It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation,
for humanity, for the birds, for the animals,
for demons, and for all that exists.
By the recollection of them the eyes
of a merciful person pour forth
tears in abundance.
By the strong and vehement mercy
that grips such a person’s heart,
and by such great compassion,
the heart is humbled
and one cannot bear to hear or to see
any injury or slight sorrow in any in creation.
For this reason, such a person offers up
tearful prayer continually
even for irrational beasts,
for the enemies of the truth,
and for those who harm her or him,
that they be protected and receive mercy.
And in like manner such a person prays
for the family of reptiles
because of the great compassion
that burns without measure in a heart
that is in the likeness of God.
~St. Isaac the Syrian
1 comment:
I knew Fr. Andrei when he was still a Jesuit and directing the Russian Catholic Center in San Francisco. I too love/loved this good man and priest, who largely introduced me to the beauty of the Byzantine tradition and liturgy, when I was a young preparatory seminarian at Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon. He once stopped in Boise to visit me after a retreat somewhere in Canada; sadly I wasn't home, but me startled my Mother: showing up at the front door, unannounced, dressed in his black cassock (podryasnik) and high monk's hat (klobuk), he said to my Mother: "You no mind the Russian invasion??" It was during the cold war!!! He had a great devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. A true starets/holy spiritual teacher! Memory Eternal!! -- William TU
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