People are like a burning candle (Saint Seraphim of Sarov)

 

In their flesh, people are like a burning candle.
The candle is destined to melt, as people are to die. But our souls is immortal, which is why we should turn our attention more towards it than to the body.
‘For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their soul? Or what will they give in exchange for their soul?’ (Matth. 16, 26).
» Saint Seraphim of Sarov
Source:  pemptousia.com

http://www.diakonima.gr/2015/10/06/people-are-like-a-burning-candle-saint-seraphim-of-sarov/

a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise…St. Seraphim of Sarov

St. Seraphim of Sarov

One desiring salvation must always have a heart inclined towards penitence and contrition: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Ps. 51:19). With such a contrite spirit a person can avoid without trouble all the artful tricks of the devil, whose efforts are all directed towards disturbing the spirit of a person. By this disturbance he sows tares (i.e., weeds), according to the words of the Gospel: “Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this’” (Mt. 13:27-28). But when a person struggles to have a meek heart and to keep peace in his thoughts, then are all the wiles of the enemy powerless; for, where there is peace of thought, God Himself resides: “In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion” (Ps. 76:2).

We offend the greatness of God with our sinning throughout our entire lives, and so must always humbly ask the Lord forgiveness for our sins.

The Kingdom of God awaits those who have patiently endured.St. Seraphim of Sarov

 

St. Seraphim of Sarov

One should always endure all things with gratitude, for God’s sake.

We should always and foremost humble ourselves, following the teaching of St. Isaac of Syria: “Humble yourself and you will behold the glory of God.”

Therefore let us love humility, and we shall behold the glory of God. His glory is imparted to us in proportion as we become humble.

If there were no light all things would be dark. Similarly, without humility there is nothing in man but darkness.

What will the Christians of the last times do?

St. Seraphim of Sarov

The word of God does not say in vain: “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), and it “suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matt. 11:12). That means that people who, in spite of the bonds of sin which fetter them and (by their violence and by inciting them to new sins) prevent them from coming to Him, our Savior, with perfect repentance for reckoning with Him…

“Such people were once seen by the holy Seer John the Divine clothed in white robes (that is, in robes of justification) and with palms in their hands (as a sign of victory), and they were singing to God a wonderful song: Alleluia. And no one could imitate the beauty of their song. Of them an Angel of God said: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes, and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9-14).

The prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov

 In wake of the steps of the Mother of God in Diveyevo

Fr. Alexander Gumanovsky (a spiritual son of Father Zosima, who was himself a spiritual son of St. Seraphim of Sarov) begins a his letter with a quote from Fr. Zosima:

…I forgot to give you a piece of advice vital for salvation. Say the 0 Hail, Mother of God and Virgin one hundred and fifty times, and this prayer will lead you on the way to salvation. This rule was given by the Mother of God herself in about the eighth century, and at one time all Christians fulfilled it. We Orthodox have forgotten about it, and St. Seraphim has reminded me of this Rule.

St. Seraphim (of Sarov) calls all by his example to follow the path shown by Christ. St. John (Maximovich)

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

Despite the changes that have taken place in the world, the memory of St. Seraphim not only does not fade, but it remains a lamp that shines ever brighter to humanity.

It was the same during his earthly life. Cities were being destroyed, kingdoms were being established, Napoleon advanced upon Russia with twelve nations and then left in disgrace, Moscow burned and was again raised from the ashes, Decembrists organized revolts and were then sentenced; but was as if these events did not touch St. Seraphim.

He was wholly occupied with the acquisition of “the one thing needful,” worked on his “spiritual growth”. An “egoist, introverted,” “ignorant, not interested in anything other than what concerned him personally”—that is what many thinkers who do not wish to see even the slightest benefit in the podvig of self-perfection would say about him.

“Acquire the Spirit of Peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved.” St. Seraphim of Sarov

St. Seraphim of Sarov

Commemorated on January 2, and the opening of his relics on July 19.

”The true aim of our Christian life consists of the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.”

“Acquire the Spirit of Peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved.”

The Elder saw into the hearts of people, and as a spiritual physician, he healed their infirmities of soul and body through prayer and by his grace-filled words. Those coming to St Seraphim felt his great love and tenderness. No matter what time of the year it was, he would greet everyone with the words, “Christ is Risen, my joy!” He especially loved children. Once, a young girl said to her friends, “Father Seraphim only looks like an old man.He is really a child like us.”

“There is nothing better than peace in Christ, for it brings victory over all the evil spirits on earth and in the air. When peace dwells in a man’s heart it enables him to contemplate the grace of the Holy Spirit from within. He who dwells in peace collects spiritual gifts as it were with a scoop, and he sheds the light of knowledge on others. All our thoughts, all our desires, all our efforts, and all our actions should make us say constantly with the Church: “O Lord, give us peace!” When a man lives in peace, God reveals mysteries to him..”