Being devoted

St. Mark the Ascetic in No Righteousness by Works:

When the intellect forgets the purpose of true devotion, then external works of virtue bring no profit.
("Philokalia (Vol. 1)", text 51, p. 129)

St. John Cassian quoting Abba Moses in On the Holy Fathers of Sketis:

Fasts and vigils, the study of Scripture, renouncing possessions and everything worldly are not in themselves perfection, as we have said; they are its tools. For perfection is not to be found in them; it is acquired through them. It is useless, therefore, to boast of our fasting, vigils, poverty, and reading of Scripture when we have not achieved the love of God and our fellow men. Whoever has achieved love has God within himself and his intellect is always with God.
("Philokalia (Vol. 1)", p. 96)

St. Mark the Ascetic in On the Spiritual Law:

Steadfast faith is a strong tower; and for one who has faith Christ comes to be all.
("Philokalia (Vol. 1)", text 4, p. 110)

St. Diadochos of Photiki in On Spiritual Knowledge:

... We should know, moreover, that a person energized by God to such love rises, at that moment, even above faith, since by reason of his great love he now senses consciously in his heart the One whom he previously honoured by faith...
("Philokalia (Vol. 1)", text 91, p. 290)

©1999 by Deb Platt