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

Sorrows cleanse and polish a person.

In the humble God rejoices, but from the proud He is driven away; where there is humility, the glory of God shines forth.

We should not miss any chance to us to say the Jesus Prayer. We must not let our mind wander in vain things. In saying the Jesus Prayer one's mind finds rest and joy. It is like small children who for the whole day run around, shouting and playing and hitting each other. But the one thing that gives them rest and great joy is when at night they find themselves in their mother's arms. This way also one's mind instead of being scattered about, out to be devoted to mental prayer.

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

If you abandon God and are a slave to the passions, you cannot reap God's mercy.

Blessed stillness gives birth to blessed children: self-control, love and pure prayer.

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

According to the degree to which the intellect is stripped of the passions, the Holy Spirit initiates the intellect into the mysteries of the age to be.

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

Strive to love every man equally, and you will simultaneously expel all the passions.

He who guards his lips, watches over his soul; but he who is bold with his lips, dishonors himself. Silence gathers, but much talking scatters.

You were commanded to keep the body as a servant, not to be unnaturally enslaved to its pleasures.

The soul's health consists in dispassion and spiritual knowledge; no slave to sensual pleasure can attain it.

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

Fear of the Lord conquers desire, and distress that accords with God's will repulses sensual pleasure.

Have great concern for these portals the eyes. Most robbers enter through these portals to overthrow the castle of the soul. Had the forefathers guarded their eyes, they would not have been exiled far from God and Paradise. 'The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good...' (Gn 3:6).

During the time of one’s confession not only the person who makes his confession is judged, but the confessor as well. In the past, confessors were practical. They did not judge on the basis of the seriousness of a transgression, but rather on the intent. They did not concentrate so much on the sins being confessed as on thinking of how to treat the repentant person’s soul.

Break the bonds of your friendship for the body and give it only what is absolutely necessary.

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)