Comments on: What is a Christian? What is a Saint? http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/10/16/what-is-a-christian-what-is-a-saint/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Fri, 24 May 2013 18:49:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Deborah http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/10/16/what-is-a-christian-what-is-a-saint/comment-page-1/#comment-2286 Deborah Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:21:22 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1222#comment-2286 Both of your recent posts, Michael, were very descriptive and moving. Thank you for sharing your stories. Both of your recent posts, Michael, were very descriptive and moving. Thank you for sharing your stories.

]]> By: Natalia Arzhantseva http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/10/16/what-is-a-christian-what-is-a-saint/comment-page-1/#comment-2283 Natalia Arzhantseva Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:38:38 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1222#comment-2283 RJ, thank you so much for this story - so touching & kind! RJ, thank you so much for this story – so touching & kind!

]]> By: RJ Daum http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/10/16/what-is-a-christian-what-is-a-saint/comment-page-1/#comment-2282 RJ Daum Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:22:26 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1222#comment-2282 I truly love Saint Justin. As a young high school student my family life was in turmoil to say the least. Every morning the Popovich girls who sat by me would lift me up by their kindness and caring. When others made fun of me for having only one set of clothes they would be kind. There was something special about them. The more I visited with their family and friends there was a peace. So many in the public schools picked fights with the boys from their family. The boys were courageous and disputes were done in a private with dignity with boxing gloves.Not with boasting and crowds that was so popular. I truly love Saint Justin. As a young high school student my family life was in turmoil to say the least. Every morning the Popovich girls who sat by me would lift me up by their kindness and caring. When others made fun of me for having only one set of clothes they would be kind. There was something special about them. The more I visited with their family and friends there was a peace. So many in the public schools picked fights with the boys from their family. The boys were courageous and disputes were done in a private with dignity with boxing gloves.Not with boasting and crowds that was so popular.

]]> By: Natalia Arzhantseva http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/10/16/what-is-a-christian-what-is-a-saint/comment-page-1/#comment-2278 Natalia Arzhantseva Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:22:43 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1222#comment-2278 Thank you, Father! So informative & edifying being so short. Only very spiritually gifted persons have this capability... I often asked myself a question what's the basic difference between good Christians, righteous persons & Saints. I think what unites them is that they both restrain from mortal sins. Righteous people practice virtues, learn them, but at times they deviate, and our sinful nature still have some power over them. I think in Saints the Saint Spirit prevails, and all their actions & thoughts are dominated & guided by the Saint Spirit. Good Christians have the Saint Spirit too, but it does not prevail in them, and they thus do not have the gift of reasoning (descant?), which, as per St Ignaty Brianchaninov, is the ability to recognize God's will in all circumstances, in all things, in all events...Thus, having obtained this gift by living by Christ & purifying their thoughts, they follow God's will in all their thoughts & actions, and are capable to showing it for other people. This is only possible by the Saint Spirit. They have conquered their sinful nature. This is why they are called Saints. It's like good pupils & teachers.... Please correct me if I am wrong. I would like very much to clear it up for myself. Bless. Thank you, Father!
So informative & edifying being so short. Only very spiritually gifted persons have this capability…

I often asked myself a question what’s the basic difference between good Christians, righteous persons & Saints. I think what unites them is that they both restrain from mortal sins. Righteous people practice virtues, learn them, but at times they deviate, and our sinful nature still have some power over them.

I think in Saints the Saint Spirit prevails, and all their actions & thoughts are dominated & guided by the Saint Spirit. Good Christians have the Saint Spirit too, but it does not prevail in them, and they thus do not have the gift of reasoning (descant?), which, as per St Ignaty Brianchaninov, is the ability to recognize God’s will in all circumstances, in all things, in all events…Thus, having obtained this gift by living by Christ & purifying their thoughts, they follow God’s will in all their thoughts & actions, and are capable to showing it for other people. This is only possible by the Saint Spirit. They have conquered their sinful nature. This is why they are called Saints.

It’s like good pupils & teachers….

Please correct me if I am wrong. I would like very much to clear it up for myself.

Bless.

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