Modesty of the Eyes

[Shin]

'"Avert the eyes lest ye behold vanity." (cf. Ps. 119:37)

. . . for license causes souls to perish.'

St. Poemen

'The indulgence of the eyes, if not productive of any other evil, at least destroys recollection during the time of prayer. For, the images and impressions caused by the objects seen before, or by the wandering of the eyes, during prayer, will occasion a thousand distractions, and banish all recollection from the soul. It is certain that without recollection a religious can pay but little attention to the practice of humility, patience, mortification, or of the other virtues. Hence it is her duty to abstain from all looks of curiosity, which distract her mind from holy thoughts. Let her eyes be directed only to objects which raise the soul to God. St. Bernard used to say, that to fix the eyes upon the earth contributes to keep the heart in heaven. "Where," says St. Gregory, "Christ is, there modesty is found." Wherever Jesus Christ dwells by love, there modesty is practiced. However, I do not mean to say that the eyes should never be raised or never fixed on any object. No; but they ought to be directed only to what inspires devotion, to sacred images, and to the beauty of creation, which elevate the soul to the contemplation of the divinity. Except in looking at such objects, a religious should in general keep the eyes cast down, and particularly in places where they may fall upon dangerous objects. In conversing with men, she should never roll the eyes about to look at them, and much less to look at them a second time.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Let your modesty be known to all men: the Lord is nigh.

Phil 4:5

'Scripture calls material things 'the world'; and worldly men are those who occupy their intellect with these things. It is such men that Scripture rebukes when it says: "Do not love the world or the things that are in the world. . . The desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and pride in one's possessions, are not of God but of the world." (cf. 1 John 2:15-16)'

St. Maximos the Confessor

'Watch over all your senses, and particularly over your eyes. By guarding the eyes, interior recollection may be acquired; for when we are at the window, or at the door, we may see what is going on outside, but not what is passing within; whereas, if we direct our attention to the interior of the house, we know nothing of what is passing without.'

St. Paul of the Cross

'Remember to guard your eyes, and be assured that the eyes that are mortified, shall behold the beauties of heaven.'

St. Gemma Galganni's Guardian Angel

In 'The True Spouse of Jesus Christ' and also in the new book mentioned on the coffee thread, St. Bernard's book on humility, custody of the eyes and curiosity are dealt with. Very good material for spiritual reading taken together I think. Good doses of holiness!  

[Shin]

I keep the phrase 'Avert the eyes lest ye behold vanity'. with me as I go outside.. I recommend it highly, it's done me great good. 

Think of an angel telling it to you and tell it to yourself!

[martin]

There's a very good sermon on Audio Sancto about this subject.
Custody of the eyes they describe it as.
What I like about these sermons is the fact that as well as advising you what to do, they also tell you how to do it.   

[Shin]

This sermon no?

It talks about the homesteading boom in the beginning.