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

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

The greatest weapons of someone striving to lead a life of inward stillness are self-control, love, prayer, and spiritual reading.

The intellect becomes a stranger to the things of this world when its attachment to the senses has been completely sundered.

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

A human being who does not endure courageously the unpleasant burdens of temptations, will never produce fruit worthy of the divine wine-press and eternal harvest, not even if one possesses all other virtues. For one is only perfected through zealously enduring both all the voluntary and involuntary afflictions.

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

Lack of self-control is actually an evil both ancient and modern, though it did not precede its antidote, fasting. By means of our Forefathers' self-indulgence in paradise and their contempt for the fast already in existance there, death entered the world. Sin reigned and brought in the condemnation of our nature from Adam until Christ.

All sin is due to sensual pleasure, all forgiveness to hardship and distress.

Grace comes immediately to meet some of those who strive, giving them assurance of the earnest of their inheritance, (Eph. 1:14), letting them taste the promised prizes, as if stretching out a loving hand to welcome them and anointing them for further struggles. With others, however, grace waits for the end of the struggle, and prepares for them the crown of patience as well. As one of the God-bearing Fathers says, 'some receive holy rewards before their labors, some during their labors, and some when they depart.'

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

If you are not willing to repent through freely choosing to suffer, unsought sufferings will providentially be imposed on you.

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

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

If, wishing to correct another, you are moved to anger, you gratify your own passion. Do not lose yourself in order to save another.

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

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

It is pointless for someone to say that he has faith in God if he does not have works which go with faith. What benefit were their lamps to the foolish virgins who had no oil (Matt. 25: 1-13), namely, deeds of love and compassion?

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

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

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[email protected]
440-526-5192 (Phone)