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

The arrows of the enemy cannot touch one who loves quietness; but he who moves about in a crowd will often be wounded.

Every man that loves God loves a quiet life.

Just as a moth devours clothing and a worm devours wood, so dejection devours a man’s soul.

Nothing is better for rendering the heart penitent and the soul humble than wise solitude and complete silence.

A fish swiftly escapes a hook and a sensual soul shuns solitude.

As work according to God is called virtue, so unexpected affliction is called a test.

Solitude offers us an excellent opportunity for calming our passions and giving our reason time to remove them thoroughly from our soul. For just as wild animals can be soothed by being stroked, so all our anger, fear and stress, which poison and disrupt our soul, can be soothed by an atmosphere of peace where the freedom from constant disturbance ensures that our soul can be brought more easily under the power of reason.

Nothing so fills the heart with contrition and humbles the soul as solitude embraced with self-awareness, and utter silence.

When tested by some trial you should try to find out not why or through whom it came, but only how to endure it gratefully, without distress or rancor.

Grace always precedes temptation, as if to notify you saying, 'Prepare yourself and lock your doors.'

Knowing the exact nature of everything, God permits each person to be tested according to his strength. As St. Paul puts it: 'God is to be trusted not to let you be tried beyond your strength, but with the trial He will provide a way out, so that you are able to bear it' (1 Cor. 10:13).

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)