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

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

But a sober and prudent man who desires to be saved, when he sees from what it is that he suffers harm, carefully preserves himself from evil remembrances, is not drawn into passionate thoughts, avoids meetings and conversations with those for whom he feels attraction and avoids every occasion for sin, fearing lest he himself ignite a fire within himself. This is the warfare which proceeds from one’s own lust, which a man brings on himself

My brother, the passions are afflictions; and so the Lord does not excommunicate us because of them, but He says: 'Call upon me in the time of affliction; and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me'. Therefore, when beset by any kind of passion, there is nothing more useful than to call upon the Name of God. All we can do, weak as we are, is to flee for refuge to the Name of Jesus. For the passions, being demons, retreat if this Name is invoked.

A wise man is one who pays attention to himself and is quick to separate himself from all defilement.

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

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

Give thanks to God for all things, because thanksgiving is intercession before God for our weakness. Judge yourself always and in everything as a sinner and as one seduced - and so God will not judge you; be humble in everything and you will receive grace.

During a time of disturbance and warfare of thoughts, one should lessen a little even the ordinary quantity of food and drink.

Love and self-control purify the soul.

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

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

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

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

The study of divine principles teaches knowledge of God to the person who lives in truth, longing and reverence.

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

He who smells the smell of one's own foul odor doesn't smell the foul odor of anyone else.

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).

Concerning fasting, do not grieve, as I have said to you before: God does not demand of anyone labors beyond his strength. And indeed, what is fasting if not a punishment of the body in order to humble a healthy body and make it infirm for passions, according to the word of the Apostle: 'When I am weak, then am I strong' (II Corinthians 12:10).

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)