SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE

Περιγραφή

ELDER PAISIOS OF MOUNT ATHOS – SPIRITUAL COUNSELS II
The blessed Elder Paisios began speaking to us about the difficult years ahead as early as 1980. He often said that we, too, might experience many of the events described in the Book of Revelation. His purpose, of course, was to instal in us a positive concern so that we may intensify our spiritual struggle, resist the spirit of indifference, which he had seen slipping treacherously even into the ranks of Monasticism, overcome self-love and combat our weaknesses in order to strengthen our prayer. “Our weaknesses”, he used to say, “weaken our prayer and we can neither help ourselves nor the people we pray for. Wireless communications become useless. And if the wireless is down, we will be defeated by the enemy.”…

Contents
• Prologue……………………………………………………………………………………9
An Introduction to the Elder’ s Counsels…………………………………………………..19
• PART ONE
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LOVE
o CHAPTER ONE
The Indifferent Generation………………………………………………………………..33
o CHAPTER TWO
The Presence of a Christian is a Confession of Faith………………………………………49
o CHAPTER THREE
To the Pure All Things Are Pure……………………………………………………………68
o CHAPTER FOUR
Action with Prudence and Love…………………………………………………………….81
• PART TWO
STRUGGLE AND DEVOUTNESS
o CHAPTER ONE
The Good Fight……………………………………………………………………………103
o CHAPTER TWO
How the Devil works………………………………………………………………………123
o CHAPTER THREE
The Benefits of Good Fellowship…………………………………………………………..134
o CHAPTER FOUR
Devoutness Moves God…………………………………………………………………….147
o CHAPTER FIVE
Self-Offering Provides Devine Oxygen……………………………………………………..171
• PART THREE
SPIRITUAL BRAVERY
o CHAPTER ONE
The Signs of the Times…………………………………………………………………….197
o CHAPTER TWO
Sacrifice Brings Joy…………………………………………………………………………218
o CHAPTER THREE
Bravery is Born of Trust in God……………………………………………………………..241
o CHAPTER FOUR
For the Faithful, Martyrdom is a Festival…………………………………………………..257
• PART FOUR
DEPENDENCE UPON HEAVEN
o CHAPTER ONE
God’ s Providence for Man…………………………………………………………………..277
o CHAPTER TWO
Faith and Trust in God……………………………………………………………………….294
o CHAPTER THREE
Where man cannot reach, God provides help……………………………………………….315
• PART FIVE
SPIRITUAL WEAPONS
o CHAPTER ONE
Prayer is a Powerful Weapon………………………………………………………………….333
o CHAPTER TWO
Monasteries are the Forthnesses of the Church……………………………………………….355
o CHAPTER THREE
The Deeper Meaning of Life……………………………………………………………………381
• INDEX
• Scriptural Index………………………………………………………………………………..399
• General Index………………………………………………………………………………….403