"Sometimes the Lord wishes to send somebody from the other world: either in reality or in dreams, in their own appearance or under some other guise. In such a way the Mother of God has appeared many times, either alone, with the Pre-eternal Child, or accompanied by the saints - one, two, or many. The Great Martyr Katherine (November 24), for example, was converted by the appearance in her sleep of the Mother of God with the Pre-eternal Child, who betrothed her to Himself as His bride. Many times the angels have appeared, either singly or in assembly. For example, the entire world of the Holy Angels appear to Blessed Andrew, Fool-for-Christ (November 24), in his sleep, in contrast with the horde of dark powers, which also appeared. Many times the saints have appeared; for example, St. Mitrophan appeared to the Lutheran physician, to the sick girl, and to many others" (the specific occurrences in this last sentence would have been understand by St. Theophan's contemporaries)." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.20 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #StTheophantheRecluse #saints #GreatMartyrKatherine #Lord #God #JesusChrist #Mary #Apparitions #Angels #HolySpirit

"The merciful Lord reveals to the consciousness of the converting sinner His divine world, in which our spirit is appointed to dwell. Frequently He Himself appears for the purpose of conversion in a visible way, taking on some kind of form and appearing either when a man is awake or in his sleep. In such a way He appeared to the Apostle Paul on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9), to Constantine the Great, to Eustathius Placidas (September 20), to Neanias who was going to torment the Christians (this is the martyr Procopius, July 8), to Patermuthius in his sleep (July 9), and to many others." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.20 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #StTheophantheRecluse #Conversion #StPaul #StConstantine #Procopius #HolyTrinity #Christ #HolySpirit

The days and weeks after Pascha (Easter) are ripe with opportunity to open yourself to God in a new and more complete way. Look to the Resurrected Christ for a new-found freedom that places your focus on the time when you will be with Him in the Heavenly Kingdom. Look to the Feast of the Ascension, which reveals your own Heavenly journey in a specific way. Look to the holiness that the Holy Spirit offers you on a daily basis. Allow the fire of Pentecost to descend through you! You may be asking: "How is this possible within me?" "Why will God do this for me?" "Will I pay attention when it happens?" "What if I miss it?" God loves you and wants you to be one with Him. Read the following posts to find out how. #PaschalLamb #Ascension #Pentecost #Love #Renewal #Redemption #continualprayer #MeditativePrayer

God will sometimes grant a person external manifestations of the Divine Order, which are quite often visions that are revealed while awake or in sleep. Sometimes God will grant a person an inward, prayerful freedom, which is the ability to contemplate the divine order. In the coming posts, we will explore what each of these mean in detail. For now, meditate on these questions: "Have I explored my life of prayer and actions?" "Am I focused on myself and/or the world? "Do I really want God in me and me in Him?" "If I am saying 'yes', am I shedding my old ways?" "Will I be open to God's work in me?" "Will I fully embrace the divine presence in me and shed sin as much as possible?" #Awakening #Redemption #Renewal #God #MysticalTheology #secretmeditation #MeditativePrayer #ContemplativePrayer

"It is remarkable that this grace-given awakening is always accompanied by a startling and by some kind of fright. This startling and fear occur perhaps because of the suddenness of the awakening. This awakening is like grabbing a sinner at the crossroads of life as if he were a criminal, and placing him before the inexorable judgment of God. Or this startling may take place because the new order which is being revealed to his consciousness is so absolutely new for him and so strikingly opposed to his former order. And this new order is not only new, it is also perfect in all its parts and bliss-giving." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.19 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #StTheophantheRecluse #Renewal #obedience #Abyss #Grace #luminousdarkness #MysticalTheology #God #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #HolyTrinity #holiness

"When a grace-given awakening takes place in the consciousness of a man... there is an instantaneous destruction of the whole order of his willful and sinful life, and simultaneously the revelation before his consciousness of another divine order which is the one true and spiritually soothing order. Briefly one may depict this order as follows: God, who is worshiped in the Holy Trinity, who created this world, who sustains and providentially cares for it, saves us fallen sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and under the guidance and supervision of the Holy Church. God leads us in the way of the cross, tests us in this life, and brings us to the eternal life of everlasting bliss. The divine order includes and contains all people, events, and institutions, and even the very principles by which everything runs. This entire order, through the action of grace, vividly engraves itself upon the spirit of a sinner." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.18 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #StTheophantheRecluse #JesusChrist #HolySpirit #HolyTrinity #Sinner #Sin #Will #Grace #God #Order

Even though we can never truly grasp God's brilliant complexity and awestriking luminosity, He is always inviting us onto a pathway of understanding that goes beyond our current comprehension. When we open our minds and hearts in contemplation of Him, we find in us an interior bond of art and science drenched with a love that longs to be eternally in His presence. eternal perfection. #God #luminousdarkness #MysticalTheology #Renewal #Love #prayer #MeditativePrayer

In the post-Resurrection Gospel (John 20:26-29) that is read on what is known as the Sunday of St. Thomas, God tells us a story of a new kind of laying on of hands. What seems to be a moment of doubt for the Apostle Thomas, instead becomes an instruction both on bodily resurrection and the use of hands to impart divine spirit, love, light, and understanding. This passage demonstrates how an intellectually-based 'faith alone' is not enough. Faith, as belief, requires Spirit-imbued actions. Faith - which is revealed when God reaches down from Heaven and blesses the priest's hands to consecrate the bread and wine - is renewed by partaking of the Most Holy and Precious, Body and Blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. Faith - which is demonstrated by the real presence of the Holy Spirit in the holy oil - is renewed as a hand imparts oil, awakening a soul to his/her mission in accomplishing the will of God. Later, when the body is broken, these same hands impose oil and beg for healing. Faith - which is at work when hands hold a baby in baptismal waters - is renewed when we take care of the most vulnerable sheep. Faith - which is at work when hands are laid in ordination - is renewed when we ensure that the work of the Old Testament priests and prophets, and the New Testament bishops, priests, and deacons continues for another 3,500 years. Faith - which is symbolized by the joining of hands at a wedding - is renewed when the bride and groom are bound in their search for salvation. Faith - which is at work in the hands of a priest imparting the God-given absolution in confession - is renewed as a penitent receives love, mercy, and justice. Faith - which is at work in the clasped hands of a person in prayer - is renewed in the quenched longing for guidance and discernment. Faith - which is at work in the Spirit-filled hands of those who help those in need - is renewed on the streets, in war zones, at work, and in neighborhoods. Faith is found when you close your eyes and simply reach out with your hand; for a lighted hand of love will reach out for you... and lead you home. #JesusChrist #StThomas #Eucharist #Chrismation #Baptism #Marriage #Ordination #Healing #luminousdarkness #MysticalSupper #MysticalTheology #Faith

"The true Christian life is the grace-given life. Self-made life - however beautiful in appearance it may be and to whatever outward forms of the Christian life it may adhere - can never be Christian. The beginning of the true Christian life is established in a grace-given awakening." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.17 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #Christian #Christ #Grace #Renewal #Redemption #Redeemer #Discernment #StTheophantheRecluse

"In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) these moments (cf. "Wake Up to the Light of Christ") are indicated in the following way. First, he came to himself - this means that he came to his senses and collected himself. Then he said, I will arise and go - meaning that he intends to stop his former way of life. Then, he arose, and went to his father and said, I have sinned. This is his repentance. And then the father clothed him in his best robe (which indicates his absolution) and set the table for him (the Holy Eucharist)." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.10 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #JesusChrist #luminousdarkness #StLuketheEvangelist #StTheophantheRecluse #MysticalSupper #Renewal #Redemption

"'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light' (Ephesians 5:14). This comparison of sinners to those who are asleep gives us certain points for a comprehensive examination of their conversion to God. For example, with one who is asleep: first he wakes up, then he gets out of bed, and finally he makes up his mind to go do something. So also with a sinner who turns towards God and repents: first he wakes up from the sleep of sin, then he comes to some determination to change (he is getting up), and finally he clothes himself in strength for a new life with the Sacraments of Confession and Eucharist (he is ready to act)." - St. Theophan the Recluse, Turning the Heart to God, p.11 (published separately, this is the second part of The Path to Salvation). #StTheophantheRecluse #Christ #Renewal #Conversion #Healing

"Before the dawn, Mary and the women came and found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They heard the angelic voice: "Why do you seek among the dead as a man the One who is everlasting light? Behold the clothes in the grave! Go and proclaim to the world: The Lord is risen! He has slain death, as He is the Son of God, saving the race of men." - A Paschal Hypakoe (a troparion chanted on a great feast) #PaschalLamb #Angels #Mary