02 June 2010

Patristic Quote of the Day

When all is said and done, there is only one means and only one method of treatment available, and that is teaching by word of mouth.  That is the best instrument, the best diet, and the best climate.  It takes the place of medicine and cautery and surgery. When we need to cauterize or cut, we must use this. Without it all else is useless. By it we rouse the soul's lethargy or reduce its inflammation, we remove excrescences and supply defects, and in short, do everything which contributes to its health. -- St. John Chrysostom, On the Priesthood, p. 115.

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