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

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

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

Just as water when it squeezed on all sides shoots up above, so does the soul when it is pressed hard by dangers often rise to God and be saved.

It is a great work to shake from the soul the praise of men, but to reject the praise of demons is greater.

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.

Humility and the fear of God are above all virtues.

A man who has embraced poverty offers up prayer that is pure, while a man who loves possessions prays to material images.

If you do not learn to deny yourself, you can make no progress in perfection.

The fathers have laid down that psalmody is a weapon, and prayer is a wall, and honest tears are a bath; but blessed obedience in their judgment is confession of faith, without which no one subject to the passions will see the Lord.

Repentance is the renewal of baptism. Repentance is a contract with God for a second life. A penitent is a buyer of humility. Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort. Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care. Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair.

Obedience is absolute renunciation of our own life, clearly expressed in our bodily actions. Or, conversely, obedience is the mortification of the limbs while the mind remains alive. Obedience is unquestioning movement, voluntary death, a life free of curiosity, carefree danger, unprepared defense before God, fearlessness of death, a safe voyage, a sleeper’s progress. Obedience is the tomb of the will and the resurrection of humility. A corpse does not argue or reason as to what is good or what seems to be bad. For he who has devoutly put the soul of the novice to death will answer for everything. Obedience is an abandonment of discernment in a wealth of discernment.

The lover of silence draws close to God. He talks to Him in secret and God enlightens him.

The demons, murderers as they are, push us into sin. Or if they fail to do this, they get us to pass judgment on those who are sinning, so that they may defile us with the stain which we ourselves are condemning in another.

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

Stint your stomach and you will certainly lock your mouth, because the tongue is strengthened by an abundance of food. Struggle with all your might against the stomach and restrain it with all sobriety. If you labor a little, the Lord will also soon work with you.

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.

As galloping horses race one another, so a good community excites mutual fervor.

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

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)