A Brief Rule for a Pious Life

 A Brief Rule for a Pious Life

Righteous Alexei Mechev of Moscow (+1923)

Compel yourself to rise early and at a set time. Without special reason, do not sleep more than seven hours. As soon as you awaken from sleep, immediately lift your mind to God and reverently make the sign of the cross, contemplating the crucified Lord Jesus Christ, who for our salvation died on the cross. At once rise from bed, dress, and do not allow yourself to linger long on a soft bed or remain undressed. While dressing, remember that you are in the presence of the Lord God and your Guardian Angel, and recall the fall of Adam, who through sin deprived himself of the garment of innocence, and humbly ask the Lord Jesus for the grace to clothe yourself in Him and to think, feel, speak, and act as He Himself thought, felt, spoke, and acted.

Then immediately begin your morning prayers; kneeling, pray quietly, attentively, reverently, and with the deepest humility, as is fitting before the sight of the Almighty. Ask Him for faith, hope, and love, and for His blessing on the tasks of the day. Pray for the strength to accept with good courage all that He sees fit to send or permit during that day, to endure all burdens, difficulties, misfortunes, disturbances, afflictions, sorrows, and illnesses of both soul and body with steadfastness and calmness, and with love for Jesus Christ. Resolve firmly to do everything for the Lord God, to accept everything from His paternal hand, and take a particular determination to do some specific good or to avoid some specific evil. Offer yourself wholly as a living sacrifice to God. Reflect thus: "Perhaps this day is the last day of my life," and do everything as you would if you were preparing to stand immediately before the judgment of God. Thank the Lord God for preserving you through the past night and for allowing you to live and not die in sin. How many people during the past night did death bring before the terrible judgment seat of the Lord! Also, give thanks to God that the time of grace and mercy is still granted to you, and that there is still time and means for repentance and for acquiring heaven. Each morning, consider yourself as just now beginning and desiring to be a Christian, and view all past time as having been lost in vain.

Dedicate at least a quarter of an hour each morning to brief contemplation of the truths of the faith, especially on the incomprehensible mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God, His Second Coming, the Last Judgment, torment, and paradise. After prayer and contemplation, if time allows, read some spiritual book, such as The Spiritual Alphabet by St. Dimitry or The Treasure Gathered from the World by St. Tikhon, and read until your heart is moved to compunction. Having sufficiently reflected on one passage, continue reading and pay close attention to what the Lord speaks to your heart.

After this, attend to your tasks, and let all your activities and work be for the glory of God. Remember that God sees you everywhere; He observes all your actions, endeavors, feelings, thoughts, and desires, and He will generously reward you for your good deeds. Do not begin any task without praying to the Lord God, for what we do or say without prayer often turns out to be either sinful or harmful and reproaches us through its consequences in ways we cannot foresee. The Lord Himself said, "Without Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Amid your labors, always remain cheerful and at peace, entrusting the success of your work to the blessing of the Lord and being content that you have done your part. Perform all that is burdensome to you as a penance for your sins—in the spirit of obedience and humility. During your work, recite short prayers, especially the Jesus Prayer, and imagine Jesus, who ate His bread by the sweat of His brow, laboring with Joseph.

If your labors are accomplished successfully, according to the desire of your heart, thank the Lord God; but if they are unsuccessful, remember that this too is allowed by God, and God does everything well. If there is time before lunch, reflect on how you have fulfilled what you resolved to do in the morning, during pious reading, or during contemplation.

During lunch, imagine the Heavenly Father opening His hand to feed you; never neglect prayer before your meal, and during it, envision Jesus dining with you. Share from your table with the poor. After the meal, consider yourself as one of the five thousand whom Jesus Christ miraculously fed, and thank Him from your heart. Pray that He will not deprive you of the heavenly nourishment of His Word and the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

If you desire a peaceful life, surrender yourself entirely to God. You will not find peace of soul until you rest in the One God, loving Him alone. Always and in all things, remember the Lord God and His holy love for us sinners. Strive in everything to fulfill God's will and to please God alone. Do nothing against the commandments of God, seek and desire nothing but God, doing and enduring all for Him. Do not concern yourself with being respected or loved by the people of this world, but rather with pleasing the Lord God and ensuring that your conscience does not accuse you of sin.

If you wish to remember God unceasingly, then endure sorrows and misfortunes as justly befalling you. Watch diligently over yourself, over your feelings, thoughts, movements of the heart, and passions; consider nothing insignificant when it concerns your eternal salvation. During your remembrance of God, increase your prayers, so that the Lord may remember you when you forget Him.

In all things, let your teacher be the Lord Jesus Christ. Fixing the eyes of your mind upon Him, often ask yourself: What would Jesus Christ think, say, or do in this situation? Accustom yourself to see something good in everything you encounter. Be meek, quiet, humble, silent, and enduring, following the example of Jesus. He will not place upon you a cross that you cannot bear; He Himself will help you carry the cross. Do not think to acquire any virtue without sorrow and anguish of soul.

Ask the Lord God for the grace to fulfill His most holy commandments as best as possible, even if they seem very difficult to you. Having fulfilled a commandment of God, expect temptation, for love for Christ is tested through the overcoming of obstacles.

Do not remain idle even for a short time, but always stay engaged in work and activities. For one who does not labor is unworthy of the name of a human being and will surely perish.

Withdraw yourself in solitude, following the example of Jesus Christ, who, departing from others, prayed to the Heavenly Father.

During times of spiritual heaviness or coldness toward prayer and all pious activities, do not abandon works of piety—just as the Lord Jesus Christ prayed three times when His soul was sorrowful even unto death. Do everything in the name of Jesus, and thus every work of yours will be a work of piety.

Listen more than you speak, for in much speaking you will not be saved from sin. Ask the Lord for the grace to speak and to be silent at the right time, and set a guard over your lips so as not to sin with your tongue, and close your ears so as not to hear what is contrary to the Lord God. Do not be curious about news, for it distracts the spirit; instead, eagerly discuss good and virtuous topics.

Flee even from the smallest sins, for one who does not avoid small sins will inevitably fall into greater and more grievous ones.

If you wish not to be troubled by evil thoughts, humbly accept the abasement of the soul and bodily sorrow—not partially, but at all times, in every place, and in every matter.

Every thought that draws you away from the Lord, especially an impure carnal thought, cast out of your heart as quickly as you would shake off even a single spark that has fallen on your clothing. When such a thought arises, pray fervently: "Lord, have mercy; Lord, help me; Lord, do not abandon me; deliver me from temptations," or pray otherwise as you will.

But amidst temptations, do not be disturbed. He who sends the occasion for battle will also grant the strength for victory. Be calm in spirit, trust in God; if God is for you, who can be against you? Ask God to take away from you everything that feeds your self-love, even if such deprivation is most bitter for you. Desire to live for Him alone, to die for Him, and to belong to Him entirely. When you suffer some dishonor from people, understand that it is sent by God for your glory, and thus, in dishonor, you will remain without sorrow and disturbance, and in glory, when it comes, you will remain faithful and avoid condemnation.

If you have food and clothing, be content yourself, following the example of Jesus, who became poor for our sake.

Never argue, defend yourself excessively, or excuse yourself too much; do not speak against superiors or neighbors without necessity or obligation. Be sincere and simple in heart; accept guidance, admonitions, and reproaches from others with love, even if you are very wise. Do not be hateful, envious, or excessively strict in words and actions. What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to another, and what you desire for yourself from others, first do for them.

If someone visits you, lift your heart to the Lord God and pray to Him to grant you a meek, humble, and collected spirit. Be kind, modest, cautious, prudent, blind, and deaf, as circumstances require. Reflect that Jesus is present among those with whom you are and converse. Season your words with the salt of wisdom, firmly remembering that time is short and that a person must give an account for every idle word. Set a definite purpose for the conversation and strive to direct it toward the salvation of the soul. And when you bring benefit to someone, acknowledge in this the grace of God.

When you are alone with yourself, examine whether you have become less virtuous than you were before, and whether you have fallen into any sins that you previously did not commit. If you sin, immediately ask forgiveness from God with humility, contrition, and trust in His goodness, and hasten to bring repentance before your spiritual father; for every sin left without repentance is a sin unto death, for which, even if a saint prays for another, he will not be heard. Moreover, if you do not grieve over the sin you have committed, you will soon fall into it again.

Strive to do good to everyone whenever and however you can, without thinking about whether they will value it or be grateful to you. And rejoice not when you do good to someone, but when you endure offenses from another without resentment, especially from someone you have benefitted.

If someone does not obey with a single word, do not compel them through argument; instead, take for yourself the good they have forfeited. For meekness will bring you great benefit. However, when harm from one person spreads to many, do not tolerate it—seek not your own benefit, but the benefit of the many. The common good is more important than the individual.

During dinner, remember the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, praying to Him that He may deem you worthy of the heavenly banquet. Before going to sleep, examine your conscience, ask for light to recognize your sins, reflect on them, seek forgiveness for them, and promise to amend your ways, clearly and precisely determining in what and how you intend to correct yourself. Then, entrusting yourself to God, as if you were to appear before Him that very night, commit yourself to the Holy Mother of God, your Guardian Angel, and the Saint whose name you bear. Imagine your bed as your tomb and your blanket as your shroud. Making the sign of the cross and kissing the cross you wear, fall asleep under the protection of the Shepherd of Israel, "Who neither slumbers nor sleeps" (Psalm 120:4). If you cannot sleep or remain awake during the night, remember the words: "At midnight there was a cry: Behold, the Bridegroom comes" (Matthew 25:6), or reflect on that final night when Jesus prayed to the Father until His sweat became like drops of blood. Pray for those who suffer from severe illnesses and mortal anguish during the night, for the afflicted, and for the departed, and entreat the Lord that eternal darkness may not cover you.

During illness, first and foremost, place your trust in God and occupy yourself with frequent remembrance and contemplation of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, so that your heart may be strengthened more and more. Continually offer whatever prayers you know and are able to say; ask the Lord God for forgiveness of your sins and for patience during your illness. In every way, refrain from grumbling and irritability, which are so common during illness. If the Lord endured the heaviest sufferings and illnesses for our salvation, what have we done or endured for our own salvation?

As often as possible, attend churches for Divine services, especially strive to be present as frequently as possible during the Liturgy. But Sundays and feast days must undoubtedly be devoted to works of piety; always, when you are in church, imagine that you are in the presence of God, Angels, and all the Saints. Dedicate the rest of the day after the Liturgy to pious reading and other works of piety and love.

Dedicate your birthday especially to works of piety. Every year and every month, conduct a strict examination of your conscience. Confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries as often as possible. Always approach the Holy Mysteries with a true hunger and thirst of the soul, with contrition of heart, with reverence, humility, faith, hope, and love.

As often as possible, meditate on the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, imploring Him to cover all your sins with the robe of His merits and to receive you into His Kingdom. Always keep the name of Jesus on your lips and in your heart. Reflect as often as you can on the great love of the Lord for you, so that you may also love Him with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. In this way, you will lead a peaceful life on this earth and a blessed one in heaven for all eternity.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

NOTES

The "Brief Rule for a Pious Life" was borrowed by Father Alexei from the book A Reminder to the Priest About His Duties When Administering the Sacrament of Confession (9th edition, Part II, Moscow, 1896, pp. 31–32) by Archbishop Platon (of Thebes, 1809–1877), of Kostroma and Galich—a graduate of the Moscow Theological Academy and a well-known spiritual writer of his time. Among other works, he authored A View of the History of the Russian Church, Orthodox Moral Theology, A Memoir for the Priest, or Reflections on Priestly Duties, and A Concise Exposition of the Dogmas of Faith According to the Teaching of the Orthodox Church.

Copied by Father Alexei in Vereya in the summer of 1920 for his spiritual children with the instruction to "copy it and follow it in practice." He did this, as he himself wrote in a letter, at the request of many who asked him what exactly each Christian, beginning a spiritual life, ought to do. To one person, in response to the remark that this rule is very difficult, although seemingly simple, he added: "Always remain obedient to your parents and your spiritual father... And then, when you learn to obey your elders and renounce your own will, you will come to the conclusion that this rule is still too little for you." (The Life of the Moscow Elder Father Alexei Mechev, compiled by Nun Juliana, Moscow, Church of St. Mitrophan of Voronezh, 1992, pp. 104–105; hereafter referred to as The Life...).

It is noteworthy that the same excerpt from the work of Archbishop Platon was used by Elder Nektary of Optina to bless his spiritual children for guidance. A spiritual son of the Elder, Father Adrian Rymarenko (later Archbishop Andrew of Rockland, March 15, 1893 – July 12, 1978), recalled:

These "Rules for a Pious Life" were given to me on the day of my Name Saint by the great Optina Elder, Hieromonk Nektary, with these words: "This is my name-day gift to you." Father handed it to me, holding the sheet raised in his hands. On this sheet was drawn a cross with the words: "Lord, have mercy." This was on August 26, 1925. At first, I did not understand the significance of this holy sheet for me, and only after the repose of the Elder, who passed away on April 9, 1928, did the meaning of this gift from Father become clear to me. When the Elder passed away, I was left alone, without elderly guidance, and at the moment when I desperately needed elderly help, I found this sheet and, rereading it a second time, understood the significance of Father’s gift. The "Rules for a Pious Life," in essence, became for me a living elder. (Kontsevich I.M. Optina Pustyn and Its Time. Jordanville, 1970, p. 573).

Source: Пастырь добрый: Жизнь и труды московского старца протоиерея А. Мечева [The Good Shepherd: The Life and Works of the Moscow Elder Protopriest A. Mechev], compiled by S. Fomin (Moscow: Palomnik, 1997).

Original Russian online: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Aleksij_Mechev/kratkoe-pravilo-dlja-blagochestivoj-zhizni/