"What evil generation is there that does not come from reproach? From this are born hatreds, from this come enmity and disagreement, from this arise evil suspicions, which give cause to innumerable evil" (Discourse on Psalm 100).

"He who loves slander serves the devil."

"As the preacher of the truth saves many people by his word, so, on the contrary, the slanderer destroys many with the same word, uttering words of perdition and hurling speeches at the immersion of men. Moreover, not only the slanderer of the body, but also the souls themselves, when with his flattering tongue he puts into them false and lawless opinions" (Discourse on Psalm 61).

"Not only should one blaspheme one's neighbor, but also those who blaspheme him should not be listened to" (Discourse 3 on the Departure of Bishop Flavian).

Such are the sayings of St. Chrysostom.

Consider this, you slanderers, who do not consider it a sin to slander and slander your neighbor.

93. In order to avoid these vices, it is useful to note the following: 1) Everyone should look at himself, and put his vices and sins before his eyes, and try to cleanse them: for for them he will be tormented before the judgment of God, if he does not repent. Such an examination of one's own sins will not allow us to seek out the vices of others. Just as a weak person, seeing his own weakness, cares for himself and not for others, so he who sees his own spiritual weakness tries to free himself from it, and first tries to correct himself rather than others, first to remove the beam from his own eye rather than the mote from his eye

his brother. 2) Remember that for such a condemnation he himself will be judged. 3) To guard against obscene conversations, in which people only talk and the name and honor of one or the other are tormented. 4) To distance oneself from those who have this evil habit, as from lepers, who harm others with their stinking smell. 5) To sympathize with a brother who has fallen or is falling in the spirit of love, and to act carefully from his fall, and to pray for him to the merciful God, that He may raise up the fallen, and

He did not allow you to fall into the same sin. 6) Those who have the evil habit of praying with the Psalmist: "Put a keeping, O Lord, with my mouth" (Psalm 140:3), and remember the reasons described above.

94. Those who endure slander and reproach should note the following for consolation: 1) Reproach and slander can be either righteous or false. Righteousness, when we are truly guilty of that of which we are reproached, and therefore worthy of suffering, why we must correct ourselves, so that the reproach may be abolished and become false. False reproach is when we are not guilty of that of which we are reproached: and this reproach must be endured with joy and comforted by the hope of God's eternal mercy. Moreover, although we are not guilty of what they revile us for, we have sinned in another, and therefore we must endure. 2) It may be that we ourselves have slandered and condemned someone, and therefore by what measure we measured, we are measured, according to the words of the Lord (Matt. 7:2), and "with what a man sins, by this he is tormented" (Wisdom 11:17). A tongue that speaks evil is punished by slander. 3) When love has dried up, hatred and malice have multiplied, they embitter one another, deceive each other, revile them, slander them: what more can you expect than anger in such a cruel time? 4) We humble ourselves with backbiting and slander; self-conceit, the arrogance of the Pharisees, and pride, like a lofty idol, are cast down in our hearts. Thus is given to us a tongue that speaks evil, as "an angel

Satan, who "doeth evil" to our flesh, so that "it may not be exalted," but submit to the spirit of humility (2 Corinthians 12:7). 5) Have recourse to the Holy Scriptures, the source of consolation, which everywhere patience blesses and strengthens. 6) Backbiting and dishonor come to you to the temptation of your heart, by which it is shown what is hidden in your heart: meekness or anger - such is the person who has accepted vexation as he is in his heart. This case is for you

he imagines what is hidden in your heart: meekness or anger. If there is meekness in the heart, you can easily endure reproach. If there is anger in the heart, from reproach follows the fire of rage and the desire for vengeance, and from backbiting, backbiting. And so reproach and slander teach you to know and correct the state of your heart. 7) Christ, the Son of God, sinless, innocently endured all reproaches and "left us an example, that we should follow His footsteps" (1 Peter 2:21). This image was followed by all the saints. Look to Christ and His saints, imitators, and receive the strength of patience. See below for more details.

Chapter 5: Of Lies, Flattery, and Deceit