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.

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

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

Keep the commandments, and you will find peace; love God, and you will attain spiritual knowledge.

In Christianity truth is not a philosophical concept nor is it a theory, a teaching, or a system, but rather, it is the living theanthropic hypostasis - the historical Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Before Christ men could only conjecture about the Truth since they did not possess it. With Christ as the incarnate divine Logos the eternally complete divine Truth enters into the world. For this reason the Gospel says: 'Truth came by Jesus Christ' (John 1:17).

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

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

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

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

Self-love -- that is, friendship for the body -- is the source of evil in the soul.

Fasting needn't be limited to abstinence from food alone, because true fasting is departure from evil deeds. Forgive your neighbor any insult, abstain from causing your neighbor offence, abstain from irritation, from senseless sorrows, from fear, wrath, and so on. ‘True fasting is alienation from evil, temperance of the tongue, setting aside of wrath, casting out of lust, idle talk, lies, and oath-breaking’…This is a true and pleasing fast for the Lord. Departing from these vices and from a corrupt state is what comprises a true fast.

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

Meekness and humility of heart are virtues without which it is impossible to inherit the Heavenly Kingdom, to be happy on earth, or to experience inner calm.

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

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

The more one reads and studies the Bible, the more he finds reasons to study it as often and as frequently as he can. According to St. John Chrysostom, it is like an aromatic root, which produces more and more aroma the more it is rubbed.

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

Peace of soul is acquired by perfect surrender to the Divine Will, without which nothing happens... He, in whose heart humility and meekness are reborn, will find true rest for his soul. He will be satisfied with everything, grateful for everything, peaceful and full of love for everybody. He will judge none and will feel no anger. His heart will be filled with divine sweetness, that is, he will feel in himself the Kingdom of God because God grants His grace only to the humble.

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

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