Overcoming Sin

“Do not fall into despair because of stumbling. I do not mean that you should not feel contrition for them, but that you should not think them incurable. For it is more expedient to be bruised than dead. There is, indeed, a Healer for the man who has stumbled, even He Who on the Cross asked that mercy be shown to His crucifiers, He Who pardoned His murders while He hung on the Cross. ‘All manner of sin,’ He said, ‘and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men,’ that is, through repentance.”

St. Isaac the Syrian

Greatness of the Virgin

The greatness of the Virgin is revealed by God choosing her among all the women of the world. The only human for whom the Divine waited thousands of years until He found her, and saw her as worthy of this great honor, about which Archangel Gabriel said, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) 

H. H. Pope Shenouda III 

Imitate The Theotokos' Faith in Christ

St. Ephrem The Syrian reminds us “Blessed is the womb that bore you.” :
He took blessedness from the one who bore him and gave it to those who were worshiping him.
It was with Mary for a certain time, but it would be with those who worshiped him for eternity.
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

St. Ephrem The Syrian

Benefits of Fasting

Fullness of food makes the body heavy and so encourages sleep. In contrast, the person light in body, who does not have a heavy digestive system, stays awake. Fasting and staying awake enlightens the thoughts. 

H. H. Pope Shenouda III