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Quote 339
Bishop Alexis Trader
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Quote 339 - Форум
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Quote 339
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| readeralexey | Дата: Среда, 13.05.2026, 20:02 | Сообщение # 1 |
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| The reading and study of spiritual books are essential patristic tools for the cultivation of good thoughts throughout the day.
Bishop Alexis (Trader)
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| mariablansh | Дата: Понедельник, 18.05.2026, 19:45 | Сообщение # 2 |
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| I agree with this quote. I think, everyone has a lot of thoughts throughout the day: some of them make us feel happy and see the world and people around from the best side, while others make us upset or angry. Reading the spiritual books helps to put our thoughts in order, it is like a household cleaner with which we wash away all the dirty things from our heads. Such a books contain the foundations of our faith, morality, love, which are the most beautiful things that we should strive to embody every day. Unfortunately, due to our fallen nature we have a tendency to fall in sins and it is not possible for us to be kind and think positively every time. We need to practice, to force ourselves, but once a person makes the effort it becomes easier. Working on ourselves, particularly on our thoughts, is a daily deal.
Баушова М.
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| mariaruzhitskaya11 | Дата: Вторник, 19.05.2026, 10:20 | Сообщение # 3 |
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| The reading and study of spiritual books are essential patristic tools for the cultivation of good thoughts throughout the day.
Bishop Alexis (Trader)
The thing is that the most important goal of human life is to save your souls. But the huge problem is that people very rarely think about this. We don’t let saving our soul guide our decisions. We rarely ask God for help, relying instead on our own weak strength. We pray mechanically and go through church services mechanically while thinking that we are truly faithful Christians. But the truth is, every second of our life, every thought, every decision should be aimed at saving our soul.
We live very carelessly, but our mechanical prayers don’t really help us fight our passions. To truly fight our sins we need to put in a lot of spiritual work. But not only do we not fight our sins, often we don’t even notice them, because we are spiritually blind. That’s why reading the Church Fathers is so good for the soul. Not because it helps us have good thoughts all day long - that seems a very earthly and selfish goal. Why would we want “good thoughts”? Just to live a comfortable and peaceful life? No, reading the Church Fathers teaches us to notice sin in ourselves, to feel sorrow for it, and to try to fight it.
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Сообщение отредактировал readeralexey - Среда, 27.05.2026, 23:36 |
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| vvecheslova | Дата: Суббота, 23.05.2026, 21:24 | Сообщение # 4 |
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| This quote shows simple but powerful idea: regularly reading spiritual books helps train our minds to think in a healthier, more purposeful way. What we feed our attention directly shapes our inner life, and spiritual reading acts like daily mental and moral training. I agree with this, though I would add that reading alone is not a quick fix. It works best when paired with prayer and real-life practice, but as a steady habit, it is highly effective.
It makes sense when you compare everyday habits. If I start the morning with reading a short passage from a spiritual book or a collection of saints’ lives, I tend to fell more grounded and patient throughout the day. If I begin with scrolling through social media or news instead, my mind quickly fills with anxiety and frustration. Spiritual books don’t just share some information, not at all. As for me, at least. They slowly shape how I see people, problems, and myself. For example, reading about patience makes it easier to react calmly when something doesn’t work out.
The Bible teaches us to be transformed by renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2), and early Christian writers always stressed the importance of guarding our thoughts. What Bishop Alexis calls “patristic tools” is really the Christian practice of feeding the soul with good material so that negative thoughts don’t take over.
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| natalchenko_98 | Дата: Среда, 27.05.2026, 12:14 | Сообщение # 5 |
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| The reading and study of spiritual books are essential patristic tools for the cultivation of good thoughts throughout the day.
Bishop Alexis (Trader)
Having grown up in a secular society, where views on Orthodoxy were based on random misleading preconceptions, I will say that surrounding yourself with spiritual and patristic books is as crucial as surrounding with like-minded people. The latter is immensely difficult if you weren't born into an Orthodox community. Reading the Gospel daily opens more and more truths contained therein. Some of them are yet to be understood because I haven't had such experience. To be constantly reminded of how to behave prevents from descending further into sin. Although, seeds only sprout in fruitful soil and if our thoughts and mind aren't set for metanoia, no book will help on it's its own. St. Barsanuphius of Optina said that St. Macarius of Optina reread The Ladder of Divine Ascent and the writings of Abba Dorotheus every three or four years because each time he discovered new layers of wisdom conveyed therein.
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Сообщение отредактировал readeralexey - Среда, 27.05.2026, 23:40 |
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