The fathers and saints tell us that there is no spiritual life without ascetic practice. This is essential because asceticism is first and foremost about purification from the passions that defile us. We’ll explore what is meant by this word “passions” and why it is impossible to see noetic (we’ll talk about this word too – for now consider it a synonym for spiritual) realities while our intellect is clouded with the passions.

I’ll try to speak as little as possible of myself, and instead point as much as I can to the saints and the fathers.

May the God of all purity grant us a true spirit of repentance and heal our blindness!