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

Having withdrawn from the palace to the solitary life, Abba Arsenius prayed and heard a voice saying to him, 'Arsenius, flee, be silent, pray always, for these are the source of sinlessness.'

Our own will is like a wall of brass between us and God, preventing us from coming near to Him or contemplating His mercy.

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

If you pile up on one side of the scales all the works demanded by ascetic life, and on the other side-silence, you will find that the latter outweighs the former. Many good counsels have been given us, but if a man embraces silence, to follow them will become superfluous.

It seems to me that, in all cases when indignity is offered to us, we should be silent; for it is our moment of profit.

Do not want things to turn out as you would like, but want whatever happens. That way you will be at peace with everyone.

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.

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

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

I shall indicate to you the most direct and simple method to acquire the habit of silence: ...reflect as often as you can on the pernicious results of indiscriminate babbling and on the salutary results of wise silence. When you come to taste the good fruit of silence, you will no longer need lessons about it.

Control your appetites before they control you.

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

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

Silence of the lips is better and more wonderful than any edifying conversation. Our fathers embraced it with reverence and were glorified through it.

The lover of silence draws close to God. He talks to Him in secret and God enlightens him.

Apt silence bridles anger.

If you are praised, be silent. If you are scolded, be silent. If you incur losses, be silent. If you receive profit, be silent. If you are satiated, be silent. If you are hungry, also be silent. And do not be afraid that there will be no fruit when all dies down; there will be! Not everything will die down. Energy will appear; and what energy!

No one can be saved without the renunciation of his will, even though he might struggle fervently, for our will and our manner are like a bronze wall between us and God.

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Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

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