Marcus Eremita quotes

God tested Abraham. That is, he sent him afflictions for his benefit, not so that he could find out what sort of man he was, for God knows everything, but so that He give him the means to perfect his faith. (Marcus Eremita)
Guard your mind from self-praise and flee a high opinion of yourself, so that God does not allow you to fall into the opposite passion to the virtue for which you boast, for man does not accomplish virtue alone, but with the help of God who sees all. View quote
Marcus Eremita
In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without repentance, but the Lord has much mercy on us because of our intentions. He who compels himself and holds on to repentance until the end, even if he sins is saved because he compelled himself, for the Lord promised this in the Gospel. View quote
Marcus Eremita
Do not try to decide a difficult matter by means of disputing, but that which is enjoined by the spiritual law, namely patience, prayer, and thoughtful hope. View quote
Marcus Eremita
It is harmful to remember previous sins in detail. For if they bring you sorrow, they will estrange you from hope, but if they are remembered without sorrow, they will introduce the previous defilement. If you want to bring to God an uncondemned confession, then don't remember your sins in detail, but manfully endure the suffering that is coming because of them. View quote
Marcus Eremita
Whatever we do or say without prayer always ends up either sinful or harmful and convicts us through the deeds in some mysterious way. View quote
Marcus Eremita
We cannot with all our heart forgive someone who does us wrong unless we possess real knowledge. For this knowledge shows us that we deserve all we experience. View quote
Marcus Eremita
One evil receives strength from another. In the same way, good deeds also sprout one from another, and the one in whom they are found grows larger. View quote
Marcus Eremita
He who willingly accepts chastening by affliction is not dominated by evil thoughts against his will; whereas he who does not accept affliction is taken prisoner by evil thoughts, even though he resists them. View quote
Marcus Eremita
Do not think about or do anything without a spiritual purpose, whereby it is done for God. For If you travel without purpose, you shall labor in vain. View quote
Marcus Eremita
Every sin that is left without repentance is a sin unto death, for which if even a saint shall pray, he shall not be heard. (Marcus Eremita)
No one is as good and merciful as the Lord. But even He does not forgive the unrepentant. View quote
Marcus Eremita
The devil makes small sins seem smaller in our eyes, for otherwise he can't lead us to greater evil. View quote
Marcus Eremita
Failure to do the good that is within your power is hard to forgive. But mercy and prayer reclaim the negligent. View quote
Marcus Eremita