PHILOKALIA MINISTRIES

The Poverty of Prayer When Nothing Answers “Blessed is the man who knows his own weakness, because this knowledge becomes for him the foundation, root, and beginning of all goodness.” — St. Isaac the Syrian There comes a moment in the life of prayer when even tears seem rich. At least tears can be felt. They tell us that something within us is still moving toward God. The heart aches. It longs. It grieves. It reaches through its sorrow toward the One it loves. But there is a

To share in the life of Christ is to learn to carry the weakness of another toward Him “They opened the roof and lowered him down to the feet of Christ.” — St. Augustine, On Pastors There is a severity in Augustine’s words because there is a severity in love. “You have failed to strengthen the weak.” The accusation is directed toward shepherds, and rightly so. Those entrusted with the care of souls cannot feed upon the flock while remaining indifferent to its wounds. The shep