334. Беседа после священнослужения по случаю совершившегося пятидесятилетия службы Действительного Тайного Советника 1-го класса, Князя Сергия Михайловича Голицына, в качестве почетного опекуна Московского опекунского Совета

(Said on March 26th; printed in the Works of the Holy Father, 1857 and in the collection of 1861) I can count several decades 795 since the time when the clergy gave me the blessing to serve the altar and talk in church: and after so many years, 796 now encountered is new to me, a special kind of occasion for prayer and speech. Men of honorable ranks, chosen servants of the Tsar's love for mankind, counted fifty years of activity as their collaborator and elder; with the gaze of respect and sympathy, they measured an unusually long series of exploits in one exalted field, marked - by inexhaustible zeal even in old age, - by truth and sincerity, as free before the High Throne as in the council of equals, - by vigilant care for the improvement of entire charitable institutions, and for the good of all belonging to them, - finally, with the high trust of the Most Pious Emperors and Empresses: - and, not only did they try to weave a crown for the ascetic, as far as possible, unfading even in posterity, but - which I see and point out with special consolation - they recognized the blessing of God's Providence over the exploits that had been accomplished for so long, without stumbling, peacefully and beneficially, and therefore they gathered here to offer thanks to God for them, and to ask for the continuation of His blessing over the life and activity of the beloved ascetic. Could it be possible not to wish for the consolation of participating in this prayer, even to someone who was not called to it, but who recognized its subject and time? What about participation in this celebration in a word? Isn't it just as desirable? – You see that I have already given in to this desire. But if you expect me to enter into your work, and for the one crowned by you to also weave a crown from the word, I will not fulfill your expectation: for I know that with the fulfillment of this I am not satisfied, but would be burdened by the one who, in his actions, always had and does not have in mind praise and glory from people, but duty, truth, benefit, philanthropy, faithful fulfillment of the Sovereign will, and finally, by Christ Himself for human activity the intended goal is “the glory that is from one God” (John 5:44). And the place where I stand is not intended for human praise and glory, but for proclaiming the glory of God, for the word of God, for proclaiming the will of God, for reminders and advice about what is pleasing to God and saving for us. I do not hesitate to say that the celebration you arranged would not have been very sublime if it contained only the desire to do something pleasant for one venerable person. The highest dignity of your triumph lies in the fact that through it you express public opinion, which reveres time-tested and mature virtue; and thus speak a powerful lesson to yourself and others. With extraordinary attention you look at 797 a long life, entirely devoted to the faithful and pure fulfillment of duties to your relatives, to your subordinates, to your neighbors in general, to the Fatherland, to the Tsar, to God, and more than with attention; you approve of her, you honor her. It is wonderful, and this is especially wonderful, if at the same time everyone approves for his own performance that which he approves and honors in the performance of another 798. Solomon's parable says: “Old age is a crown of praise; in the path of righteousness is found” (Proverbs 16:31). That is: you can achieve old age, which will be crowned with praise: but in order to achieve such old age, you must go to it along the path of virtue. And if you don’t follow this path, then either you will not reach old age, or your old age will not be crowned. Approaching old age! Be careful 799 whether you are going the right way towards it. Young ones! Do not delay to enter the path of virtue, on which alone you can find the “crown of praise” for your old age. Not only on the path of vice, but also on the crossroads of frivolity, vanity, luxury, idleness, one cannot find a “crown of praise.” Let us wish and pray that the honor given to proven virtue will be the seed and actual sowing of virtue in a vast field; so that the revered virtue does not cease to be reflected in those who honor it, so that the class of those noble by birth and name is always replete with noble feelings and deeds; so that the great power of the nobles continues to manifest itself in great, generally useful deeds, so that “the sons who are born” (Ps. 77:6), who will replace us in the field of public life, do not imagine with unconfirmed wisdom and superficially brilliant activity to eclipse and replace the ancient virtue, deeply based on faith and piety. May this parable not be forgotten: “The nobles and the judges and the mighty will be glorious, and from them there is not one who fears the Lord” (Sir.10:27). Amen. Handwritten the author was at first; "about fifty years." Handwritten the author previously stood; “I’m just meeting you for the first time”... Handwritten the author, instead of these words, there used to be: “You honor.” Handwritten the author, instead of these words, previously wrote: “Wonderful! So each one approve for himself to do what you approve for another to do.” Handwritten the author’s note was: “look around.” You might be interested in: