Mother Gabriel - The Sayings

[John of the Ladder]

Mother Gabriel - The Sayings

1. Any place may become a place of Resurrection, if the Humility of Christ becomes the way of our life.

2. You may sleep, as long as you are in a state of watchfulness.

3. There are some who stay awake for a few, and some who stay awake for all.

4. Orthodox spirituality is knowledge acquired through suffering rather than through learning.

5. Do not wish for many things, whether they are within or out of reach. Instead, take care to sanctify the little you have.

6. To learn how to love God: this is the one and only Education.

7. There is nothing cheaper than money.

8. Better Hell in this world than in the other.

9. It is not what we say, but what we live. It is not what we do, but what we are.

10. I put on the Rasson (Monastic habit) and I do not speak unless I am asked. The Rasson speaks.

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11. If you have love for all the world, the whole world is beautiful.

12. Someone said that a Christian is he who purifies love and sanctifies work.

15. Our purpose should be to have the Paraclete in our heart, even when we have the... Parasite in our head.

16. We become a reflection of Heaven by saying: 'Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven'.

17. He who loves is not aware of it, as he is not aware of his own breathing.

18. When doors are open in Heaven, they are also open on Earth.

19. When the mind is not distracted by worldly matters and remains united to God, then even the 'Good day' that we say becomes a blessing.

20. By saying 'no' and by refusing, we forfeit our purpose.

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21. We must not 'exist' in the presence of the other person, who is God's 'image and likeness'.

22. In the early steps of our life we need the presence of someone we love. As we advance, the One, God, fills us with His Love and Joy so much that we no longer need anyone. The soul does this at the beginning because she does not know yet Whom she loves, and thinks it is this or that person.

23. Many times what God expects from us is the intention rather than the act itself. Our readiness to follow His Commandment is enough for Him.

24. Jesus Christ gave us the golden mean: both alone and with others.

25. When God created us, He gave us Life and breathed His Spirit into us. This Spirit is Love. When love deserts us, we become as dead as corpses. We are not alive any more.

26. A Christian must have reverence for the Mystery of Existence in everyone and everything.

27. To reach the state of non-existence, love and love and love until you identify yourself completely with the Other One, whoever this may be at the time. Then, at the end of the day you may ask yourself: Is there anything I want? No. Is there anything I wish 'No. Is there anything I lack' No... So, that's it!

28. The spiritually advanced person is the one who has reached a state of "non-existence" and has deeply understood that whatever happens to him is either because God Wills it or because God Permits it.

29. True inner progress begins only when a person stops reading anything but the Gospel. It is only then that, united with God through the Jesus Prayer, he can hear God's Will.

30. Never wish for anything but the Will of God and accept with love any trials that may come your way.

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31. Never identify a person with the wrong way in which he is treating you, but see Christ in his heart.

32. Never ask: "Why has this happened to me" 'When you see somebody suffering from gangrene or cancer or blindness, never say: "Why has this happened to him"' Instead, pray God to grant you the vision of the other shore... Then, like the Angels, you will be able to see things as they really are: Everything in God's plan. EVERYTHING.

33. A wise man said: If you are to live only for yourself, it would have been better if you had not been born.

36. A person's most vulnerable spot is found in much talking and discussing.

37. To be meek is to wish never to have a guilty conscience.

38. When thoughts of passing judgment on another person cross your mind, pray God to take them away at once, so that you may love this person as He does. Then God will help you see your own faults. If Christ were visible, could you have such thoughts?

39. If you do not like somebody, think that you see Christ in that person. Then, you would not even dare utter a word of criticism.

40. We must love people and accept them in our hearts as God presents them to us. It has been thus ordained by the Lord Himself and by the Orthodox Tradition.

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