55 Maxims for Christian Living

All, Christ is in our midst!

This is a more complete list of Fr Thomas Hopko’s Maxims.
It is well worth printing and reviewing as needed.

55 Maxims for Christian Living
By Fr. Thomas Hopko

1. Be always with Christ.
2. Pray as you can, not as you want.
3. Have a keepable rule of prayer that you do by discipline.
4. Say the Lord's Prayer several times a day.
5. Have a short prayer that you constantly repeat when your mind is not occupied with other things.
6. Make some prostrations when you pray.
7. Eat good foods in moderation.
8. Keep the Church's fasting rules.
9. Spend some time in silence every day.
10. Do acts of mercy in secret.
11. Go to liturgical services regularly
12. Go to confession and communion regularly.
13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings. Cut them off at the start.
14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings regularly to a trusted person.
15. Read the scriptures regularly.
16. Read good books a little at a time.
17. Cultivate communion with the saints.
18. Be an ordinary person.
19. Be polite with everyone.
20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home.
21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby.
22. Exercise regularly.
23. Live a day, and a part of a day, at a time.
24. Be totally honest, first of all, with yourself.
25. Be faithful in little things.
26. Do your work, and then forget it.
27. Do the most difficult and painful things first.
28. Face reality.
29. Be grateful in all things.
30. Be cheerful.
31. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small.
32. Never bring attention to yourself.
33. Listen when people talk to you.
34. Be awake and be attentive.
35. Think and talk about things no more than necessary.
36. When we speak, speak simply, clearly, firmly and directly.
37. Flee imagination, analysis, figuring things out.
38. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance.
39. Don't complain, mumble, murmur or whine.
40. Don't compare yourself with anyone.
41. Don't seek or expect praise or pity from anyone.
42. We don't judge anyone for anything.
43. Don't try to convince anyone of anything.
44. Don't defend or justify yourself.
45. Be defined and bound by God alone.
46. Accept criticism gratefully but test it critically.
47. Give advice to others only when asked or obligated to do so.
48. Do nothing for anyone that they can and should do for themselves.
49. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice.
50. Be merciful with yourself and with others.
51. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath.
52. Focus exclusively on God and light, not on sin and darkness.
53. Endure the trial of yourself and your own faults and sins peacefully, serenely, because you know that God's mercy is greater than your wretchedness.
54. When we fall, get up immediately and start over.
55. Get help when you need it, without fear and without shame.

LENTEN WOCA SPONSORED RETREAT

The Washington Orthodox Clergy Association will be
sponsoring a Lenten Retreat on Saturday March 14 at Holy Apostles Greek
Orthodox Church in Shoreline. Mother Melania, from St. Barbara O.C.A. Monastery
in California will lead this retreat. Her topic will be on overcoming the passions. Fr. David
Hovik has heard Mother Melania at a recent Women's Retreat in California and says that
she is truly a remarkable speaker. Please mark your calendar. The details are
forthcoming; as soon as a flyer is distributed we'll post it on our website.

March and April Services

VESPERS: 6:30 PM
DIVINE LITURGY: 9:00 AM
Pre-Communion Prayers 8:30 AM
Choir Room Entrance (south side)
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
625 Elliott Ave Wenatchee, WA 98801

MARCH 13-14 Fr. Joseph
MARCH 20-21 Fr. Michael
APRIL 03-04 Fr. Joseph
APRIL 24-25 Fr. Michael