St Maximus the Confessor: He who longs for the true life knows that all suffering...

He who longs for the true life knows that all suffering, whether sought or unsought, brings death to sensual pleasure, the mother of death; and so he gladly accepts the harsh attacks of trials and temptations suffered against his will.

By patiently enduring them he turns afflictions into smooth untroubled paths, unerringly leading whoever devoutly runs the divine race along them towards ‘the prize of the high calling’ (Phil. 3:14).

For sensual pleasure is the mother of death and the death of such pleasure is suffering, whether freely chosen or not.

St Maximus the Confessor

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