Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers
intellect
6 Entries
If you distract your intellect from its love for God and concentrate it, not on God, but on some sensible object, you thereby show that you value the body more than the soul and the things made by God more than God Himself. St. Maximos the Confessor in, "Prayer of the Heart -- Writings from the Philokalia," Shambhala books
Since the Light of Spiritual Knowledge is the intellect's life, and since this Light is engendered by love for God, it is rightly said that nothing is greater than divine love. (cf. I Cor. 13) St. Maximos the Confessor in, "Prayer of the Heart -- Writings from the Philokalia," Shambhala books
When in the intensity of its love for God the intellect goes out of itself, then it has no sense of itself or of any created thing. For when it is illumined by the Infinite Light of God, it becomes insensible to everything made by Him, just as the eye becomes insensible to the stars when the sun rises. St. Maximos the Confessor in, "Prayer of the Heart -- Writings from the Philokalia," Shambhala books
17. The intellect does many good and bad things without the body, whereas the body can do neither good nor evil without the intellect. This is because the law of freedom applies to what happens before we act. REF:Saint Kosmas Aitolos +1779
90. The intellect changes from one to another of three different noetic states: that according to nature, above nature, and contrary to nature. When it enters the state according to nature, it finds that it is itself the cause of evil thoughts, and confesses its sins to God, clearly understanding the causes of the passions. When it is in the state contrary to nature, it forgets God's justice and fights with men, believing itself unjustly treated. But when it is raised to the state above nature, it finds the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace and the other fruits of which the Apostle speaks (cf. Ga 5:22); and it knows that if it gives priority to bodily cares it cannot remain in this state. An intellect that departs from this state falls into sin and all the terrible consequences of sin- if not immediately, then in due time, as God's justice shall decide. REF:Saint Kosmas Aitolos +1779
112. What a house is to the air, the spiritual intellect is to divine grace. The more you get rid of materiality, the more the air and grace will come in of their own accord; and the more you increase materiality, the more they will go away. REF:Saint Kosmas Aitolos +1779
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