It
seems that we do not understand one thing: it is not good when we
return the love of those who love us, yet hate those who hate us. We are
not on the right path if we do this. We are the sons of light and love,
the sons of God, his children. As such we must have His qualities and
His attributes of love, peace, and kindness towards all.
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
"The angelic hosts are not enslaved by their thoughts, or by the things of this world. They gaze upon created things, but their thoughts do not become enslaved by them; for the center of their thoughts is in servitude only to the power of God, through which they love all creation. As for us, when we see an object that attracts us, we immediately become attached to it. This is terrible and it is also deadly. If this lasts for a length of time, then this object becomes our idol. An object takes the place in our heart that belongs to God - no matter whether it is an inanimate object, a living thing, or a person."
- Elder Thaddeus of Serbia (+2002)
source
The Holy Fathers have cleared the way for us and have shown us the way to labor with the help of God. God is powerful and He can deliver us from any evil.
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
All created beings are limited, and what is limited cannot be perfect. Created beings are given the possibility of striving toward perfection.
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
One day, a family came to the monastery from Belgrade . They had an only son who was taking drugs for many years . The doctors had told him that time remaining for his life , if he did not quit the drugs , was six months.
The official statistic then in Serbia say that one in a thousand patients could get away from drugs.
When they started to come from Belgrade , father, mother and son , for a long time, they were quarreling in the car . Fortunately for the young mother she kept her composure .
At that time , their son was able to sleep twenty-four hours and the other twenty-four hours he could not sleep because his nervous system was completely upside down .
With the help of God, they arrived at the monastery and the elder immediately spoke with them .
At first , father and son , voiced complaints that they had from each other but then they calmed down . After the son was left alone with the elder . Father Thaddeus spoke with him with patience and great love and recited prayers for his health. All throughout the course of the prayer, Father Thaddeus caressed the head of the young man in the same way that a mother caresses her child.
After that, they all went into the car and were on their way back. The young man fell asleep during their return to Belgrade . His mother immediately sensed that something good was happening to her son because her son before wasn't able to sleep at all.
Twenty-five years later, the former drug addict got married and has two children . He never returned to the bad drug habit .
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
Our starting point is always wrong. Instead of beginning with ourselves, we always want to change others first and ourselves last.
If everyone were to begin first with themselves, then there would be peace all around.
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
It is of great significance if there is a person who truly prays in a family. Prayer attracts God's Grace and all the members of the family feel it, even those whose hearts have grown cold. Pray always.
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
Too much attention irritates children. Children should know that their parents love them, but the parents should not smother their children with love.
Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
