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

It is a sin to spend time idly.

Self-knowledge is a true idea of one's spiritual growth, and an unbroken remembrance of one's slightest sins.

Ease and idleness are the destruction of the soul and they can injure her more than the demons.

'The ancient Fathers,' a certain elder said, 'when their spiritual work became known to others, saw this not as a virtue, but as a sin.'

Compunction comes when you consider how much you have grieved God Who is so good, so sweet, so merciful, so kind, and entirely full of love; Who was crucified and suffered everything for us. When you meditate on these things and other things the Lord has suffered, they bring compunction.

The way to attain compunction is an attentive life. ‘The beginning of repentance comes from the fear of God and attention,’ as the holy martyr Boniface says.

Nothing is better than to realize one's weakness and ignorance, and nothing is worse than not to be aware of them.

Those who yield themselves to idleness and apathy, even though they may be spiritual and holy, hurl themselves into unnatural subjection to passions.

One who lives in idleness sins continually.

One who is capable of seeing himself is better than one who has been made worthy to see angels.

But if you give a strong body rest and ease and idleness, all the passions dwelling in the soul are intensified. Then, even if the soul has a great desire for good, even the very thought of the good that is desired will be taken from you.

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Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

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