The road that leads to hell
Hell can't be made attractive, so the devil makes attractive the road that leads there.
Saint Basil the Great
I also purchased the Lilly one which also smells very sweet but more earthy. I think it aroma is earthy because its made with real lily oil. Incense is important to all Christians as “the smoke represents prayers going up to heaven, and the sweet aroma reminds people of the sweetness of God’s divine mercy” (Trigilio & Brighenti, 2022, p. 113). Accordingly, “on a more practical level, churches burned incense in the Middle Ages when they didn’t have decent air circulation,” air fresheners, cleaning products, and when “parishioners didn’t wear deodorant,” although this does not diminish its symbolic significance (Trigilio & Brighenti, 2022, p. 113). This incense was fresh and recently made as it was not dried out as you would get from products not made recently from other stores. This incense is an integral part of my private prayer life as it refocuses the function of my body through smell towards the Divine. Since I “can’t see, feel, smell, hear, or taster the internal action of divine grace entering (my) human soul” I use this incense as an “external symbol” to “perceive” my “soul receiving divine grace” through prayer (Trigilio & Brighenti, 2022, p. 109).
References:
Trigilio, J., Jr., & Brighenti, K. (2022). Catholicism for dummies (4th ed.). For Dummies.
This ancient and mysterious aroma smells very sweet. It’s a fragrance that I have never sensed before and that no cleaning product or major corporate store has ever replicated to my knowledge. Very sweet, chalky, almost cherry blossom? I cannot even describe it. Burning this incense is a historical tradition that “God (Himself) commanded” to Moses to do “on the altar before the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments” (Trigilio & Brighenti, 2022, p. 113). Like all Eastern Orthodox Catholics, I also find it essential to follow this ancient tradition of burning incense every day (Trigilio & Brighenti, 2022, p. 113). I break one coal into two pieces, and put a little bit of myrrh at the beginning and when it becomes ashes I add one nugget of this hesychast incense piece. This turns my whole room completely smoky during my prayers. Through this smell I am reminded “of the internal action of (the) invisible divine grace entering (my) human soul” (Trigilio & Brighenti, 2022, p. 106). I find that this scent truly bridges the gap “between the world of matter and spirit” (Trigilio & Brighenti, 2022, p. 105).
References:
Trigilio, J., Jr., & Brighenti, K. (2022). Catholicism for dummies (4th ed.). For Dummies.
I bought this book as I read an excerpt from it on Orthodox Christian Information Center. In it Elder Ephraim talked about being a soldier for Christ against sin and how “the pleasures of the world are obtained with toil and expenses, and after their momentary enjoyment, they are followed by various consequences” (Elder Ephraim of Arizona, 2020, p. 93). Also, he mentioned that "He (God) is training you for battle; He is drilling you, just like the soldiers who are trained through severe labors... they rush into the battle with the inner assurance that they know how to fight, and they are ready to sacrifice themselves for their cause and ideology" (Elder Ephraim of Arizona, 2020, p. 94). I was moved by his passion for our faith. That’s why I purchased this book. I have not found many authors with this red-hot iron type of passion for God. I also want that. He is a good role-model, who truly lived it behind closed doors with no scandals, without lying to his followers, and without manipulating anyone. Faith is voluntary.
Reference:
Elder Ephraim of Arizona. (2020). Counsels from the Holy Mountain: Selected from the letters and homilies of Elder Ephraim. St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox.
Isaac le Syrien est l'un des plus profonds intellectuels dont j'aie jamais entendu parler concernant la foi chrétienne. Il explique tous les mystères de la foi et descend dans les plus profonds abysses de la spiritualité.
Il dit : "Celui qui ne s'éloigne pas volontairement des causes des passions sera involontairement attiré par le péché. Les causes du péché sont : le vin, les femmes (le sexe opposé), les richesses et la vigueur du corps. Elles ne sont pas par nature des péchés, mais, en raison de la faiblesse humaine et de leur usage illégitime, la nature est facilement entraînée par elles vers divers péchés. C'est pourquoi une vigilance particulière est nécessaire à leur égard. Si tu te souviens constamment de ta faiblesse, tu ne franchiras pas les limites qu'impose cette vigilance" (Saint Isaac le Syrien, 2011, p. 94).
Il suggère aussi que la personne humble "se voit à ses propres yeux comme un pécheur, comme un homme de rien et méprisable. [Elle est capable de] pénétrer par la contemplation dans le mystère de toutes les natures spirituelles, [elle est capable de] posséder une grande sagesse concernant toute la création, et cependant elle se considère comme ne sachant absolument rien" dans ses tentatives ratées d’imiter le Christ (Saint Isaac le Syrien, 2011, p. 172-174).
Grâce à Saint Isaac, je me vois comme un "perdant" face au Christ qui a accompli toute justice, qui est la sagesse elle-même, et qui était si détaché du monde qu’il n’avait même pas de lit. Comme il dit : "Seigneur, accorde-moi d'être véritablement mort aux relations avec ce monde" pour que je ne désire (même) en pensée aucun de ses biens (Saint Isaac le Syrien, 2011, p. 291).
A great lip balm for when it is dry inside your house during winter due to the heaters or dehumidifier. All natural ingredients with a subtle candy smell to it. It actually heals the skin compared to the cheaper (petroleum jelly) lip balms that only puts shiny oil on your skin that never gets absorbed.
