Elder Ephraim of Philotheou: We must have love for all the departed

 We all have relatives who have departed from this life. The pain we feel for our loved ones must expand to encompass all the souls of the other world. Not only are there saints in Heaven, but there are also people in Hell. These people are also our brothers; they are souls from whom Christ was crucified. It is an invaluable act of charity to pray for these people. If possible, we should she one tear for them every day. Their pain, misfortune, agony, hopelessness, and despair must become our own pain and concern. We should think, "What will become of these people? Will they remain like this in Hell eternally?"

+Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, from The Art of Salvation, Homily 12, Pain, Sorrow, and Love

Elder Ephraim of Philotheou: Talk only a little, and be watchful over thoughts

 Do not talk a lot. Stay away from back talk, quarreling, loquacity, and everything that issues from a careless tongue. Drive away evil thoughts and filthy fantasies from your mind as soon as they appear. For when the linger inside the mine and heart, they create a grave condition. Whereas when we are careful at the first appearance of the filthy fantasy and the filthy thought that follows, we remain in peace and enjoy the moral gratification of purity.

Therefore, my children, let us pay attention to ourselves every time various bad thoughts enter, because the same approach applies for every bad thought. Whatever kind is may be, when it finds the nous careless, it enters and creates - corresponding to the passion - the aforementioned unhealthy condition.

Therefore, since a monk is fought primarily by thoughts, the thing that saves him is watchfulness! Watchfulness (nepsis) is derived from the word "nēfo," that is, to be careful, vigilant, alert, and on our guard. When we are careful, vigilant, alert, and on our guard, the house of our soul will be well-kept and we shall save our souls for which we struggle our whole life.

+Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, from Counsels from the Holy Mountain, Chapter 14 On Thoughts Fantasies and Distractions, #9

Elder Ephraim of Philotheou: On Watchfulness

 Abba Paphnutios was a renowned desert father. One day as he was walking, he noticed two people committing a certain sin. A sinful though assailed him: "Look at the great evil they are doing!" He saw them with his own eyes and was immediately bombarded by this thought, which attempted to assault the saint's pure soul by pushing him either to criticize or to become scandalized. However, being practiced in watchfulness, he immediately perceived the assault and responded to himself, "They are sinning today; I will sin tomorrow. They will repent, but I am a hard-hearted, unrepentant, and prideful man. I will not repent, and I will end up in Hell. Truly, I am worse than these two people. I am full of passions; therefore, what can I say about these people who are less sinful than me?" By thinking this way, he brought the sinful invitation to a dead stop and avoided condemning the people who were transgressing.

He did not walk much further when an angel of God appeared before him, holding a double-edged sword dripping with blood. The angel asked him, "Paphnutios, do you see this sword? Do you see the blood that is dripping?"

"I see it, O angel of God."

"With this sword, I execute and behead them who judge their fellow man. Since you did not judge the two people who were indeed sinning - not just ones whom you suspected to be sinning, but whom you actually saw with your very own eyes - but condemned yourself instead, your name has been written in the book of eternal life."

+Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, from The Art of Salvation, homily 11 on Watchfulness, Prayer, and Confession