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

Disciple: What are the other signs of a doubting faith? 

Master:  Timidity of soul is a sign of a weak faith. On the other hand, a firm will is a sign of a strong faith.

Disciple: What is the cause of a weak faith?

Master:  Too much love for one's flesh, which makes you timid whenever the body is in danger.

Disciple: How do you remove all these wrong tendencies acquired by the soul?

Master:  Love of studying the Divine Scriptures and understanding the depths of the thoughts they contain.

Disciple: How does this happen?

Master:  When man's thoughts are immersed in the delight of fathoming the hidden wisdom of the words, a man leaves the world behind and forgets all that is in the world, in proportion to the enlightenment he draws from Scriptures.

Disciple: What if the soul cannot penetrate the depths of Scriptures?

Master:  The very fact that he is occupied with zeal to understand Scriptures is enough.

Disciple: Does this apply only to Scriptures?

Master:  It also applies to the writings of the Saints.

St. Isaac of Syria

(04-09-03)