if you remember only one thing . . .

Bishop Ignaty has a lot of good advice in The Arena: An Offering to Contemporary Monasticism. Perhaps one of his most important instructions comes in the short section at the end, on "Rules of Outward Conduct for Novices":

27. In case of necessity, superfluous phlegm should be carefully gathered in a handkerchief and not spat on the floor with an indecent noise. One should not cough and blow one's nose loudly. These and other similar natural needs should be done quietly and decently. Snuff should not be used in church. . . .

It doesn't seem like these remarks need much comment. He does go on to say, "In fact, those entering the monastic order should give up the use of tobacco entirely," lest anyone think that he objects to it only in church.