55 Maxims (Fr Tom Hopko)
I received these 55 maxims from Fr. Thomas Hopko in a Christmas card (Nativity 2008). These maxims are posted in many different places on the web. (Click here to hear Fr. Tom's podcast about these 55 maxims. It seems Father Tom revised the list in his later years. Click here for a slightly revised version.) Several years ago, I organized the 55 maxims into seven sets to facilitate weekly meditation. Even though I’ve been meditating on these maxims for years, I never cease to appreciate how these maxims distill the most important counsels contained in Scripture and the writings of the Church fathers. I want these maxims to shape my life every day. Many thanks to Fr. Tom for creating and sharing this treasure. - The Webmaster
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
1. Be always with Christ and trust God in everything
1. Be always with Christ and trust God in everything
2. Pray as you can, not as you think you must
2. Pray as you can, not as you think you must
3. Have a keepable rule of prayer done by discipline
3. Have a keepable rule of prayer done by discipline
4. Say the Lord’s Prayer several times each day
4. Say the Lord’s Prayer several times each day
5. Repeat a short prayer when your mind is not occupied
5. Repeat a short prayer when your mind is not occupied
6. Make some prostrations when you pray
6. Make some prostrations when you pray
7. Eat good foods in moderation and fast on fasting days
7. Eat good foods in moderation and fast on fasting days
MONDAY
MONDAY
8. Practice silence, inner and outer
8. Practice silence, inner and outer
9. Sit in silence 20 to 30 minutes each day
9. Sit in silence 20 to 30 minutes each day
10. Do acts of mercy in secret
10. Do acts of mercy in secret
11. Go to liturgical services regularly
11. Go to liturgical services regularly
12. Go to confession and holy communion regularly
12. Go to confession and holy communion regularly
13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings
13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings
14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings to a trusted person regularly
14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings to a trusted person regularly
15. Read the scriptures regularly
15. Read the scriptures regularly
16. Read good books, a little at a time
16. Read good books, a little at a time
TUESDAY
TUESDAY
17. Cultivate communion with the saints
17. Cultivate communion with the saints
18. Be an ordinary person, one of the human race
18. Be an ordinary person, one of the human race
19. Be polite with everyone, first of all family members
19. Be polite with everyone, first of all family members
20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home
20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home
21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby
21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby
22. Exercise regularly
22. Exercise regularly
23. Live a day, even a part of a day, at a time
23. Live a day, even a part of a day, at a time
24. Be totally honest, first of all with yourself
24. Be totally honest, first of all with yourself
WEDNESDAY
WEDNESDAY
25. Be faithful in little things
25. Be faithful in little things
26. Do your work, then forget it
26. Do your work, then forget it
27. Do the most difficult and painful things first
27. Do the most difficult and painful things first
28. Face reality
28. Face reality
29. Be grateful
29. Be grateful
30. Be cheerful
30. Be cheerful
31. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small
31. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small
32. Never bring attention to yourself
32. Never bring attention to yourself
33. Listen when people talk to you
33. Listen when people talk to you
34. Be awake and attentive, fully present where you are
34. Be awake and attentive, fully present where you are
THURSDAY
THURSDAY
35. Think and talk about things no more than necessary
35. Think and talk about things no more than necessary
36. Speak simply, clearly, firmly, directly
36. Speak simply, clearly, firmly, directly
37. Flee imagination, fantasy, analysis, figuring things out
37. Flee imagination, fantasy, analysis, figuring things out
38. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance
38. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance
39. Don’t complain, grumble, murmur or whine
39. Don’t complain, grumble, murmur or whine
40. Don’t seek or expect pity or praise
40. Don’t seek or expect pity or praise
41. Don’t compare yourself with anyone
41. Don’t compare yourself with anyone
FRIDAY
FRIDAY
42. Don’t judge anyone for anything
42. Don’t judge anyone for anything
43. Don’t try to convince anyone of anything
43. Don’t try to convince anyone of anything
44. Don’t defend or justify yourself
44. Don’t defend or justify yourself
45. Be defined and bound by God, not people
45. Be defined and bound by God, not people
46. Accept criticism gracefully and test it carefully
46. Accept criticism gracefully and test it carefully
47. Give advice only when asked or when it is your duty
47. Give advice only when asked or when it is your duty
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
48. Do nothing for people that they can and should do for themselves
48. Do nothing for people that they can and should do for themselves
49. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice
49. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice
50. Be merciful with yourself and others
50. Be merciful with yourself and others
51. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath
51. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath
52. Focus exclusively on God and light, and never on darkness, temptation & sin
52. Focus exclusively on God and light, and never on darkness, temptation & sin
53. Patiently endure your faults and sins peacefully, under God’s mercy
53. Patiently endure your faults and sins peacefully, under God’s mercy
54. When you fall, get up immediately and start over
54. When you fall, get up immediately and start over
55. Get help when you need it, without fear or shame
55. Get help when you need it, without fear or shame