• Propound to thyself (if thou beest in a capacity) a constant rule of living, of eating and drinking: which though it may not be fit to observe scrupulously, lest it become a snare to thy conscience, or endanger thy health upon every accidental violence; yet let not thy rule be broken often nor much, but upon great necessity and in small degrees.

    —Rev. Jeremy Taylor, On Christian Sobriety – Rules for obtaining temperance., The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, Volume 3. THE RULE AND EXERCISES OF HOLY LIVING AND DYING….: The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying

  • Be severe in your judgment concerning your proportions, and let no occasion make you enlarge far beyond your ordinary. For a man is surprised by parts; and while he thinks one glass more will not make him drunk, that one glass hath disabled him from well discerning his present condition and neighbour danger. 

    —Rev. Jeremy Taylor, On Christian Sobriety – Rules for obtaining temperance., The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, Volume 3. THE RULE AND EXERCISES OF HOLY LIVING AND DYING….: The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying

  • Be not often present at feasts, nor at all in dissolute company, when it may be avoided; for variety of pleasing objects steals away the heart of man; and company is either violent or enticing; and we are weak or complying, or perhaps desirous enough to be abused. But if you be unavoidably or indiscreetly engaged, let not mistaken civility or good nature engage thee either to the temptation of staying (if thou understandest thy weakness) or the sin of drinking inordinately.

    —Rev. Jeremy Taylor, On Christian Sobriety -Rules for obtaining temperance., The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, Volume 3. THE RULE AND EXERCISES OF HOLY LIVING AND DYING….: The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying

  • They that are learned know the worth of time, and the manner how well to improve a day; and they are to prepare themselves for such purposes in which they may be most useful in order to arts or arms, to counsel in public, or government in their country: but for others of them that are unlearned, let them choose good company, such as may not tempt them to a vice, or join with them in any; but that may supply their defects by counsel and discourse, by way of conduct and conversation. Let them learn easy and useful things, read history and the laws of the land, learn the customs of their country, the condition of their own estate, profitable and charitable contrivances of it: let them study prudently to govern their families, learn the burdens of their tenants, the necessities of their neighbours, and in their proportion supply them, and reconcile their enmities, and prevent their law-suits, or quickly end them; and in this glut of leisure and disemployment, let them set apart greater portions of their time for religion and the necessities of their souls.

    —Rev. Jeremy Taylor, CARE OF OUR TIME. -Rules for employing our time…, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, Volume 3. THE RULE AND EXERCISES OF HOLY LIVING AND DYING….: The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying

  • Divert them [sensual desires] with some laudable employment, and take off their edge by inadvertency, or a not-attending to them. For since the faculties of a man cannot, at the same time, with any sharpness, attend to two objects, if you employ your spirit upon a book or a bodily labor, or any innocent and indifferent employment, you have no room left for the present trouble of a sensual temptation.

    —Rev. Jeremy Taylor, On Christian Sobriety – Rules for suppressing Voluptuousness., The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, Volume 3. THE RULE AND EXERCISES OF HOLY LIVING AND DYING….: The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying

  • He looked at me in a reprimanding manner and whispered, “Mariam, do you know the circumstances of every person? I won’t reveal the secrets of this woman, but when you are targeted with a thought about something that does not concern you, tell yourself, ‘This is not my business; I should mind my own business.’”

    A Spring in Sinai: Hieromartyr Mina Abood: His Life, Miracles, and Martyrdom in Post-Revolution Egypt
    Anthony Marcos

  • If you’ve been taught that it is okay to be in this self-sacrificed type of environment and stay away from relationships, you will never, ever grow. That is not spirituality.

    That spirituality that says, I’m going to be on my own—read, pray, do whatever, and I don’t care about anybody else—you are not part of the body of Christ. You are dismembering yourself from the body of Christ.

    —Fr. Paul Girguis, Redeeming the Time: Setting Boundaries

  • Do not easily speak things in confidence. Do you think that someone else will understand better than God?

    –a Cartusian

  • Among the many things he taught me, I learned that I must only actively seek to vent my problems, thoughts, doubts, fears, concerns, and anxieties to God. I must not seek out people, since every troubling issue lies within His hand and is resolved by Him alone.

    A Spring in Sinai: Hieromartyr Mina Abood: His Life, Miracles, and Martyrdom in Post-Revolution Egypt
    Anthony Marcos

  • Above all, he was described as never starting or partaking in a conversation that included speaking ill of a coworker; he was keen on never falling into gossip. Every coworker Saleeb dealt with felt that he became a personal friend to them. This allowed them to feel comfortable enough to open up to him and seek his advice regarding their personal issues.

    A Spring in Sinai: Hieromartyr Mina Abood: His Life, Miracles, and Martyrdom in Post-Revolution Egypt
    Anthony Marcos