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

A servant of the Lord is he who in body stands before men, but in mind knocks at Heaven with prayer.

Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it; then your heart will never be made captive by any earthly thing.

Where a fall has overtaken us, there pride has already pitched its tent; because a fall is an indication of pride.

I wish I could persuade spiritual persons that the way of perfection does not consist in many devices, nor in much cogitation, but in denying themselves completely and yielding themselves to suffer everything for the love of Christ. And if there is failure in this exercise, all other methods of walking in the spiritual way are merely a beating about the bush, and profitless trifling, although a person should have very high contemplation and communication with God.

Control your appetites before they control you.

Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of his death, pass no judgment, because the judgment of God is hidden from men. It has happened that men have sinned greatly in the open but have done greater deeds in secret, so that those who would disparage them have been fooled, with smoke instead of sunlight in their eyes.

Do not allow human respect to get in your way when you hear someone slandering his neighbor. Instead, say to him, 'Brother, stop it! I do worse things every day, so how can I criticize him?' You accomplish two things when you say this. You heal yourself and you heal your neighbor with one bandage.

Greater than baptism itself is the fountain of tears after baptism, even though it is somewhat audacious to say so. For baptism is the washing away of evils that were in us before, but sins committed after baptism are washed away by tears. As baptism is received in infancy, we have all defiled it, but we cleanse it anew with tears. And if God in His love for mankind had not given us tears, those being saved would be few indeed and hard to find.

He who has obtained the fear of the Lord has forsaken lying, having within himself an incorruptible judge – his own conscience.

It is not safe to swim in one's clothes, nor should a slave of passion touch theology.

He who has become aware of his sins has controlled his tongue, but a talkative person has not yet come to know himself as he should.

If you feel sweetness or compunction at some word of your prayer, dwell on it; for then our guardian angel is praying with us.

It seems to me that, in all cases when indignity is offered to us, we should be silent; for it is our moment of profit.

Meekness is an immovable state of soul which remains unaffected, whether in evil report or in good report, in dishonor or in praise.

Obedience is to give up one's own judgment but to do it with wise consultation.

Meekness is an unchangeable state of mind, which remains the same in honor and dishonor.

In the presence of an invisible spirit, the body becomes afraid; but in the presence of an angel, the soul of the humble is filled with joy. Therefore, when we recognize the presence from the effect, let us quickly hasten to prayer, for our good guardian has come to pray with us.

Some people living carelessly in the world have asked me: 'We have wives and are beset with social cares, and how can we lead the solitary life?' I replied to them: 'Do all the good you can; do not speak evil of anyone; do not steal from anyone; do not hate anyone; do not be absent from Divine services; do not offend anyone; do not wreck another man's domestic happiness, and be content with what your own wives can give you. If you behave in this way, you will not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven.'

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)