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

Our enemies (demons) fell because of their pride, and call us to follow them, and bring us feelings of praise. And if your soul accepts that praise, then grace will depart, until the soul becomes humble again. And so all your life you must learn the humility of Christ.

A treasure that is known is quickly spent: and even so any virtue that is commented on and made a public show of is destroyed. Even as wax is melted before the face of fire, so is the soul enfeebled by praise, and loses the toughness of its virtue.

A true monk does no reproach and does not praise.

Whoever reproaches us gives us a gift, but whoever praises us, steals from us.

How harmful is the praise of man! Even though a person may have done something worthy of praise, when he enjoys the sound of praise he is already deprived of future glory, according to teachings of the holy fathers.

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

Pay no attention to praise and fear it; remember what one of the holy fathers says: 'If someone praises you, expect reproaches from him too.'

Fear of the Lord conquers desire, and distress that accords with God's will repulses sensual pleasure.

If they will praise you, you must remain silent—do not say anything.

People of high spirit bear offence nobly and gladly, but only the holy and righteous can pass through praise without harm.

Control your appetites before they control you.

It is a great work to shake from the soul the praise of men, but to reject the praise of demons is greater.

The vain desires of this world separate us from our homeland; love of them and habit clothe our soul as if in a hideous garment. We, traveling on the journey of this life and calling on God to help us, ought to be divesting ourselves of this hideous garment and clothing ourselves in new desires, in a new love of the age to come, and thereby to receive knowledge of how near or how far we are from our heavenly homeland.

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

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440-526-5192 (Phone)