Message to those in the hayfield

St. Paisiy Velichkovsky. Message from Saint Paisius Velichkovsky to his disciples in the Dragomirna Monastery My beloved, all who are in holy obedience in the hayfield, my spiritual children and brothers and fathers in Christ. Rejoice in the Lord. The gracious God knows how glad I would be to send you another priest to help you in your ministry. But take into account that in your holy church no one will serve the Divine service, on which we, by Christian faith, have placed all our hope in God, hope with the message of mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, forgiveness and forgiveness of our sins. Therefore, I thought of sending you, my beloved children, this mentoring teaching to reinforce your hard labors. My beloved and dear children, sufferers of Christ, partakers of the crown of martyrdom and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. Stand firm in holy obedience, stand strong in faith in God, with the holy Apostle Paul and the illustrious sons, with a peaceful soul, with love and piety towards each other and towards everyone. For the enemy and the damned devil, especially in such troubled times, lies in wait for us incessantly, walking around us day and night, looking for a way to devour the ascetics and throw them along with him to the bottom of hell forever and ever. But you, children of holy and blessed obedience and my beloved children, be wise and obedient, and with your spiritual prudence trample on his fierce head and all his evil power. Strive for the Lord as much as you can, work both physically and spiritually, especially, do not follow your will, your opinion and do not oppose each other - these things are hateful to God, and disgusting and disgusting to me and all the brethren. Beware of murmuring, for those who grumble will be subject to the wrath of God, and the earth will swallow them up alive. But, most importantly, humble yourself, brothers, love each other with spiritual love, and may the God of peace and love be with you. By this everyone will know that you are disciples of Christ, if you have love and counsel among yourself. For the one who loves a brother lives in the light, and the one who hates lives in darkness. Also, beware, brothers, of envy, this is the snare of the devil, for the place where envy and rancor dwells is not visited by the grace of God, but it is a source of hatred, rancor of the devil and an open ditch of destruction. During holy labors, that is, during obediences, keep your tongue from evil, do not utter idle words, for in a terrible time, on the day of the Last Judgment, the Lord will demand from everyone an answer for every idle word. Guard your lips, tongue and thoughts if you want to live in this life according to the Christian faith. “He who protects his tongue protects his soul from sorrow,” for in the power of the tongue are death and life. As James, the brother of the Lord, teaches us, saying: “Let every man be quick to obey and slow to speak, for he who does not sin in word is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body” (James 3:2). Be careful not to gather unnecessarily in the kitchen, in tents and in any other place, for during long conversations you will not avoid idle talk, ridicule and gossip. Do not go to each other’s huts without a blessed reason and without the blessing of your confessor, especially after Compline, for this is strictly forbidden by the Holy Fathers. Remember that while in huts or at work, you should, as if you were in a monastery, learn from the Divine commandments, that is, humility, meekness and love, for the Lord Himself says in the Gospel: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Also learn humility from the secret teaching - everyone has it in their hearts - that it is appropriate for them to humble themselves as they should, and not otherwise: only to condemn themselves, to be under everyone’s feet and consider that you are dust and ashes. Also in the refectory, in the field, wherever you are, constantly strengthen and bridle yourself with the fear of God, the memory of death, the memory of eternal torment; do not look here and there with your eyes, but look down and reflect on your sins; With sincere repentance, learn to cleanse yourself for each passing day, and endure all kinds of trials that come from weak brothers with joy and gratitude. This above-described teaching (secret) and attention (to oneself) dries up unclean thoughts, dispels bodily and mental passions, clears the mind, illuminates the conscience and creates joy in the heart. Secret teaching and spiritual reading are the house of the soul, into which opposing forces cannot penetrate and to which they cannot approach; This is an indestructible pillar, a quiet, calm, unshakable and soul-saving refuge. Therefore, when a monk is armed with secret teaching, and the constant repetition of the words: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” and reading in private, the demons come into great anxiety and confusion. And if you do this, my beloved children, then, having heard, I will rejoice for you and for your work pleasing to God, that you did not ignore my, sinful, diligent labors. For just as before I fed you with spiritual milk and taught you, so now I am instructing you on nothing other than the road leading to the Kingdom of Heaven, and I expect that I will receive indulgence, at least in the years of old age and infirmity, for your Divine and true holy obedience, which is a kind of dear, valuable pearl, the salvation of your souls and my soul - your sinful intercessor. And you, my beloved and spiritual children, open your ears and take note of this; do not pay me with the opposite: for good - with evil, instead of joy - with sadness, instead of hope - with hopelessness, instead of pure grain - with tares, thorns and thistles, instead of enjoying the mercy of God, the Kingdom of Heaven and indescribable joy, let me not suffer with you - for your disobedience, eternal torment and indescribable sorrows, from which may God save us! But I say the truth: offer to the Lord God, according to your Christian vow, a pure, undefiled and fragrant sacrifice - holy obedience, leaving outside the unclean and stinking sacrifice, the dead and stinking dog, that is, disobedience. Offer your weary labors and bloody sweat as a very fruitful burnt offering; your scorching under the sun and hard labor - instead of the suffering of martyrdom, and yourself with your soul - as a living sacrifice, a sweet aroma to God. And may you be worthy to receive in your souls from Christ the Savior peace and Divine joy, both in this short, temporary life, and at the end of this life, in the Kingdom of Heaven, forever enjoy indescribable joy together with the faces of the angels, and may they call you the sons of God. A fatherly prayer book to God and a zealous well-wisher, your confessor Fr. Paisiy.