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.

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

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

If anyone wants to drive out the demons, he must first subdue the passions, for he will banish the demon of the passion which he has mastered. For example, the devil accompanies anger; so it you control your anger, the devil of anger will be banished. And so it is with each of the passions.

The desire for possessions is dangerous and terrible, knowing no satiety; it drives the soul which it controls to the heights of evil. Therefore, let us drive it away vigorously from the beginning. For once it has become master it cannot be overcome.

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

The way of humility is this: self-control, prayer, and thinking yourself inferior to all creatures.

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

Control your stomach, sleep, anger, and tongue, and you will not 'dash your foot against a stone.'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spiritual freedom is release from the passions; without Christ’s mercy you cannot attain it.

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)