The Holy Fathers on Repentance

Now read what some of the Holy Fathers have written about repentance:

St. John Chrysostom

No sin is so great that it can conquer the munificence of the Master. Even if one is a fornicator, or an adulterer ... the power of the gift and the love of the Master are great enough to make all these sins disappear and to make the sinner shine more brightly than the rays of the sun ....

And Christ Himself, addressing the whole human race, said: "Come unto Me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ...."

His invitation is one of kindness; His goodness is beyond description ....

And see whom He calls! Those who have spent their strength in breaking the law, those who are burdened with their sins, those who can no longer lift up their heads, those who are filled with shame, those who can no longer speak out. And why does He call them? Not to demand an accounting, nor to hold court. But why? To relieve them of their pain, to take away their heavy burden. For what could ever be a heavier burden than sin? ... I shall refresh you who are weighted down by sin, He says, and you who are bent down as if under a burden, I shall grant you remission of your sins. Only come unto Me!

St. Isaac of Syria

Repentance is fitting at all times and for all persons, for sinners as well as for the righteous who look for salvation. There are no bounds to perfection, for even the perfection of the most perfect is nothing but imperfection. Hence, until the moment of death, neither the time nor the works of perfection can ever be complete.

St. John of Karpathos

Do all in your power not to fall, for the strong athlete should not fall. But if you do fall, get up again at once and continue the contest. Even if you fall a thousand times ... rise up again each time, and keep on doing this until the day of your death. For it is written, "If a righteous man falls seven times"--that is, repeatedly throughout his life--"seven times shall he rise again."

St. John of the Ladder

How well these words by St. John of the Ladder reflect God's mercy!

It is the property of angels not to fall, and even, as some say, it is quite impossible for them to fall. It is the property of men to fall, and to rise again as often as this may happen. But it is the property of devils, and devils alone, not to rise once they have fallen.

Psalm 102

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and of great mercy.

He will not always be angry, nor will He threaten forever.

He hath not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as heaven is high above the earth, so great is the Lord's mercy to those who fear Him.

As far as the East is from the West, so far hath He set our sins from us.

As a father hath compassion on his children, so the Lord hath compassion on those who fear Him.

For He knoweth our mold, He remembereth that we are dust.