Письмо 109

We find it necessary to offer you, mother, a note: the venerable A. entered your monastery with a very good disposition and the desire to “seek Jesus,” that is, to acquire His love. This is an expression of hers that has often reached us. This is a very good and good deed, but it must have a solid foundation: for love is tempted by the contrary. Based on her ardor and purity of soul, she will soon see comforting and delightful feelings in herself. “This will encourage her in finding Jesus and His love.” But this feeling is very dangerous and close to delusion: those who have not yet had a struggle with passions, who have not recognized their weakness and have not humbled themselves, are not reliable and comforting feelings. Even if they come when they do, be careful not to accept them and not be deceived by them, but consider yourself unworthy of it. St. Isaac in the 2nd word writes that: “the work of the cross is purely; one act is declared and the violent parts are fulfilled by the action: enduring the vexation of the cross; and the second is called a vision and is fulfilled by the desired part, and is acquired by subtle work of the mind and Divine ever-teaching and abiding in prayer. And whoever begins with this second part, and not the first, the wrath of God comes upon him. Although he does not do this out of laziness, he takes the second part for its sweetness, having not first purified the passionate disposition of the soul through the patience of sorrows, that is, not having accepted the crucifixion of the flesh with the vexation of the cross, he dreams in his mind the glory of the cross” (i.e., consolation), which are given after the soul has been healed from passions and when humility is established in the heart, and then it is safe; that is why we suggest that you take care to warn her, if she has any pleasurable feelings, so that she does not rely on them and does not consider them too great; they will leave her soon. Otherwise, having been deceived and accepting them at the wrong time, he will soon lose them: and when the time comes, he will not receive them, like a careless and stupid farmer who, seeing a flower growing, would consider it a fruit and pick it: he will never receive the fruit again. Many have suffered while walking this path and have strayed from it; Instead of humility, having imagined themselves, they acquired exaltation, according to the word of the same saint. Isaac: “Whoever does not think that he is a sinner, his prayer is not acceptable before God.” Remind her that the love of God is tempted by the contrary: various passions will arise, with which it is necessary to have a struggle, and for those who have humble wisdom, the struggle will come with relief; but he who imagines something about himself, or hopes for comforting feelings, is allowed to fight more strongly, so that, having recognized his weakness, he humbles himself. But for them, victory is unbearable and leads to cowardice: and this is a sign of their pride. We must be wary of delusion, which is diverse: either, having been seduced by imaginary holiness, it will blind the eyes of the soul, or, in a flash of joyful and comforting actions, deprived of them, it will fall into many different passions; and when you lead it moderately and constantly, studying in more detail, then you can develop something good out of it over time. Order her to read the more active teachings of St. fathers: St. Abba Dorotheus, St. John Climacus, St. Simeon the New Theologian, and so that she reveals to you about all her words, deeds, thoughts and actions, for what is revealed is light, and what is not revealed is darkness (Eph. 5:13). And you admonish her, as God instructs you, for her benefit. Remember that you must give an answer for her if the contrary suffers; such ardor is very dangerous... You might be interested in: