A collection of scriptural meditations from Saints and Fathers of the Church.

Love and self-control purify the soul.

The person who is unaffected by the things of this world loves stillness; and he who loves no human thing loves all men.

In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek -- as it is said, 'Our God is a consuming fire' -- so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.

Spiritual reading and prayer purify the intellect, while love and self-control purify the soul's passionate aspect.

Worldly virtues promote human glory, spiritual virtues the glory of God.

It is an insult to the intelligence to be subject to what lacks intelligence and to concern itself with shameful desires.

Make the body serve the commandments, keeping it so far as possible free from sickness and sensual pleasure.

Do not neglect the practice of the virtues; if you do, your spiritual knowledge will decrease, and when famine occurs you will go down into Egypt (Genesis 41:57, 46:6).

Self-control and strenuous effort curb desire; stillness and intense longing for God wither it.

Patient endurance is the soul's struggle for virtue; where there is struggle for virtue, self-indulgence is banished.

He who fears God will pay careful attention to his soul and will free himself from communion with evil.

Just as desire and rage multiply our sins, so self-control and humility erase them.

Concern for one's soul means hardship and humility, for through these God forgives us all our sins.

Listlessness is an apathy of soul; and a soul becomes apathetic when sick with self-indulgence.

A treasure that is known is quickly spent: and even so any virtue that is commented on and made a public show of is destroyed. Even as wax is melted before the face of fire, so is the soul enfeebled by praise, and loses the toughness of its virtue.

Spiritual freedom is release from the passions; without Christ’s mercy you cannot attain it.

The person who listens to Christ fills himself with light; and if he imitates Christ, he reclaims himself.

It is better to eat meat and drink wine and not to eat the flesh of one's brethren through slander.

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Archangel Michael Orthodox Church
5025 E. Mill Rd
Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

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440-526-5192 (Phone)