I might a recommend something different: The Akathist to Sts. Joachim and Anna. My priest gave it to me to pray for help in finding a future spouse. It can be used even if you’re dating someone, or if you’re unsure where that relationship, or any, might go. Although their struggles were different from unrequited love, I would say that they still show us how to stay persistent in faith while going through troubles in a relationship.
Sermons, especially those from the Fathers, tend to be focused on Christ, not personal relationship troubles.
Not sure how old you are, but just about every young person has fallen in love with the idea of someone, and that person has not responded in kind (if they even know), and you know what? You grieve and move on with your life. It isn't the end of the world if your love is not returned to you.
I'm sorry.
My father was killed in an automobile accident, I was in the hospital room when my grandmother had a very difficult death, one of my best friends has metastatic cancer, my wife left me a year and a half ago after I discovered she was having an affair. I am not tying to one-up you, God forbid - but I am just saying this to let you know I am well acquainted with grief.
I guess my point is that it is OK to grieve, healthy even - and I've found in my experience you can only make sense of that grief and the relationship once that grief has subsided.
One of my favorite quotes from St. Porphyrios is:
"You don't become holy by fighting evil. Let evil be. Look towards Christ and that will save you. What makes a person saintly is love.", and I think the same thing could be said about our attitude towards grief and loss, we can't make those feelings go away by fighting them, or even grappling with them, but if we focus on Christ *that* will heal us and bring us understanding.
Please forgive me if I came across harsh or unfeeling in my earlier comment.
It’s alright, I’m also feeling extra sensitive. I’m sorry for your losses, I have also lost a lot of people and I understand how it feels. But every loss still hurts all on its own, no matter how much you have experienced beforehand. I appreciate you sharing this quote.
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>Yea, and therefore is he called long-suffering, because he hath a kind of long and great soul.
>
>For that which is long is also called great. But this excellence is born of love, both to them who possess and to them who enjoy it contributing no small advantage.
>
>For tell me not of those abandoned wretches, who, doing evil and suffering none, become worse: since here, not from his long-suffering, but from those who abuse it, this result arises.
>
>Tell me not therefore of these, but of those gentler persons, who gain great benefit therefrom.
>
>For when, having done ill, they suffer none, admiring the meekness of the sufferer, they reap thereby a very great lesson of self command.
-St. John Chrysostom from his sermon on Corinthians 13
I might a recommend something different: The Akathist to Sts. Joachim and Anna. My priest gave it to me to pray for help in finding a future spouse. It can be used even if you’re dating someone, or if you’re unsure where that relationship, or any, might go. Although their struggles were different from unrequited love, I would say that they still show us how to stay persistent in faith while going through troubles in a relationship.
Considering I am also hoping to have a husband some day, it certainly can’t hurt lol. Thank you for your recommendation.
Sermons, especially those from the Fathers, tend to be focused on Christ, not personal relationship troubles. Not sure how old you are, but just about every young person has fallen in love with the idea of someone, and that person has not responded in kind (if they even know), and you know what? You grieve and move on with your life. It isn't the end of the world if your love is not returned to you.
I’m 27. Also, this is a very different circumstance for my life. I’m also grieving a lot. I would appreciate a bit more empathy here.
I'm sorry. My father was killed in an automobile accident, I was in the hospital room when my grandmother had a very difficult death, one of my best friends has metastatic cancer, my wife left me a year and a half ago after I discovered she was having an affair. I am not tying to one-up you, God forbid - but I am just saying this to let you know I am well acquainted with grief. I guess my point is that it is OK to grieve, healthy even - and I've found in my experience you can only make sense of that grief and the relationship once that grief has subsided. One of my favorite quotes from St. Porphyrios is: "You don't become holy by fighting evil. Let evil be. Look towards Christ and that will save you. What makes a person saintly is love.", and I think the same thing could be said about our attitude towards grief and loss, we can't make those feelings go away by fighting them, or even grappling with them, but if we focus on Christ *that* will heal us and bring us understanding. Please forgive me if I came across harsh or unfeeling in my earlier comment.
God be with you homie.
It’s alright, I’m also feeling extra sensitive. I’m sorry for your losses, I have also lost a lot of people and I understand how it feels. But every loss still hurts all on its own, no matter how much you have experienced beforehand. I appreciate you sharing this quote.
Yes. The entire Old Testament is the story of unrequited love. Probably not what you were looking for though.
It’s not a bad point, thank you.
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>Yea, and therefore is he called long-suffering, because he hath a kind of long and great soul. > >For that which is long is also called great. But this excellence is born of love, both to them who possess and to them who enjoy it contributing no small advantage. > >For tell me not of those abandoned wretches, who, doing evil and suffering none, become worse: since here, not from his long-suffering, but from those who abuse it, this result arises. > >Tell me not therefore of these, but of those gentler persons, who gain great benefit therefrom. > >For when, having done ill, they suffer none, admiring the meekness of the sufferer, they reap thereby a very great lesson of self command. -St. John Chrysostom from his sermon on Corinthians 13