МОНАХИ

Look, the very refuges of the monks are already giving rise to their prosperity. Avoiding markets and cities, and the noise of the people, they preferred life in the mountains, which has nothing in common with real life, is not subject to any human vicissitudes, nor the sorrows of life, nor sorrow, nor great worries, nor dangers, nor treachery, nor hatred, nor envy, nor vicious love, nor anything like that. Here they think only about the Kingdom of Heaven, talking in silence and deep silence with forests, mountains, springs, and most of all, with God. Their dwellings are devoid of any noise, and their soul, free from all passions and illnesses, is subtle, light and much purer than the thinnest air. Their occupations are the same as they were in the beginning and before the fall of Adam, when he, clothed with glory, boldly talked with God and dwelt in paradise filled with bliss. And in fact: how is the life of the monks worse than the life of Adam, when before his disobedience he was brought into paradise to cultivate it? Adam did not have any worldly worries: neither did the monks. Adam talked with God with a clear conscience: so did the monks; Moreover, they have much more boldness than Adam, since they have more grace in themselves through the gift of the Holy Spirit. You should see this with your own eyes; but since you don’t want to and spend your life in noise and in marketplaces, then at least in words I will describe to you at least one part of their way of life, but it is impossible to describe their whole life. These lamps of the world, as soon as the sun begins to rise, or even before dawn they rise from their beds healthy, vigorous and fresh (because they are not disturbed by any sadness, nor care, nor headache, nor work, nor a multitude of affairs, nor anything else like that, but they live like Angels in heaven). So, hastily rising from the bed, cheerful and cheerful, they all, together with a bright face and conscience, form one face and, as if with one mouth, sing hymns to the God of all, glorifying and thanking Him for all his good deeds, both private and general. Therefore, if you wish, leaving Adam, I will ask you: how does this face of those singing and exclaiming on earth differ from the Angels: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14)? And their clothes correspond to their courage. They are not clothed in long clothes, like pampered and relaxed people, but their clothes are prepared, like those of those blessed Angels: Elijah, Elisha, John and the other apostles, some from goat hair, others from camel hair, and some are content with just one skin, and even that completely worn out. Then, having sung their songs, they kneel and call upon the God they have glorified for help in such matters that others would not soon think of. They don’t ask for anything real, they don’t have a word about it; but they ask that they boldly stand before the terrible throne, when the Only Begotten Son of God comes to judge the living and the dead, so that none of them hear that terrible voice: “I do not know you” (Matthew 25:12) and so that, with purity of conscience and an abundance of good deeds, they can accomplish this difficult life and safely cross this stormy sea. The father and abbot begin their prayers. Then, when they get up and finish these sacred and unceasing prayers, with the rising of the sun everyone goes to their work and through their labors they gain a lot for the poor (7). You might be interested in: