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Prayer is spiritual breathing when we pray we breathe in the Holy Spirit praying in the Holy Spirit (Jd. 1:20). Thus, all church prayers are the breathing of the Holy Spirit as it were spiritual air and also light, spiritual fire, spiritual food and spiritual raiment.

John of Kronstadt

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John of Kronstadt
Age: 79 †
Born: 1829
Born: October 19
Died: 1908
Died: December 20
Priest
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Ivan Ilyich Sergiyev
Saint John of Kronstadt
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More quotes by John of Kronstadt

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Should thoughts of self-praise, of self-satisfaction, occur to you, say: 'I myself am nothing all that is good in me is accomplished by the grace of God.' What hast thou that thou didst not receive?' (I Cor. 4:7). 'Without Me ye can do nothing' (John 15:5).
John of Kronstadt
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In prayer and in every work of your life avoid suspicious ness, doubt and diabolical imaginations. Let your spiritual eye be single, in order that the whole body of your prayer, of your works and of your life may be light.
John of Kronstadt
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Your Lord is a God of mercy and bountifulness: be a source of mercy and bountifulness to your neighbors. If you will be such, you will find salvation yourself with everlasting glory.
John of Kronstadt
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It would seem, after this, that even when living upon earth we must live as if in the heavenly kingdom, dwelling there in anticipation by hope. But in reality, for the greater part, the contrary is the case. Men cling with their whole being to the earth and everything earthly.
John of Kronstadt
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Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and gave life to the fallen. O abyss of humility! Adam and Eve lost themselves through gluttony, the Lord fasted and died for them, in order to give them life. They were disobedient, Christ fulfilled obedience.
John of Kronstadt
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Our faith, trust, and love are proved and revealed in adversities, that is, in difficult and grievous outward and inward circumstances, during sickness, sorrow, and privations.
John of Kronstadt
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Wherefore is this? Because our common enemy, the Devil, endeavours with all his might to oppose the intentions of the God-man, Christ. He endeavours to do everything in opposition to what Christ did and does.
John of Kronstadt
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The Lord, before His Incarnation, let mankind experience all the bitterness of sin, all their powerlessness to eradicate it and when all longed for a Deliverer, then He appeared, the most wise, all-powerful Physician and Helper. When men hungered and thirsted after righteousness, as it grew weaker, then the everlasting righteousness came.
John of Kronstadt
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Do not despise any man, however poor he may be but behave with full respect and kindness to every well-intentioned man, especially to the poor, as to our members worthy of compassion - or, rather, to members of Christ - otherwise you will cruelly wound your soul.
John of Kronstadt
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Divine service, being the high contemplation of the mind, is at the same time, and pre-eminently, the peace, the sweetness and blessedness of the heart.
John of Kronstadt
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It is necessary for a Christian to fast, in order to clear his mind, to rouse and develop his feelings, and to stimulate his will to useful activity. These three human capabilities we darken and stifle above all by 'surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life' (Lk. 21:34).
John of Kronstadt
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If you are fond of dressing elegantly, or when you put on your clothes, think of the incorruptible garment of righteousness in which our souls should be arrayed, or of Jesus Christ Who is our spiritual raiment, as it is said: 'For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ' (Gal. 3:27).
John of Kronstadt
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Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God our dullness shall not overpower God's wisdom, nor our infirmity God's omnipotence.
John of Kronstadt
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Leave all human injustices to the Lord, for God is the Judge, but as to yourself, be diligent in loving everybody with a pure heart.
John of Kronstadt
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...when seeking material light, remember the spiritual light which is indispensable for the soul, and without which it remains in the darkness of the passions, in the darkness of spiritual death. 'I am come as a light into the world,' says the Lord, 'that whosoever believeth on Me, should not abide in darkness' (Jn. 12:46).
John of Kronstadt
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Physician, heal thyself. Teacher, teach yourself.
John of Kronstadt
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Everything that breathes, breathes by air and cannot live without air similarly all reasonable free creatures live by the Holy Spirit, as though by air, and cannot live without Him. Every soul is quickened by the Holy Spirit. Recognise that the Holy Spirit stands in the same relation to your soul as air stands in relation to your body.
John of Kronstadt
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Remember that God, during your prayers, is watching for your affirmative answer to the question which He is inwardly asking you: 'Do you believe I am able to do this?' To which question you must from the depth of your heart reply, 'Yes, Lord'
John of Kronstadt
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The man who is poor in spirit desires and says with his whole heart, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. It is as though he himself disappears everywhere and in everything he wishes to see God-in himself and in others. 'Let everything by Thine, not mine.'
John of Kronstadt
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When you see your body wasted away through sickness, do not murmur against God, but say: 'The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away blessed be the name of the Lord' (Job 1:21). You are accustomed to look upon your body as upon your own inalienable property, but that is quite wrong, because your body is God's edifice.
John of Kronstadt