touchstone archives
Commonplaces
Piquant excerpts lifted from Touchstone editors' own reading & listening.
In teaching people, [Fr. Arsenie] emphasized another provision for living an authentic Christian life: love of enemies. He considered that people theorized about this virtue more than they put it into practice. As one who had practiced love of enemies and tasted the spiritual joy and freedom it brings even from childhood, he would tirelessly urge the attainment of it. “Love of enemies is a commandment, not a suggestion. Strive to truly love your enemies, regardless of the state you find yourself in. If you’re unable to love them from the beginning, at least try not to hate them. God rejoices. God will help you if you always persist as a beginner in this virtue. And if death comes, it finds you fighting to love your enemies, and God does the rest. The important thing is for you to be on the path.”
—Sorin Alpetri
Eternity in the Moment: The Life and Wisdom of Elder Arsenie Papacioc (2018)
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