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

The man who pets a lion may tame it, but the man who coddles the body makes it ravenous.

Just as one cannot buy education or artistic skills for any price without working at it, so one cannot attain the habit of exercising the virtues without zeal and diligence.

If you feel no pang in committing minor offences you will through them fall into major transgressions.

If however any one thinks that he is not being burned when sinning, to him the Scripture saith, Shall a man wrap up fire in his bosom, and not burn his clothes? For sin burns the sinews of the soul, and breaks the spiritual bones of the mind, and darkens the light of the heart.

The foundation of every virtue is the realization of human weakness.

Keep the body properly slim so that you reduce the burden of the heart's warfare, with full benefit to yourself.

Let work humble the body, and when the body is humbled the soul will be humble with it, so that it is truly said that bodily labors lead to humility.

The conscience is nature's book. He who applies what he reads there experiences God's help.

Greater therefore is the rejoicing of heaven over the sinner converted than upon the soul that remained just. A captain in battle will feel a warmer regard for the soldier who at first faltered and ran, and then had bravely fought back, than over the one who had never yielded yet had never thrust bravely forward. So will the farmer love more the fields that cleaned of their weeds now bear a fruitful yield, than the land which had never known thorns, yet had never yielded a bountiful crop.

Blessed is he who preaches virtue by means of his deeds. But if you say something that pertains to virtue, but do the opposite, this will not save you.

Virtue does not have a bell that rings to rouse your curiosity, to make you turn and see him. It is an immaterial gift of God.

Virtues are connected with suffering.

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

Do not be surprised that when you draw near to virtue, grievous and intense tribulations come to you on all sides: for virtue is not considered virtue, if it does not involve hard work.

There is nothing more burdensome and grievous then when conscience accuses us in anything, and there is nothing dearer then calmness and approval of the conscience.

Our flesh is an unfaithful friend.

Being delivered from bodily sins is not enough, we must also cleanse the inner energy which dwells in our souls.

Virtue can only be attained by unremitting effort.

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5025 E. Mill Rd
Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

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