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

God is visiting you when tears come during prayer.

Lying is wiped out by the tortures of superiors; but it is finally destroyed by an abundance of tears.

What rain is for seeds tears are for those who are afflicted.

As writing is washed out by water, so sins can be washed out by tears.

Unless a man keeps the commandments of God, he cannot progress, even in a single virtue.

Greater than baptism itself is the fountain of tears after baptism, even though it is somewhat audacious to say so. For baptism is the washing away of evils that were in us before, but sins committed after baptism are washed away by tears. As baptism is received in infancy, we have all defiled it, but we cleanse it anew with tears. And if God in His love for mankind had not given us tears, those being saved would be few indeed and hard to find.

Such tears should be preserved... because they have great power and action in destroying and uprooting sins and passions.

He who wishes to purify his faults purifies them with tears, and he who wishes to acquire virtues, acquires them with tears; for weeping is the way the Scriptures and our Fathers give us, when they say 'Weep!' Truly, there is no other way than this.

For weeping delivers us from eternal fire and other future punishments, so the Fathers say.

Thus should we weep for the forgiveness of our sins. The words of the bearer of the purple should convince us of this: 'Going they went and wept, casting their seed; but coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves (Ps. 125:6);' as well as the words of St. Isaac the Syrian: 'Moisten your cheeks with the tears of your eyes, that the Holy Spirit may abide in you, and cleanse the filth of your malice. Move your lord with your tears, that He may help you' (homily 68).

Any man who thinks that he can solve his own problems is like a bird which intends to fly without wings.

Above all pray for the gift of tears...

In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire; at first they are choked by the smoke and cry, and by this means obtain what they seek -- as it is said, 'Our God is a consuming fire' -- so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard work.

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

Satiety of the stomach dries the tear sprints, but the stomach when dried produces these waters.

If you have received from God the gift of knowledge, however limited, beware of neglecting charity and temperance. They are virtues which radically purify the soul from passions and so open the way of knowledge continually.

In truth, the moisture in the eyes drains the anger in the heart.

Only the tears of repentance are able to cleanse the soul.

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

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