God wants a contrite heart

[Rich]

God wants a contrite heart

The reason why our prayers ought to be frequent and brief is in case
the enemy, who is out to trap us, should slip a distraction to us if ever we
are long-drawn-out. There lies true sacrifice. 'The sacrifice which God
wants is a contrite heart' (Ps. 50:19). This indeed is the saving oblation,
the pure offering, the sacrifice of justification, the sacrifice of praise.
These are the real and rich thank offerings, the fat holocausts offered
by contrite and humble hearts.
--St. John Cassian.

<<>><<>><<>>
July 4th - Saint Andrew, Archbishop of Crete

Born c. 660; died in Crete, c. 740.
Born in the city of Damascus into a pious Christian family. Up until
seven years of age the boy was mute and did not talk. However, after
communing the Holy Mysteries of Christ he found the gift of speech and
began to speak. And from that time the lad began earnestly to study
Holy Scripture and the discipline of theology.

At fourteen years of age he went off to Jerusalem and there he
accepted monastic tonsure at the monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified.
St. Andrew led a strict and chaste life, he was meek and abstinent,
such that all were amazed at his virtue and reasoning of mind. As a
man of talent and known for his virtuous life, over the passage of
time he came to be numbered among the Jerusalem clergy and was
appointed a secretary for the Patriarchate--a writing clerk. In the
year 680 the locum tenens of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, Theodore,
included archdeacon Andrew among the representatives of the Holy City
sent to the Sixth Ecumenical Council, and here the saint contended
against heretical teachings, relying upon his profound knowledge of
Orthodox doctrine. Shortly after the Council he was summoned back to
Constantinople from Jerusalem and he was appointed archdeacon at the
church of Hagia Sophia, the Wisdom of God. During the reign of the
emperor Justinian II (685-695) St. Andrew was ordained bishop of the
city of Gortineia on the island of Crete. In his new position he shone
forth as a true luminary of the Church, a great hierarch--a
theologian, teacher and hymnographer.

St. Andrew wrote many liturgical hymns. He was the originator of a new
liturgical form--the canon. Of the canons composed by him the best
known is the Great Penitential Canon, including within its 9 odes the
250 troparia recited during the Great Lent. In the First Week of Lent
at the service of Compline it is read in portions (thus called
"methymony" [trans. note: from the useage in the service of Compline
of the "God is with us", in Slavonic the "S'nami Bog", or in Greek
"Meth' Humon ho Theos", from which derives "methymony"], and again on
Thursday of the Fifth Week at the All-night Vigil during Matins.

St. Andrew of Crete gained renown with his many praises of the
All-Pure Virgin Mary. To him are likewise ascribed: the Canon for the
feast of the Nativity of Christ, three odes for the Compline of Palm
Sunday and also in the first four days of Holy Passion Week, as well
as verses for the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, and many another
church-song. His hynographic tradition was continued by the churchly
great melodists of following ages: Saints John of Damascus, Cosma of
Maium, Joseph the Melodist, Theophan the Written-upon. There have also
been preserved edifying Sermons of St. Andrew for certain of the
Church feasts.

Church historians are not of the same opinion as to the date of death
of the saint. One suggests the year 712, while others--the year 726.
He died on the island of Mytilene, while returning to Crete from
Constantinople, where he had been on churchly business. His relics
were transferred to Constantinople.

In the year 1350 the pious Russian pilgrim Stephen Novgorodets saw the
relics at the Constantinople monastery named for St. Andrew of Crete.


<><><><>
Be simple as doves.  [Matt. 10:16 ]  July: Simplicity

16. What a great benefit it would be to us if God would plant in our
hearts a holy aversion to our own satisfaction, to which nature
attaches us so strongly that we desire that others would adapt
themselves to us, and all succeed well with us. Let us ask Him to
teach us to place all our happiness in Him, to love all that He loves,
and to be pleased only with what pleases Him.
--St. Vincent de Paul

St. Dorotheus, though he was a man of much learning and prudence,
confessed that in all matters not of a moral nature he willingly
followed the opinion of others, though it might often seem to him
ill-judged; nor did he ever discuss in his mind circumstances over
which he had no control; but after doing his part, he left the event
to God, and was contented with any result. For he did not seek to have
things arranged according to his desire, but he wished them to be as
they were, and not otherwise.

A young monk asked one old in religion why charity was not as perfect
as in earlier times. "Because," replied the latter, "the ancient
Fathers looked upward, and their hearts followed their eyes; but now
all bend towards the earth, and seek only their own advantage."


<><><><>
Prayer

Jesus, gentlest Savior,
God of might and power,
Thou Thyself art dwelling
In us at this hour.
Nature cannot hold Thee,
Heaven is all too strait
For Thine endless glory
And Thy royal state.

F. Faber: An Art of Thanksgiving. (19th cent.)