![]() the man who purifies the eye of his soul will enjoy an immediate vision of God. This is the doctrine of the saints as expressed by Saint Gregory of Nyssa. When man’s heart is purified from all evil, it naturally shines with the light of God, since God dwells in the soul. In the spiritual tradition of the Orthodox Church, purity of heart is an essential condition for union with God. For she, in her simple purity, could say to God: “Let it be to me according to Your word” (cf. For this reason she is “full of grace” and the Lord is with her. For this reason all generations call her blessed. For this reason God regarded her humility and did great things for her. The holy Virgin is “all-pure” not merely because of her bodily continence, but also because of her spiritual soundness. It is for this reason that Christ’s mother Mary is the image of perfect purity. To will but one thing, the light of the Lord in the depth of one’s soul, is to live in utter purity. To seek but one thing, the face of the Lord, is purity of heart. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord The pure in heart are those who can say with the psalmist: The pure in heart are those whose eyes are sound. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! (Mt 7.22–23). So if your eye is sound, your body will be full of light but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. In another place in His Sermon on the Mount, the Lord has said: It means to be totally liberated from anything which captivates and darkens the soul so that it cannot reflect and shine with the pure light of God. It means to be totally free from anything which blinds and darkens the mind so that it cannot see things clearly and honestly. Purity of heart means to be free of all wicked motivations and sinful intentions, and to have no unworthy interests and self-seeking desires. ![]() “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5.8). Work of the Church Liturgical Music & Texts, News, Media, Reflections, Publications.Directories Dioceses, Parishes, Clergy, Monasteries, Seminaries. ![]()
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