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

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

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.

Struggle until death to fulfill the commandments: purified through them, you will enter into life.

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

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

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

Beware of the counsels of the evil one, if he should come in the guise of one professing truth to beguile you and lead you into deceit. Even if he should come to you as an angel of light, do not believe him or obey him: for he is apt to fascinate the faithful by the attractive semblance of truth.

The blacksmith, who pounds a piece of iron, has previously thought about what he wants to make- a sickle, a knife, an axe - and works accordingly. And so let the man of God ponder in advance which vir­tue he wishes to acquire, in order not to toil aimlessly.

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

Long-suffering and readiness to forgive curb anger; love and compassion wither it.

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

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

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

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

If you lay down rules for yourself, do not disobey yourself; for he who cheats himself is self-deluded.

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

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

Praise God continually with spiritual hymns and always remain in meditation and in this way you will be able to bear the burden of the temptations that come upon you. A traveler who is carrying a heavy load pauses from time to time and draws in deep breaths; it makes the journey easier and the burden lighter.

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)