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

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.

Patience is an unbroken labor of the soul which is never shaken by deserved or undeserved blows.

It is not safe to swim in one's clothes, nor should a slave of passion touch theology.

Sear your loins by abstaining from food, and prove your heart by controlling your speech, and you will succeed in bringing the desiring and incensive powers of your soul into the service of what is noble and good.

Love and humility form a holy pair; what the first builds, the second binds, thus preventing the building from falling asunder.

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

If it is a mark of extreme meekness, even in the presence of one’s offender, to be peacefully and lovingly disposed towards him in one’s heart, then it is certainly a mark of hot temper when a person continues to quarrel and rage against his offender, both by words and gestures, even when by himself.

He who has tasted the things on high easily despises what is below. But he who has not tasted the things above finds joy in possessions.

A little fire softens a large piece of wax. So, too, a small indignity often softens, sweetens and wipes away suddenly all the fierceness, insensibility and hardness of our heart.

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

Those who mourn and those who are insensitive are not subject to fear, but the cowardly often have become deranged. And this is natural. For the Lord rightly forsakes the proud that the rest of us may learn not to be puffed up.

I consider those fallen mourners more blessed than those who have not fallen and are not mourning over themselves; because as a result of their fall, they have risen by a sure resurrection.

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

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

Repentance raises the fallen, mourning knocks at the gate of Heaven, and holy humility opens it.

Until we have acquired true prayer, we are like those who introduce children to walking. Make the effort to raise up, or rather, to enclose your mind within the words of your prayer; and if, like a child, it gets tired and falters, raise it up again. The mind, after all, is naturally unstable, but the God Who can do everything can also give it firm endurance. Persevere in this, therefore, and do not grow weary...

Meekness consists in praying calmly and sincerely for a neighbor when he causes many turmoils.

Do not trust that because of abstinence you will not fall. One who had never eaten was cast from Heaven.

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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)