Fr. Ephraim of Arizona | The man’s heart is entangled with the prickly roots of various passions...

My blessed children, the holy Fathers teach that man’s heart is entangled with the prickly roots of various passions that are lodged deeply within it. When a person, through the enlightenment of God, attempts to unroot (in essence, to transfigure) a passion, he grips and removes the rootlets with forceps. However, as he attempts to uproot each passion, he simultaneously lacerates the heart. When the heart is cut open, it bleeds and hurts. If a person decides not to bear the pain, he gives up at this point: he abandons the struggle, and thus remains passionate and sinful. If, however, he patiently endures the pain, he removes the root of the passion and is set free."

Fr. Ephraim of Arizona