Wisdom From Mount Athos is a compilation of sayings from Saint Silouan, a Russian ascetic who lived in Mount Athos around the early 20th century. His disciple, Saint Sophrony of Essex, is responsible for publishing Saint Silouan’s notes and other writings for us to read. (I have also reviewed Saint Sophrony’s book On Prayer.)

The book itself is a slim volume with simply-worded and divinely-inspired thoughts and precepts. The faith that Saint Silouan shares stems from the “basic” teaching of loving God, neighbor, and enemy, but it’s quite difficult to put into practice. He shows that faith does not have to be an arduous intellectual exercise.

3 signs your faith is strong How may we know whether the Lord loves us or no?

Here are tokens: If you battle firmly against sin the...