Буква В

On reverent preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage I know that the niece of Mr. Peter Pavlovich Smirnov, with the consent of her relatives, wants to enter into a legal marriage with a pious Christian, who, before proceeding to this sacrament, disposes to prepare himself for the sacraments through confession and communion of the Most Pure Body of the Lord, which is why I advise her to fulfill this same pious preparation. Let us keep them prosperous in their marriage and seek God’s blessing on them. And I ask you to make an effort about this and encourage her, so that she does not listen to what people say against this, but, obeying the church, would secretly fulfill it by calling a priest to the house. And what the Lord has invisibly given you to know through experience is that everyone, according to the measure of faith, is given both relief of conscience and joy of the soul - this is truly so! Faith, hope and love are the great and most important virtues Although it is indecent in everything, I pray to the Lord that it will strengthen your soul and plant in your heart faith, hope and love, which are the great and most important virtues, for faith makes us believe, hope makes us trust, love makes us love God - these three virtues are still needed for your salvation, without them no one is worthy to enjoy the sight of God and no one can be saved. Bodily exploits without humility are of no benefit External work and physical exploits alone do not lead a monk to success, especially if they, which appear to people, lead him to vanity and pride and to all the consequences of these passions - to bitterness, condemnation and despair, and that without the internal, humble, invisible practice of prayer and without complete insanity it is impossible to soften, humble yourself and be cheered by the childish joy of the Gospel. What does it mean to “deny himself”? (Luke 14:27) In a letter to poor sister Euphrosyne, I will include from the Gospel to refute the life she began, which is not consistent with anything: “Unless someone denies himself and takes his cross and all his possessions and relatives and follows me, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). What does it mean to “deny himself”? The saints clearly explain this - that to abandon one’s will and all one’s desires and surrender to the funeral feast of obedience - this is the fulfillment of the saving commandment. It is impossible to do good without your admiration You write: “Now I’m going to my mother to explain my sin against her,” but we don’t know what fruit your intention brought. You write above indignantly that we are giving it up to your will, and you would like to do it as we please and is useful for you. We have experienced similar cases with many and find that it is impossible to decide on anything good without bending our will, for the enemy resists it and raises a fight, which, without resisting with humility, they grumble at us for being forced. And your words: “I myself see that the action is hostile, and I will not overcome the evil thought” because you do not have weapons: self-reproach and humility. Without the will of God, “a hair of your head will not perish” (Luke 21:18) It’s sad to hear, but it’s more sad to see and have such dislike, but I pray you - don’t cry and don’t groan from the depths of your heart. You know from the Gospel that “without the will of God, not the power of our head perishes.” (Luke 21:18). We are all in God’s hands, like clay in the hand of a poor man: “As clay is in the hand of a poor man, so you are in My hand,” - this is what God says in Jeremiah the prophet, chapter 18, verse 6. Perhaps the Lord foresaw that it was more beneficial for your son to “walk the narrow way than the long way” (cf. Matthew 7:13–14), and then placed his feet on it. The Lord turns everything into His will and for our benefit, which is the Providence of God However, let the will of our Creator and Redeemer be done about this too! We think and judge like men, and even carnal men. And the Most Merciful Lord knows all the news, even what we have not done. Where the will of God is followed, no insurmountable obstacles will be overcome. And so again I say this: the will of the Lord be done! Remember, most dear, remember our universal father, Fr. Theodore, as he always surrendered to the will of the Almighty Trustee and Provider. Yes, and I did not sin in my following, but I reached a reliable refuge, and entrusted you and me to the all-powerful Providence. He always advised and exhorted us to place ourselves in the providence of our Redeemer and unflattering Trustee. The merciful Lord fulfills and turns everything into His will and for our benefit, although, apparently, through means and consequences that are contrary to us. We, with the help of the Most Merciful Lord God, will endure and see... Even the sadness for the lost was tempered in the elder by faith in God’s Providence. About the dangers and harms of turning to fortune tellers I received two letters from you; in the first, write about the sick girl Xena, who is possessed by a spirit; her parents are forcing her to undergo treatment for her grandmothers, then if they force her to do such a thing, they will not only not have time, but they will also drag themselves into worse things and lead themselves into deep sin, because these diseases are not cured by the human mind, but by the given grace of God by God’s chosen saints. - If they want her health, then let them take her to Voronezh to the saint of God Mitrofan. And why do you write that I, insignificant, forbade her to fast on Wednesday and Friday, and only allow her to eat once, let her eat during mass. You might be interested in: