A Guide to Spiritual Life (Part II)

My beloved spiritual life in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

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A GUIDE TO SPIRITUAL LIFE (II)
How to Remain in Communion With God

There are many necessary elements for remaining in communion with God. Among the chief are:

• Regular attendance at Sunday Divine Liturgy, as well as consistent participation in the Feasts and fasts of the Church year.

• Maintaining a daily prayer rule (for a basic outline; see Morning Prayers and Evening Prayers on pages 755 to 761 in the Orthodox Study Bible).

• Daily reading and study of the Holy Scripture.

• Regularly partaking of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion).

• Regular repentance and confession of sins.

Spiritual Helps in the Examination of Your Conscience

1. Pride: the lack of humility befitting a creature of God

2. Creed: too great a desire for money or worldly goods.

3. Lust: impure and unworthy desire for something evil.

4. Anger: unworthy irritation and lack of self-control.

5. Gluttony: the habit of eating or drinking too much.

6. Envy: jealousy of some other person's happiness.

7. Sloth: laziness that keeps us from doing our duty to God and man.

The Seven Capital Virtues

The seven capital virtues are the opposite of the seven grievous sins.

1. Humility

2. Liberality

3. Chastity

4. Mildness

5. Temperance

6. Contentment

7. Diligence

The Works of the Flesh

1. Adultery

2. Fornication

3. Uncleaness

4. Licentiousness

5. Idolatry

6. Sorcery

7. Hatred

8. Contentions

9. Jealousies

10. Outbursts of wrath

11. Selfish ambitions

12. Disssensions

13. Heresies

14. Envy

15. Murders

16. Drunkenness

17. Revelries

(See Galatians 5:19-21)

Nine Ways of Participating in Another's Sin

1. By counsel.

2. By command.

3. By consent.

4. By provocation.

5. By praise or flattery.

6. By concealment.

7. By partaking

8. By silence.

9. By defense of the sin committed.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

1. Love.

2. Joy.

3. Peace

4. Longsuffering.

5. Kindness.

6. Goodness.

7. Faithfulness.

8. Gentleness.

9. Self-control.

10. Modesty.

11. Continence.

12. Chastity.

(See Galatians 5:22, 23)

The Three Theological Virtues

1. Faith.

2. Hope.

3. Love

(See 1 Corinthians 13:13)

The Chief Aids to Penitence

1. Prayer.

2. Fasting.

3. Performance of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

(See Matthew 6:1-18)

The Chief Corporal Works of Mercy

1. To feed the hungry.

2. To give drink to the thirsty.

3. To shelter the homeless.

4. To clothe the naked

5. To visit those in prison.

6. To visit the sick.

7. To bury the dead.

(See Matthew 25:34-45)

(Source:  Orthodox Study Bible)

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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostom

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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George