PHILOKALIA MINISTRIES

The mercy of being prepared for temptation “My son, come to the service of God. Stand fast in fear and in righteousness, and prepare your soul for temptation.” — St. Augustine, On Pastors There is a kindness that comforts us by telling us that the storm will pass. There is another kindness that teaches us how to stand when it does not. Saint Augustine speaks with the severity of one who knows the difference. The negligent shepherd, he tells us, does not necessarily abandon th

The School of Disillusionment and the Freedom of Christ “The better you treat them, the worse they become. I am more and more trained in discipleship by their ill usage of me.” — St. Ignatius of Antioch There are certain passages in the Fathers that are so fierce we are tempted to place them behind glass. We admire them. We quote them. We call them heroic. Then we quietly move on before they ask anything of us. This passage from Ignatius is one of them. Most of us can underst