“Of all the accusations against Christians, the most terrible one was uttered by Nietzsche when he said that Christians had no joy.” Fr. Alexander Schmemann As I sit down to write this I am tired and not very eager to…

“I know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient and mild he was; although he was a little, little child; we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it.” Bob Cratchit from Charles…

“The Fathers and the whole early tradition not only do not know [a] distinction and opposition [between symbol and reality in the sacraments], but to them symbolism is the essential dimension of the sacrament, the proper key to its understanding.”…

“At the approach of a great feast you must watch yourself with particular care. The enemy endeavors beforehand to chill your heart towards the subject, the event being celebrated, so that you will not honor it by whole-heartedly considering its…

“To suffer lovingly is to suffer no longer. To flee from the cross is to be crushed beneath its weight. We should pray for a love of the cross, then it will become sweet.” ‘One day’, said Fr. Monnin, ‘I…