Counsels of Archpriest Valentin Mordasov (+1998)

 

1. Does our salvation depend on external circumstances?

Our salvation does not depend on anything external; it is not important whether who is noble or not, whether rich or poor, but whether he is virtuous, whether he believes, whether he cares about spiritual prosperity and whether he loves God (St. Clement of Alexandria).

2. How do we live in order to be saved?

Every work of Christian piety and love: reading sacred books, good thoughts, useful conversations, holy obedience, thanksgiving in temptations and sorrows, forgiveness of offenses - bear the seal of prayer and smell sweet before God. Still, one must force oneself, test oneself in everything and block the paths of effeminacy, then toil and piety will turn into a habit (Elder John Troitsky).

3. What are the greatest gifts of God?

Repentance and Communion are the greatest of all the gifts of God. In part, the sacred books (St. Barsanuphius the Great) can also be included here.

4. What should a spiritual person beware of?

An ascetic of virtue must in every possible way withdraw the thoughts that gratify him that enter the mind and heart. Satan is very inventive for atrocities: when people are known for piety, he cannot distract from their precious life and behavior and persuade them to do what he wants, then he tries to hit them in another way. He praises them as people who have attained perfection, then glorifies them as saints, pleases them as having already become friends of God and reaching the brink of all virtue. And thus, having generated in them a passion of pride, arouses them in enmity against God and, finally, uproots them, like some plant. Therefore, as I said, it is necessary to withdraw thoughts that please us in the mind and heart (St. Cyril of Alexandria).

5. What is the most important thing for a Christian to do?

The most important thing is to learn the true faith (St. Ambrose of Milan).

6. How do you get a righteous mindset?

Start righteous image thoughts - listening and reading the Word of God and [the creations] of the holy fathers (Venerable Ephraim the Syrian).

7. What do we need to know?

The will of God and what deeds are virtues and what are sins, we should all know. And whoever does not do this, he sins before God. And it turns out that whoever keeps himself in darkness and illiteracy sins twice: both by not knowing the will of God, and by not using the means to recognize it and deliberately "keeping himself in darkness (St. Theophan the Recluse).

8. How can you strengthen yourself in the Church?

The guidance of the spiritual father, constant communication with him; frequent recourse to the sacraments, careful preparation for them, attending services, prayer at home, daily reading of the Gospel, reading books of religious content, observing holidays and fasts of the church year, friendship and fellowship with believers and church people.

9. Does God always send people to me?

No, sometimes it is not God, but the devil who sends them to us.

10. How can one learn the spiritual life?

Living in solitude, I will test the Divine Scriptures, according to the commandment of the Lord, and their interpretation, as well as the apostolic traditions, lives and teachings of the holy fathers, and listen to them; and what, according to my understanding, is for the pleasing of God and for the benefit of the soul, I rewrite myself and study: this is my life and my breath. I advise you to do the same. I give this advice for the good of the soul, suggesting what I consider useful for myself (St. Nil Sorsky).

For the reading of the Scriptures to be useful, it is necessary: first, before reading to invoke the grace of the Holy Spirit to help oneself; secondly, read slowly, repeating several times what is incomprehensible to you; thirdly, do not worry about reading a lot; fourth, beware of reading misguided books.

12. Is it possible to learn the spiritual life without studying in a spiritual school?

Although the ascetic Jerome did not study in theological schools, he himself educated himself through spiritual reading and conversations with spiritual elders and experienced religious people.

13. What religions are considered false?

All religions that exist in the world, except for the true, unified Orthodox, are false and do not save a person. False religion is a mockery of people. After death, it will be revealed immediately, how firmly is that on which one has based his hope... What a terrifying and tearing state will be for the one who sees then that he was deceived (St. Theophan the Recluse).

14. Why is it important to surround yourself with edification in the home and wherever you go?

Because every object in the world and every impression of an object evokes in a person certain thoughts, feelings and desires, one or another activity, consistent with these impressions. That is why you need to surround yourself in such a way that everything edifies you. Even if something does not produce bad thoughts and feelings, it distracts from the main thing - the salvation of the soul and striving for God... For example, before the room of a Christian edified everyone. On the walls were nailed sheets of paper of various sizes with prayers and sayings from the Holy Scriptures; many icons, a painting of the Last Judgment, photographs of elders, confessors, schema monks, ascetics, monasteries and temples.

15. How can we be guided in our spiritual life today?

For the last times, the later holy fathers are already more suggesting the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers' scriptures for guidance, without rejecting the very careful advice with modern fathers and brethren, with careful content in thoughts and feelings of the spirit of humility and repentance. This is a work given by God to our time; and we are obliged to use with reverence the gift of God given to us for salvation (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov).

16. When are external labors useless?

There is no benefit from all external labors if through them we are unable to attain inner kindness.

Do not neglect the psalms, because they drive away evil spirits from the soul and infuse the Holy Spirit into it.

18. How should a Christian's life be governed?

The life of a Christian should be governed by conscience and reason, that is, by reasoning with the advice of the experienced. The devil succeeds there, where people trust their mind, their reasoning and do not ask their confessor for advice.

19. How should fasting days be spent?

During the retreat, one must deviate from the vanity of the world in order to think about our sins, weep before God and prepare a frank confession that cleanses us from sins. The days of fasting should be devoted to fasting, visiting the temple of God, reading the Word of God and deeds of mercy: visiting the sick, the mournful and the poor in order to help them.

20. What does God require from a person?

From all the Scriptures I see that God's demand from man is concentrated in the following: that he humble himself before his neighbors in everything, that he cut off his sinful desires, that he constantly begs God for mercy and that He would give him a helping hand (Venerable Simeon the New Theologian).

21. What does it mean to "withdraw from the world"?

To withdraw from the world means to abandon manners, customs, rules, habits, requirements that are completely opposite to the Spirit of Christ.

22. How do you know the addiction to things?

Sometimes a person has a sinful addiction to a thing, for example: he admires it, gets angry with others, starts an argument, and when he is deprived of it, he grieves for it.

23. For what reason are sometimes blasphemous thoughts against God, the Mother of God, holy icons, Holy Mysteries?

Let us stop judging and condemning our neighbor - and we will not be afraid of blasphemous thoughts. No one should think that he is guilty of blasphemous thoughts, if he does not want them and does not agree with them, and should class them as demons. Try not to pay any attention to them (St. John of the Ladder).

24. By what works is God's favor acquired?

There are five things by which God's favor is obtained. The first is pure prayer, the second is the reading of the Psalter, the third is the reading of the Divine Scriptures, the fourth is the remorseful remembrance of our sins, death and the Last Judgment, the fifth is handicraft (monk Evagrius).

25. What is the use of the Jesus Prayer?

The prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me", constantly performed in the heart, dries up fornication, tames rage, drives away anger, drives away sorrow, removes insolence, destroys despondency, drives away laziness, enlightens the mind, gives birth to tenderness, brings tears.

26. What is the reason for leaving the place of residence?

The elders said: The ancient fathers did not quickly move from their place of residence; if they migrated, then for the following three reasons: first, if someone was angry with them in vain, and they could not reconcile him to themselves, with all the use of reconciliation; secondly, if they were glorified by many; thirdly, if it happened to one of them the misfortune of falling into fornication. For these three reasons, they left their place of residence.

More parents need to honor priests. "Do you know," asks St. John Chrysostom, "who is a priest?" And he answers: "Angel of the Lord." Therefore, he says, there should be more respect for shepherds than for parents, for they are the ministers of Christ on earth, and whoever honors them, honors Christ.

28. What are the sins against the Holy Spirit?

First, an excessive hope in the mercy of God; secondly, despair in their salvation; third, obvious opposition to the confirmed truth and rejection orthodox faith; fourth, envy regarding those spiritual benefits that neighbors receive from God; fifth, abiding in sins and stagnation in malice; sixth, carelessness about repentance until the end of this life.

29. With whom should you not have friendship?

Do not make friends and do not have an alliance with enemies Christ Church, with heretics, with schismatics, with those who do not observe the fasts of the saints. One must run away from those people who are not afraid and do not worship God (Venerable Seraphim of Sarov).

30. How is faith strengthened?

Hear the Word of God, sermons and teachings, read the Word of God, [the creations of] the holy fathers and old age books, seek and ask, converse and associate with believers who are rich in faith; pray, cry out to God for faith, live by faith, confess more often and partake of the Holy Mysteries (St. Theophan the Recluse).

31. How do we relate to your neighbor?

Always imagine your neighbor in your place, and yourself in the place of your neighbor.

32. What is important in spiritual life?

Try to have a spiritual father all your life, to reveal to him every sin and thought, to use his advice and instructions. "Salvation," says the Wise One, "is in my advice, and a man without advice is his own enemy."

33. What is the most pleasing of God?

God is so pleased with nothing as with malice or bodily for the sake of His privations; and nothing attracts His love for mankind more than tears.

34. How to deal with passions?

A Christian should try to do the opposite of passion, such as: passion compels one to contradict, and you force yourself to be silent; passion compels you to gorge yourself, but you do not let yourself get full, etc.

35. What should we have as a saving thought?

If a person does not affirm in his thought that he has died and was buried for three years already, he cannot correct virtue.

36. How to look at the celebration of the holidays?

The Lord says in the Bible: "My soul hates your holidays," that is, when religious holidays are celebrated in drunkenness, in festivities, in gorging, etc. In general, on holidays (celebrated not spiritually) that is wasted. what is gathered in the days of labor.

37. How to avoid temptations?

1. Do not look at what people are doing, no matter what they are, but listen and listen to what the Word of God teaches.

2. Imitate the life of the Savior and His saints.

3. To turn away hearing and eyes from obscene ones, for through them, like doors, all evil enters the heart.

4. To stay more at home (who has no temptations) and solitude.

38. How to teach a child the fear of God?

1. To teach a child to bow on the ground before the Holy Cross and icons, to kiss them.

2. More often bring (or bring) a child to the temple of God.

3. With his hand, put candles in front of the images, serve a commemoration, give alms, dip a coin into a mug.

4. Frequently partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

5. Give prosphora and holy water before food.

6. Teach prayer.

7. Bring under the blessing of a priest.

8. To teach singing and reading at home.

9. In the presence of the child, conduct godly conversations about God and the salvation of the soul.

10. To teach him to share delicacies, even his own piece of bread, with brothers, sisters and strangers.

39. How to skillfully punish children?

Children should not be subjected to reprimands or punishments in passion with the use of harsh words, so that such methods do not lead children to the idea that they are being punished just because their parents are in a restless spirit.

40. How to teach children the divine?

Children should be taught the Gospel with affection, in the form of stories, sowing the Word of God in their hearts.

41. How is the Spirit of God driven away?

Know that nothing is driven away from the Spirit of God more than by empty talk.

42. What is important in works?

What is the use of our labors - fasting, reading the Holy Scriptures, etc. - if we have not learned to humble ourselves, forgive offenses, love enemies, pray for those who offend?!

43. How to use time to save the soul?

Time is a precious gift of God, for which an account will be required at the Last Judgment. The saving use of time is when a person spends time, first, in prayer, in conversation with God; secondly, in the reading of the Word of God; thirdly, in visiting the temple of God; fourth, in godly conversations; fifth, in reflections on the life of Jesus Christ, on death, on the Last Judgment, on eternal torment and eternal bliss; sixth, in doing good deeds and in labors. Soul-destructive spending time - in empty conversations and activities, in games (cards, checkers, chess, bingo) and other amusements, in drunkenness, in reading empty books, in eating, partying and sinful pleasures, especially in spectacles.

44. How to deal with sinful thoughts?

The most powerful weapon against all sinful thoughts is prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer. However, there are other methods of struggle. Against thoughts of vanity and self-conceit - to remember the decomposition of your body; against pride - to bring to mind that pride alone eats up all good deeds; against rancor - to pray for the enemy; against condemnation - to reproach yourself for pride, remembering your sins, to pray that the Lord will correct the one who has fallen into sin and have mercy; against blasphemous thoughts - she should pay attention to blasphemy and refer it to demons, confess (in general) at confession, read a prayer to the one against whom blasphemy; against vain thoughts - to read the Holy Scriptures and meditate on God and the divine; against prodigal thoughts - to remember the Last Judgment, eternal torments.

45. From what elders, spiritual fathers to ask for advice?

It is a great salutary work to ask the elders for advice, but at the same time Saint Anthony the Great advised to make sure of the old man's righteousness and experience, and then trust his word and accept his advice without question. The sign by which this can be recognized is the agreement of his word with the Word of God, interpreted by the holy fathers.

46. What does it mean "to be spiritually careless"?

Archbishop Arseny replies to this: "It means praying lazily, being inattentive to your heart, not crying about your sins, not resisting bad thoughts and feelings."

47. What is attention, cheerfulness and sobriety?

He who is enclosed in the heart is collected, and who is collected is in the heart. Near the consciousness in the heart, it should gather with all its strength: both by the mind, and by will, and by feeling. The gathering of the mind in the heart is attention, the gathering of will is encouragement, the gathering of feeling is sobriety. Attention, cheerfulness, sobriety are the three inner deeds, by which self-assembly is accomplished and acts inwardly. Whoever has them, and all of them, is within [himself] (St. Theophan the Recluse). Composure makes it possible to see thoughts, desires, passions, feelings in the heart.

It is good to listen and read the divine, it is better - mutual interview, and even better - the word of the most experienced. More fruitful is the Word of God, followed by the writings of the fathers and the lives of the saints. Lives of the Saints are better for beginners; the fatherly scriptures are for the average; The Word of God is for the perfect. Before reading, to abolish the soul from everything; to turn prayerfully to God. Follow the attention and add what is read to the heart. What did not reach the heart, stay on that until it comes. It should read very slowly. To stop reading when the soul no longer wants to feed on reading is full, that means. If any place hits the soul, stay on it and read no further. The best time for the Word of God is morning; the lives of the saints - after dinner; holy fathers - shortly before bedtime. There are texts of Holy Scripture that kindle the spirit, act on the heart and cause tenderness and tears. Therefore, such places must be written out and stored in case of need, to excite the spirit.

49. Which is higher: spending money on a temple or tolerating theft?

It is equally good to spend your funds on decorating churches and to suffer a loss, thanks (for everything) to the Provider of salvation - God.

50. What tears are saving?

Some tears from grief, from resentment - these are not useful, but about the fact that I am lazy, offended, I do not have real love for God - these tears are useful, and we must pray for them that the Lord will give.

51. Which two vices are especially harmful?

All vices are evil and harmful to the soul, but more violent and destructive is self-justification and love of arguments; therefore, the devil compels to contradict in self-justification, for he knows that if they endure and do not justify themselves, then they will be justified from God (Archimandrite Theophan of Novoyezersky).

52. What is best for peace of mind?

Having experienced many things in life, I did not find anything better for the peace and tranquility of my soul, like moderate eating, staying in one place and diligent study of God's Word (Hieroschemamonk Stephen).

53. What is God pleased with?

God pleases himself with affectionate treatment of people, calming the angry, intercession of the offended, disgusting eyes from evil objects, resisting bad thoughts, forcing himself to prayer (Archimandrite Theophan Novoyezersky).

54. What are these "gravediggers of youth"?

Seven gravediggers of youth: disbelief in God, drunkenness, debauchery, anger, disrespect for parents, bad fellowship and idleness.

55. When is prayer put into sin?

There is no greater sin than praying to God without fear, attention and reverence; to pray with the tongue, and with the mind to conduct a conversation with demons (St. Theophan the Recluse).

56. How to increase love for Christ?

Most of all, our love for Christ is strengthened and strengthened by heartfelt meditation on the sufferings of Christ. For this it is good every day in the morning to choose one of the sufferings of Christ, meditating in detail and often remembering about it during the day. From this we will always receive the gift of patience, meekness and love for Christ.

57. What do the worldly people want from us?

People who live according to the spirit of the corrupted age and unbelievers strive to have us surrender to their will instead of God's will, and want to distract us from the Kingdom of God.

58. How to deal with extraneous thoughts?

During prayer and spiritual discourse, beware of accepting any extraneous thoughts; with a prohibition say your thoughts: "In the name of God, I forbid you!" - and the thought will certainly listen. The Jesus prayer and the sign of the cross will conveniently drive away all the power of the enemy (Archimandrite Theophan Novoyezersky).

59. What are the obstacles in prayer?

There are many obstacles in prayer: sleep, despondency, weight of the body, spinning of thoughts, impatience, relaxation, revolt of demons.

60. It is often advised to eat more. How do you feel about such advice?

Do not listen to the advice of self-pleasing people who have made themselves slaves of the womb and carnal passions. In general, fear evil advice more than enemies (St. Ephraim the Syrian).

61. Explain the action of Adam's nature.

The Christian must resist Adam's sinful nature. Saint Ephraim the Syrian in his teaching says: “Adam's nature - I don’t want to learn, but I’m glad to teach; I don’t want to obey, but I love to subjugate; I don’t want to work, but I want to bother others; I don’t want to show honor, but I want to be honored; I endure, but I love to reproach; I do not want to be humiliated, but I love to humiliate. I am wise to give advice, and not to carry it out myself; what should be done - I say, and what should not say - If a brother sins, I will convict him with pleasure, but if I sin myself, I do not accept conviction with pleasure. "

62. Why should one avoid communication with worldly people?

There is no need to treat the negligent about the fear of God, because they do not say anything useful, do nothing for the Lord, do not speak about virtue, or about reverence, or about purity. Their speech is a mortal net; their advice is the abyss of hell; their community is spiritual destruction (Venerable Ephraim the Syrian).

63. How should people be greeted?

Let’s not expect to be greeted first and then reply to the greeting. This is a sign of an arrogant and reckless mind. On the contrary, the former will always greet both friend and foe.

64. What should one pay attention to in the main during asceticism?

Least of all, stop your attention on external deeds (for example: fasting, bowing, lying on a firm, etc.). Although they are necessary, they are the essence of help. A building is being built in the midst of them, but they are not a building.

Building in the heart. Pay attention to your deeds of the heart (that is, so as not to get irritated, not to be offended, not to condemn, forgive, reject bad thoughts and sinful desires, etc.).

65. What if there is no leader?

N. tells the truth that now there are no real leaders. However, one should not remain with one Scripture and fatherly lessons. Questioning is necessary! Elder Paisius decided this: two or three like-minded people would form a union, and they question each other, leading a life in mutual obedience, with the fear of God and prayer (St. Theophan the Recluse).

66. What kind of charity is there?

A Christian can provide alms and help not only financially, but also with his knowledge, work, advice and others (St. Theophan the Recluse).

67. What is the best way to ask the elders: one or many?

You should never ask different leaders about the same matter and not ask the same again, because the very first answer comes from the Lord, and the second - from the reasoning of a person in an elder ... Everyone who asks takes on the sign of humility, and this imitates Christ…

68. What is God-thinking?

Divine contemplation is in thought the holding of any truth: incarnation, death on the cross, resurrection, omnipresence and others - without any direction of thought (St. Theophan the Recluse).

69. What kind of leaders should you ask?

Saint Peter Damascene says about himself: "I received a lot of harm from inexperienced counselors." Therefore, it is very good to inquire about everything, but from the experienced; the inexperienced is dangerous because they have no reason.

70. How to represent God? In heaven, in yourself, or something else?

No way. To acquire the skill to stand in the conviction that God is everywhere and, therefore, in you, and sees all your innermost things; and in this conviction behave reverently before the invisible God, without any of His imaginations. But pray that God Himself will teach you this (St. Theophan the Recluse).

71. What sacrifice to God is the main one?

The main sacrifice to God is the broken spirit. Heart contrite and humble God will not despise.

72. What do you need to know about conversations?

Conversations require great fear: in what spirit and direction you have to speak, at what time and what exactly, and for what purpose ... He who loves to say all this must remember, but the silent one has already done and fulfilled (St. Demetrius of Rostov).

73. What is piety?

By piety we must understand strict Orthodoxy, combined with a strict life according to the commandments of God.

74. What sins are considered mortal?

Mortal sins are heresy, schism, blasphemy, apostasy, witchcraft, despair, suicide, prodigal sin, drunkenness, sacrilege, homicide, robbery, theft, and any cruel inhuman offense. The mortal sin of the Orthodox, not healed by proper repentance, subject the sinner to eternal torment (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov).

75. What should and should not be done on Sunday?

Saint Cosmas taught Christians: on Sundays, do not trade, do not go to the market, do not work, and also do not go for berries, mushrooms, hunt, fish, but go to church and listen to the holy service and God's Word.

76. How should the Holy Scriptures be interpreted?

Do not dare to interpret the Gospel and other books of Holy Scripture yourself. The Holy Spirit interpreted it through the holy fathers... And there is the Word of God, the word of salvation for the impudent interpreters of it, the will to death, with a two-edged sword, with which they will slay themselves to eternal destruction (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov).

77. What is the most powerful remedy against sin?

Not a single feat so expels sin, with such convenience and power, as daily confession to an elder (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov).

78. What must be preserved in order to be protected from sin?

Mind - from bad, evil and empty thoughts; gaze - from worldly delights. Heart - from evil desires and offerings. Hearing - from vain and ridiculous conversations, and most - from slanderous ones. Language - from condemnation and murmur. Stomach - from voluptuousness and from excessive drinking. All myself - from idleness.

79. Should I be frank with everyone?

You cannot be completely frank in front of everyone and in everything, you cannot talk about everything to everyone, something else must be kept silent, hidden.

80. What is generosity?

Generosity is when, among the misfortunes that have befallen us, we are not embarrassed, do not lose heart, we endure them without despondency, murmur, with devotion to the will of God.

81. What excites passions?

Worldly poetry, music and singing arouse only passions (Bishop Peter).

82. How to acquire kindness?

If a person does not notice the vices of his neighbor, then with the help of God, kind-heartedness is born in him, with which God is delighted (Abba Dorotheos).

83. What is "self-deepening" (withdrawal into oneself)?

Self-deepening is the main virtue necessary in order not to be entertained by the influence of the world, to block the possibility of stirring up passions - this is renunciation of the world (St. Isaac the Syrian).

84. What is important in work?

When you work, look at the spirit with which the work is being done (with grumbling or anger, discontent, idle talk, with bad thoughts or with prayer and thoughtfulness, etc.).

85. What kind of prayer does an evil spirit dislike?

The devil, seeing how someone succeeds in perfection in the commandments of Christ through clever deeds, makes every effort to destroy all the books about the Jesus Prayer and, through useless people, interrupt the work of clever deeds (St. Theophan the Recluse).

86. How to behave with neighbors?

Greet with pleasure, answer with a bright face, be supportive to everyone, available, do not indulge in praise to yourself, do not force others to talk about you, do not take an indecent word, how much you can hide your advantages, and blame yourself for your sins and do not expect reproof from others. Do not be heavy in reprimands, convict not quickly, and not with a passionate movement, do not condemn for unimportant things, as if you yourself are a strict righteous person. Make as much effort not to be glorified by people as others try to be glorified (St. Basil the Great).

87. What bliss awaits pious people in the future life?

If someone embraces the word and combines into one all the happiness of people from the time of their existence, he will find that this does not equal even the slightest part of the blessings of the future life (St. Basil the Great).

88. How to serve the soul of another?

Serve not the body, but also the soul of another: give reason, give advice, point out a good book, comfort, support (St. Theophan the Recluse).

89. What is the main thing for a Christian?

It is a concern for the salvation of others. A Christian promotes salvation by prayer for salvation, by the creation of salvation: both by word, and by sight, and by deeds, so as not to tempt, instruct, instruct, strengthen, especially by spreading the Divine Scriptures (St. Theophan the Recluse).

90. What are the disadvantages of a Christian marriage with an unbeliever?

The ancient teacher Tertullian, calculating the disadvantages of the marriage of a Christian person with a pagan, said: "Where is the memory of God? Where is the invocation of Christ? Where is the nourishment of faith by reading Scripture? Where is the ecstasy of the spirit? Where is the glorification of God?"

91. What should not be kept in the house?

It helps the ascetic much not to have anything in the room that evokes godly thoughts and feelings, for then he is out of the danger of a double battle: internal and external (St. Nil of Sinai).

92. In case of need, can you shorten your prayer rule?

In case of great need, you can shorten your rule, namely: for God's sake to serve your neighbor (Elder Nazarius of Valaam).

93. What is more important: pleasing God or teaching at school, institute?

Our main business is pleasing God, and scientific knowledge is an adjunct, an accident, suitable only for a time in real life... Therefore, it should not take all the attention and absorb all the care. There is nothing more poisonous and more disastrous for the spirit of Christian life than this scientific attitude and exclusive concern for it (St. Theophan the Recluse).

94. Why are we not afraid of future torment?

That is why we are not afraid of the eternal torment of Gehenna, because we do not reflect on it, do not delve into its essence with the mind, do not try to achieve this by work, although we often hear and read about eternal torment.

95. How do we steal our time?

Do not steal from yourself the time given to you for the salvation of your soul. We steal time by doing nothing, idle talk, curiosity, idle daydreaming, and a lot of sleep. Think how much good we would have done if we hadn't been wasting our time uselessly.

96. What is the unity of a spiritual father with his child?

Everything that happens between the elder and his spiritual children must be a secret, equal to confession, otherwise the enemy will upset their spiritual unity in the Lord.

97. What is "peace"?

The word "peace" means people who are hostile to everything divine and religious; hence, the word "world", "worldly" means everything that is sinful, all that is given to us by the enemy of salvation: sins, vices, passions.

98. Business affairs - vain or not?

The works of the service are not vanity - they are God's works. Just do them always for God, and not for anything else. Equally, in family life, you have a duty ... Fulfilling it is not vanity. Only do such things according to the consciousness that you are doing the will of God. Vanity - things to satisfy passions, as well as unnecessary and useless (St. Theophan the Recluse).

99. How does a meeting work on a person?

Even a short rapprochement with another person leaves an imprint, that is, either you will receive benefit or harm to the soul.

100. What brings us closer to God?

We are brought closer to God by sorrow, crampedness, illness, work, if we reasonably endure them. Do not murmur against them or fear them.

 

Source:

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