Каллист Константиноградский

His Holiness Callistus, Patriarch of Constantinograd First of all, in the body of the one who strives and listens in prayer, certain movements begin, as if “jumping” under the skin, and these are taken by some to be delusion. Warmth also comes from the kidneys, as if encircling them, and it seems like delusion, but it is not so: this warmth is not from delusion, but from nature, and is a consequence of the feat of prayer. If someone glorifies this warmth as grace-filled and not natural, then this is undoubtedly delusion. But whatever this warmth may be, the ascetic must not accept it, but reject it. Another warmth comes from the heart, and if the mind at the same time descends into lustful thoughts, this is truly delusion. When the whole body melts from the heart, but the mind remains pure and dispassionate and, as it were, stuck in the inner depths of the heart, then this is undoubtedly an action of grace, and not delusion. Sometimes those experiencing this condition also sweat from the abundant warmth in the body. And then a holy action moves from the heart, taking up, as it were, a certain leaf from the heart, and moving the mind from the inner ones, as if clinging to that very Divine action, in order to cry out often: “My Jesus, my Jesus.” So precisely, in the opening of the heart, only this cries out to the mind: “My Jesus!” - and the mind cannot say everything, that is: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,” - from frequent openings of the heart, but only: “My Jesus.” Those who say that they perform all prayers in such a dispensation are deceived. For when the mind cleaves, as has already been said, to the Divine action, having entered the innermost part of the heart, it cannot cry out any more than: “My Jesus!” Then, truly, from this holy prayer, reverent fear is born in the heart, when great consolation descends into the soul from holy action. And then he jumps, and a sweet tear flows from the heart, and flows sweetly from the eyes, and this is joyful sadness. Then the heart boils from the many sacred rites, and the whole body is inflamed and the mind cries out in reverent fear: “Lord, have mercy.” And just as oil in a full vessel, strongly heated by fire, overflows from much boiling, so it happens in the heart, when it is heated by the Divine action, it pours out warmth onto the body and makes it inflamed, and then the one experiencing this feels like all his insides are ready to jump out. Some other miraculous mysteries also take place with those who have the indicated dispensation: sometimes there is light, with the help of which the worker contemplates enlightenment within himself, illuminating him like the sun and emanating light from the heart. There are other mysteries inside the heart, but I cannot describe them: the mind sees all creation and, horrified by the movement of the holy action and the contemplation of the Divine mysteries, sends up from the depths of the heart hymns that I cannot describe in writing. The whole person then becomes deified by this Divine movement, beyond everything material and sensory, and, as it were, overwhelmed with uncontrollable joy, like one drunk with wine. And then the mind admires the Divine vision and sees terrible mysteries, which I cannot write about in detail. The mind sees divine visions, and sees the pleasure of the righteous, heavenly beauties. Even higher, the mind sees the terrible and glorious mysteries in heaven and, since man rises from the demonic traps, he sees even more of what the Spirit gives him, to whom be glory forever. Amen. The same short word about prayer Unceasing prayer consists of constantly calling on the name of God. Whether anyone is talking, sitting, walking, doing anything, eating, or doing anything else, he must call on the name of God at every time and in every place, according to the commandment of Scripture: Pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). For in this way the enemy’s attempts on us are destroyed. We must pray with our hearts, we must also pray with our lips when we are alone. If someone is in the marketplace, or in company with others, he should not pray with his lips, but with one thought. One must watch one's eyesight and always look down to protect oneself from distraction and from the snares of the enemy. The perfection of prayer lies in the fact that it is pronounced to Bory without the mind deviating into entertainment, so that all a person’s thoughts and feelings are gathered into a single prayer. The [prayer] instructs a person to not be distracted, so that he will die in relation to all other [people] and the world, and what is in the world; prayer is known to change confusion, when the mind is seen joyful, enlightened about the Lord, and there is a sign of this - so that when touching something, [a person] would not be embarrassed by it, even if the whole world were attacking him. Because the one who prays in perfection becomes dead to his rest (rest) and peace. Since prayer with humility and labor, and tears, and with the suspension of one’s will, suppresses the memory of who did what, or saw, or heard, or said; for the fathers who did this could not have done [this] without labor, tears and cutting off their will. Prayer and psalmody should be performed not only with the mind, but also with the lips, as the prophet David says: Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise (Ps. 50:17). And the Apostle, showing that lips are also required, said: Through Him let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruits of lips glorifying His name (Heb. 13:15). The text is provided only in Russian, see the source for the original. – Editorial of the ABC of Faith