"It is not fitting that when you live spaciously, you rejoice, but in afflictions are cast down and consider them foreign to the Way of God. For from ages and generations, His Way is carved out by the Cross and Death.


Whence have you got this idea of treading the Way of God in comfort?


Learn from this that you are not in the Way of God, but drifting aside from it; that you do not wish to follow in the footsteps of the saints, but that you intend to create a "Special Way" for yourself, to be followed without suffering. The Way to God is a Daily Cross. No one has ascended to Heaven through easy life. We know where the Easy Way leads."