693. Жизнь в немирствии – погибель для души. Оптинские настоятели не принимали почти никого из чужих монастырей. При болезни лучше положиться на волю Божию

M. St. O. n. G.I.H.B.n. p.n. Your Reverence, most honorable in the Lord Mother Abbess Leonida! I received your letter dated January 15th and thank you for congratulating me, a sinner, on the New Year. You write about two nuns who disturbed the peace of your monastery (of whom I remember well), that they now quarreled among themselves and even separated, and because of this the monastery became more peaceful. - On the one hand, this is good. And that they live well in different cells. It’s healthier for them to live this way. At least now they don’t talk idlely and people don’t slander or confuse people. But on the other hand, we should also regret them, who now live in great unworldliness, for this is the obvious destruction of the soul. It seems that I have already written to you asking you to pray for them. And now I remind you: continue to pray like this: “Organize, O Lord, for my spiritual children (names) what is beneficial and saving according to Your holy will!” The rules of the decree of the Holy Synod must somehow be gradually introduced. Our deceased abbots were not accepted from foreign monasteries. Sometimes, however, in extreme cases they accepted it, only with reluctance. The two Shamordino sisters you received told you the truth, that in the Shamordino desert food is scarce. And they behaved normally. Nothing reproachful can be said about them. God grant that they get along with you. But if they decided to return to Shamordino, then due to the crowd they would not be accepted now. Don’t think about your leadership, but rely on the will of God. And every time the thought of resignation comes, say to yourself: “Thy holy will be done for me, Lord!” And don’t ask yourself to rest. And if the management itself fires you, then accept it as the will of God. You wrote about one of your spiritual daughters that, according to the doctor’s orders, she makes douches for herself, and yet, according to her story, her illness increases from scratching. - What is the use of this after all? In my opinion, it would be better to leave the syringes and rely on the will of the Lord, without whose permission not a hair falls from our heads. Pray more earnestly to the Mother of God for help and especially refrain from anger and quarrels. And instead of douching, you could try washing the sore spot every day with cold room water, even if you feel the benefit, you can do this several times a day. Asking for you and your monastery the peace and blessing of God, I remain with sincere goodwill. You might be interested in: