Benedicta Ward Quotes

#1. Antony said to Poemen, 'Our great work is to lay the blame for our sins upon ourselves before God, and to expect to be tempted to our last breath. - Author: Benedicta Ward

#2. Mathois said, 'The nearer a man comes to God, the more he sees himself to be a sinner. Isaiah the prophet saw the Lord and knew himself to be wretched and unclean (Is. 6:5). - Author: Benedicta Ward

#3. Evagrius said, 'A wandering mind is strengthened by reading, and prayer. Passion is dampened down by hunger and work and solitude. Anger is repressed by psalmody and long-suffering and mercy. But all these should be at the proper times and in due measure. - Author: Benedicta Ward

#4. The hermit said, 'This is the way to be strong: when temptations start to speak in your mind do not answer them but get up, pray, do penance, and say "Son of God, have mercy upon me." - Author: Benedicta Ward

#5. The devil appeared to a monk disguised as an angel of light, and said to him, 'I am the angel Gabriel, and I have been sent to you.' But the monk said, 'Are you sure you weren't sent to someone else? I am not worthy to have an angel sent to me.' At that the devil vanished. - Author: Benedicta Ward

#6. A monk was told that his father had died. He said to the messenger, "Do not blaspheme. My Father cannot die. - Author: Benedicta Ward

#7. Macarius said also, 'If you are stirred to anger when you want to reprove someone, you are gratifying your own passions. Do not lose yourself in order to save another. - Author: Benedicta Ward

#8. Daniel said, 'If the body is strong, the soul weakens. If the body weakens, the soul is strong. - Author: Benedicta Ward

#9. Evagrius said, 'Cut the desire for many things out of your heart and so prevent your mind being dispersed and your stillness lost. - Author: Benedicta Ward