Answers of the Great Masters of the Spiritual Life to the Questions of Their Disciples.

Disciple: Virtue is what makes us deserving of heaven. What is the first sign of virtue?

Master: The fear of God, which is the offspring of Faith. No one fears God unless he first believes in God. To say there is a God and not fear Him is a false faith.  

Disciple: How do you sow this fear of God in one's heart?

Master: This fear can only be sown if the mind stops roving around the things of the world and stares at the things to come.  

Disciple: To develop the foundation of virtues, is it necessary to withdraw from worldliness?

Master: To be enlightened towards things of heaven, yes.

Disciple: Why is it necessary to withdraw from worldliness?

Master: Because, by nature, the world or the things of the world, like love for honor, easily overcome the soul.

St. Isaac of Nineveh, 660 A.D.

(09-28-02)