236. В самохвалении и самооправдании кроется непокорность и гордость. Согрешив, немедленно приноси сердечное покаяние. Веруй, что и твои грехи потонут в бездне Божественного человеколюбия

M. St. O. n. G.I.H.B.n. p.n. My soul, you confuse me so much, trust in God, And move towards correcting yourself Most honest M. Kaz[nacheya] Magdalene! I received your letter, that is, with errors. God take away the sins of the whole world; believe that your mistakes will drown in the abyss of Divine love for mankind. Only at the same time try to keep your mind and heart from the food of the old man. But if you ever have to taste the forbidden fruit, such as anger, rage, condemnation, then do not justify yourself, as Eve said to God: “The serpent seduced me, which means he is to blame, but what do I care?” Words of self-praise and self-justification always conceal disobedience and pride, which God abhors. If you sin, you must immediately “run away.” Can you tell me where? – To a quiet haven of heartfelt repentance. Every evening before going to bed, express to God the Knower of the Heart all your mistakes in deed, word, and thoughts. And believe that God accepts your heartfelt repentance, while trying to crush your heart with the memory of sudden death. This is how it happened with us. One hieromonk died on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. All the employees, i.e., hierodeacons and hieromonks, went to congratulate Fr. Archimandrite, drank tea and other festive consolations, then we were all at the Skete, also treated to a treat. We left the Skete at 3 and a half hours, and at 4 o’clock one hieromonk was already gone. It was impossible to think that he would die in an hour. Paralysis fell on the heart, and it became dead. He, of course, did not lose God’s mercy, for he went to the village to serve for obedience, that is, it means that he received the Holy Mysteries on the day of the three-day Easter, but for those living it is an edifying and even higher lesson. So you say to yourself: “Poor Magdalene, come on, your soul will be understood this night. Where will you go? Do not be embarrassed by the fact that this and that was written by the hand of another scribe, because I know who I am entrusting. That clerk fell ill. To a nun like you, a spiritual child, others say when she receives my letter: “But this letter was not written by Father.” And she, in her prudence, answers them: “It makes no difference to me whoever wrote it. I write to Father, and I receive from Father, and I believe in Father’s prayers, and I receive what I want according to the measure of my faith.” You say: the sisters are offended that they have to wait a long time to study with you. Don't drag out your explanations and keep it short. Don’t caress Varvara Vladimirovna too much, otherwise it won’t be good. May God forgive you. I call upon you peace and God's blessing. You might be interested in: