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

Self-control and strenuous effort curb desire; stillness and intense longing for God wither it.

Blessed stillness gives birth to blessed children: self-control, love and pure prayer.

Imitate the Publican and you will not be condemned with the Pharisee. Choose the meekness of Moses and you will find your heart which is a rock changed into a spring of water.

I think that for those living in community obedience is a greater virtue than chastity, however perfect. Chastity carries within it the danger of pride, but obedience has within it the promise of humility.

Self-control and strenuous effort curb desire; stillness and intense longing for God wither it.

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

Do not neglect the practice of the virtues; if you do, your spiritual knowledge will decrease, and when famine occurs you will go down into Egypt (Genesis 41:57, 46:6).

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

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

A dog is better than I am, for he has love and he does not judge.

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

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

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

In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek -- as it is said, 'Our God is a consuming fire' -- so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.

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

A treasure that is known is quickly spent: and even so any virtue that is commented on and made a public show of is destroyed. Even as wax is melted before the face of fire, so is the soul enfeebled by praise, and loses the toughness of its virtue.

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

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

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