The Elder wrote about [the sign of the Cross] to one of his spiritual daughters: “The experience of the ages shows that the sign of the cross has great power over all a person’s actions during the entire course of his life.  Therefore it is necessary to strive to root in children the habit of protecting […]

Do not do anything without signing yourself with the sign of the Cross! When you depart on a journey, when you begin your work, when you go to study, when you are alone, and when you are with other people, seal yourself with the Holy Cross on your forehead, your body, your chest, your heart, […]

Do all the good you can; do not speak evil of anyone; do not steal from anyone; do not lie to anyone; do not be arrogant towards anyone; do not hate anyone; do not be absent from the divine services; be compassionate to the needy; do not offend anyone; do not wreck another man’s domestic […]

How is it possible to be a child of God? By being free from all passions and showing gentleness to those who offend and wrong us. There is nothing that brings us as near to God and makes us so much like Him as doing these good things. Therefore, when Paul says, “Be ye followers […]

How mistaken are those people who seek happiness outside of themselves, in foreign lands and journeys, in riches and glory, in great possessions and pleasures, in diversions and vain things, which have a bitter end! It is the same thing to construct the tower of happiness outside of ourselves, as it is to build a […]

A child needs to be surrounded by people who pray and pray ardently. A mother should not be satisfied by giving her child a physical caress, but should also coddle it with the caress of prayer. In the depth of its soul the child senses the spiritual caress that its mother conveys to it and […]