church Fathers Bishop Barron
The Way of the Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers
Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Benedicta Ward

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In the moments of non-awakening

In the moments of non-awakening
May I be loving, open, and aware in this moment; If I cannot be loving, open, and aware in this moment, may I be kind; If I cannot be kind, may I be nonjudgmental; If I cannot be nonjudgmental, may I not cause harm; If I cannot not cause harm, may I cause the least harm.

-Larry Yang