On Those Who Think They Are Made Righteous by Works: 226 Texts

A companion to On the Spiritual Law — 226 texts addressing the subtle error of thinking spiritual progress is earned through human effort alone. Mark insists that all genuine spiritual growth is a gift of grace, even when it comes through disciplined practice.

The text is a sustained argument against spiritual pride disguised as devotion. Especially valuable for serious practitioners who may be tempted to measure their progress by the quantity of their ascetic effort rather than by the quality of their dependence on God. If you find yourself keeping score — how many prostrations, how many hours of prayer, how many days of fasting — read this next.