John Chrysostom

Transportemos nuestras riquezas, coloqu'moslas all'! No necesitaremos de asnos ni de camellos ni de carros ni de naves para ese transporte: Dios nos libr' de semejante dificultad. Solamente necesitamos de los pobres, de…

(Jn. 3, 15) Para que todo el que cree en 'l no perezca, sino que tenga la vida eterna. Advierte el motivo de la cruz y de la salvaci'n de ah' originada. ' Adviertes c'mo consuena la figura con la realidad? All' en el des…

Si mil vidas tuvi'ramos 'acaso no convendr'a perderlas todas por 'l?

En consecuencia, no ofrezcas a Dios ovejas ni terneros, sino ofr'cete a ti mismo en holocausto: que esto es presentarle una hostia viva.

And their conversation again is full of the same calm. For they talk not of these things, whereof we discourse, that are nothing to us; such a one is made governor, such a one has ceased to be governor; such a one is dea…

So think over continually in yourselves that evening of the earthquake. Everyone else was afraid because of the earthquake, but I was afraid because of the cause of the earthquake. Do you understand what I mean? They wer…

So think over continually in yourselves that evening of the earthquake. Everyone else was afraid because of the earthquake, but I was afraid because of the cause of the earthquake. Do you understand what I mean? They wer…

Do you wish to honour the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk, only then to neglect him outside where he is cold and ill-clad. He who said: This is my body…

Secede not from the Church: for nothing is stronger than the Church. Thy hope is the Church; thy salvation is the Church; thy refuge is the Church. It is higher than the heavens and wider than the earth. It never grows o…

Es que nada oscurece y perturba la mente tanto como el ambicionar las cosas presentes.

Y no dijo que cargar' sobre s' o que carg' sobre s': Que carga sobre s' el pecado del mundo, porque es obra que continuamente est' haciendo. No lo carg' 'nicamente en el momento de padecer; sino que desde entonces hasta…

There comes a heathen and says, ' I wish to become a Christian, but I know not whom to join: there is much fighting and faction among you, much confusion: which doctrine am I to choose?' How shall we answer him? ' Each o…

This republic is at war not with men, but with devils, and those incorporeal powers. Wherefore also their captain is no one of men, nor of angels, but God Himself. And the armor too of these warriors suits the nature of…

Qu' ser' m's 'til: hablar de los asuntos y de los defectos de los vecinos, y andar con vana curiosidad inquiriendo las cosas ajenas, o m's bien tratar de los 'ngeles y de lo tocante a nuestra propia utilidad? Al fin y al…

Ellos, apoyados en mentiras, echan mano de todos los medios para encubrir la verg'enza de sus afirmaciones; y nosotros, los que profesamos la verdad, no nos atrevemos ni aun a abrir la boca.

Natanael, como hombre que es, inquiere; Jes's, como Dios que es, le contesta: Ya te vi anteriormente. Como Dios, ya conoc'a de antemano la moderaci'n de costumbres de Natanael, aunque no como hombre que le hubiera seguid…

Pero el que es amado no quiere que se le muestre el amor en solas palabras, sino adem's con las obras. Si nos reducimos a meras palabras y no procedemos como suelen los que aman, ser' cosa rid'cula no s'lo ante Dios, sin…

Advierte c'mo cuando alguno sujeta las cosas espirituales a sus propios modos de pensar, inclusive dice ridiculeces, y parece delirar y estar ebrio, por andar escrutando, contra lo que a Dios agrada, las sentencias y no…

As' como nosotros anhelamos el alimento, as' anhela El nuestra salvaci'n.

Si te parece, encerremos bajo llave a un hombre; y ah' aliment'moslo y satisfagamos todos los placeres del vientre hasta lo sumo sin que 'l haya de caminar y sin que le permitamos hacer cosa alguna. Que goce de una mesa…

Thus, knowing that Judas would not be turned aside from his treachery, Christ did not desist from trying to turn him from his faithlessness, by counsel, by warnings, by kind treatment, by threatening, by every kind of in…

Pharaoh gave orders that all the male children should be destroyed, and none had escaped the danger. Whence did these expect to save their child? From faith. What sort of Faith? ' They saw' (he says) 'that he was a prope…

Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called.' Was your wife an unbeliever when you were called? Stay together; don't send her away because you think the faith demands it. Were you a slave when called? It d…

If someone claimed to have an immortal body, he would have to prove his claim by being shot with an arrow and suffering no harm. Likewise, a man shows he is truly free when his spirit remains unfettered even though he is…

Can you tell me what advantage a man has who, although not in bondage to another man, is in constant subjection to his own passions? At least men are merciful from time to time, but the passions'they won't be satisfied u…

Don't turn your back on your wife because she is not beautiful. Listen to what Scripture says: ' The bee is small among flying creatures, but her product is the best of sweet things.

Look for affection, gentleness, and humility in a wife; these are the tokens of beauty.

Be subject . . . as to the Lord.' Do everything for the Lord's sake, in a spirit of obedience to him.

No husband should believe any accusation he hears from a third party about his wife, and vice versa; nor should a wife unreasonably monitor her husband's comings and goings, provided that he has always shown himself to b…

When your daughter is to be married, don't look for how much money a man has. Don't worry about his nationality or his family's social position. All these things are superfluous. Look instead for piety, gentleness, wisdo…

Just as a virtuous man can never neglect or scorn his wife, so a wanton and licentious man can never love his wife, no matter how beautiful she is. Virtue gives birth to love, and love brings innumerable blessings.

It was not given us at first to live for the sake of eating, but to eat for the sake of living. But we, as if we had come into the world merely to eat, upon this we spend everything.

We are not responsible for not convincing those who hear, but only for giving them counsel. It is ours to warn; to give heed to the warning is theirs.

For the time after meals is the time for thanksgiving; and he who gives thanks should not indulge in excess, but be sober and vigilant. Let us not turn from the table to the couch, but to prayer, that we become not more…

And again, ' My son, if thou dost purpose to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for trial, make ready thy heart, and be strong,' (Ecclesiasticus ii. 1).

For by the condition of our mind, not by the quantity of our material wealth, should it be our custom to distinguish between poverty and affluence.

For he who does not desire other people's possessions, but is willing to be satisfied with his own, is the wealthiest of all.

Husbands,' he says, 'love your wives, as Christ loved the Church.' You have seen the amount of obedience necessary; now hear about the amount of love necessary. Do you want your wife to be obedient to you, as the Church…

Suffer anything for her sake, but never disgrace her, for Christ never did this with the Church.

Let no one marry a woman for her money; such wealth is base and disgraceful. No, by no means let anyone aspire to get rich from his wife. ' Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many sensel…

For he who lives daily in excess of wine and luxury and gluttony is under the very tyranny of the devil. And oh that something better may result from our words! Should they, however, continue in the same course after our…

Where there is equal authority, there never is peace. A household cannot be a democracy, ruled by everyone, but the authority must necessarily rest in one person.

He would much prefer love to prevail, because where there is love, everything else follows, but where love is absent, fear will be of no use.

It will be achieved if we are detached from money, if we strive above everything for virtue, if we keep the fear of God before our eyes.

Love her not so much for her own sake, but for Christ's sake.

Whenever you give your wife advice, always begin by telling her how much you love her. Nothing will persuade her so well to admit the wisdom of your words as her assurance that you are speaking to her with sincere affect…

Tell her that you love her more than your own life, because this present life is nothing, and that your only hope is that the two of you pass through this life in such a way that in the world to come you will be united i…

Show her that you value her company and prefer being at home to being out. Esteem her in the presence of your friends and children. Praise and show admiration for her good acts; and if she ever does anything foolish, adv…

Finally, never call her by her name alone, but with terms of endearment, honor, and love. If you honor her, she won't need honor from others; she won't desire praise from others if she enjoys the praise that comes from y…

Look instead for piety, gentleness, wisdom, and the fear of the Lord, if you want your daughter to be happy.