[dropcap]In[/dropcap] a recent theological discussion, someone spoke about the concept of sin as debt. I was curious as to what the patristic literature had to say and compiled these quotations from most of the major series translated in English. Unsurprisingly, I found quite a few more references to sin as debt in Western writers than […]
[dropcap]In[/dropcap] the account of the Annunciation of the Birth of our Savior, we read the following response of the Holy Virgin Mary to the Holy Archangel Gabriel’s announcement that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to the Savior of the world: “How can this be, since I know not a man?” (Lk 1:34). From […]
Some people by the word ‘freedom’ understand the ability to do whatever one wants… People who have allowed themselves to come into slavery to sins, passions, and defilements more often than others appear as zealots of external freedom, wanting to broaden the laws as much as possible. But such a man uses external freedom only […]
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] beautiful letter to monks and contemplation on the name and place of the Desert of Sheheet, where the Coptic Orthodox Monastery of Saint Macarius resides, by the Spiritual Father of the monastery, Father Matta El Maskeen (also known in as Father Matthew the Poor.) God offered us the grace of calling and accepting us […]
[dropcap]Christ’s[/dropcap] linking the Son of man with the forgiveness of sins (Mk 2:5-10) and with the coming judgment (“He has given him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of man” Jn 5:27) greatly enhances the importance of the Son of man, since judgment is attributed to Him as if He is greater […]
He who was able to reveal this relationship with Christ is St. Paul who says: “For surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of […]