by Fr. Ioannes Apiarius –
If you want something to celebrate this June, then celebrate humility and chastity, not pride and sin.
Let humility be your garment in everything.
~ St. Joseph the Hesychast
Chastity is the dignity of the body, the ornament of morality, the sacredness of the sexes, the bond of modesty, the source of purity, the peacefulness of home, the crown of concord.
~ St. Cyprian of Carthage
I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, “What can get through from such snares?” Then I heard a voice saying to me, “Humility.”
~ St. Anthony the Great
Humility is the chariot by which we ascend to God.
~ St. Gregory Palamas
There is nothing what adorns the youth more, than do chastity and marriage free of any lechery.
~ St. John Chrysostom
You cannot live chastely, if there is no humility in your heart.
~ St. John Cassian
The only thing Christ is asking from us is our humility. The rest is taken care of by His Grace.
~ St. Paisios the Athonite
Chastity is not only abstinence from lechery and carnal pleasures, but freedom from other passions as well.
~ St. Ephrem the Syrian
When pride retreats from a man, humility begins to dwell in him, and the more pride is diminished, so much more does humility grow. The one gives way to the other as its opposite. Darkness departs and light appears. Pride is darkness, but humility is light.
~ St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Pray hard to God so that He gifts you the spirit of perfect chastity. Then you will avoid the scheme of devil even in your night dreams.
~ St. Ephrem the Syrian
These words of the holy Fathers are an important reminder that we need to ask for the grace to approach humility and chastity. We are too weak to attain to them ourselves.