St. Theodore the Studite: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your whole soul...
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Lessons by our Holy Fathers
One then who loves thus is not satiated, does not fall, is not overtaken by despondency; rather he adds fire to fire, and sets enthusiasm alight with enthusiasm, disposing ascents of virtues in his heart and going from power to spiritual power; and this unremittingly.
Do you not see how much those who toil according to the flesh toil for vain and perishable things? Do you not see how those who build ships here under your very eyes pass the whole day in toil, not allowing themselves any relaxation whatsoever?
For what? So that they may acquire a little gold, so that they may take home what they need for their families; while we, to become rich with the things of God, to reach the kingdom of heaven, to enjoy the everlasting good things, to escape the everlasting punishments, shall we not endure all things with all enthusiasm and energy, if it were necessary to shed our blood, to be entirely ready to do so for the Lord?'
St. Theodore the Studite
