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

It is an insult to the intelligence to be subject to what lacks intelligence and to concern itself with shameful desires.

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

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

Worldly virtues promote human glory, spiritual virtues the glory of God.

When we turn our spirit from the contemplation of God, we become the slaves of carnal passions.

Love and self-control purify the soul.

I wish to commemorate one person who spoke of their noble testimony because I am close to Ibora, the village and resting place of these forty martyrs' remains. Here the Romans keep a register of soldiers, one of whom was a guard ordered by his commander to protect against invasions, a practice common to soldiers in such remote areas. This man suffered from an injured foot which was later amputated. Being in the martyrs' resting place, he earnestly beseeched God and the intercession of the saints. One night there appeared a man of venerable appearance in the company of others who said, 'Oh soldier, do you want to be healed [J.167] of your infirmity? Give me your foot that I may touch it.' When he awoke from the dream, his foot was completely healed. Once he awoke from this vision, his foot was restored to health. He roused the other sleeping men because he was immediately cured and made whole. This man then began to proclaim the miracle performed by the martyrs and acknowledged the kindness bestowed by these fellow soldiers.... We who freely and boldly enter paradise are strengthened by the [martyrs'] intercession through a noble confession in our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

We are sons of God or of Satan according to whether we conform to goodness or to evil.

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

Obedience responds to obedience. When someone obeys God, then God obeys his request.

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

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

Patient endurance is the soul's struggle for virtue; where there is struggle for virtue, self-indulgence is banished.

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

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

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

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

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

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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)