09 March 2007

Patristic Quote of the Day

When wrath takes the form of God allowing the demons to attack an arrogant intellect through the passions, it is a means of deliverance. For through suffering these shameful attacks the person that boasts of his virtues is enabled to learn who is the giver of these virtues. Otherwise he will be stripped of those things that are not in fact his, though he regarded them as such, forgetting that he had received them as a gift. - St. Maximos the Confessor, *Third Century of Various Texts* Philokalia II:215

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

St Maximos has expressed here a view of God's wrath that is one with His love and saving righteousness, a view of His wrath that is actually worthy of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks for sharing the quote.