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When you describe other people's infirmities, you do not hide about your own. Yes, you need to take care of them too; and even more so because your deeds are living words for the sisters entrusted to you, in all respects, both good and bad; The example of superiors, as if on wax, is imprinted on the morals of subordinates. Christ began to create and teach (Acts 1:1), and the one who creates and teaches will be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19). While you despise yourself both in thought and in word, you must also force yourself to action, where God’s help will appear. And most of all, you need to remember the Church of God, and force yourself to the conciliar divine service: surely the sisters will follow the same, and they will not fail otherwise, apologizing not only for weakness, but also for your silence; and when you stand on guard, you see the careless and lazy, and arouse the latter with your pastoral voice. Remember the Word of God spoken to the shepherds: son of man, I have given you as a guard for the house of Israel; at your hand I will require the blood of the lost sheep (Ezek.3:17). Read books to the sisters, depending on the disposition of each; but it is more necessary to give reading active, and not speculative, such as: saints - Ephraim, Abba Dorotheus, John Climacus, the prologue and lives of the holy fathers; and see the fruit from them - the knowledge of one’s weakness and humility; and not that: I know everything, and in the case of a conversation, challenge others. And then the Lord Himself will give them true reason, which is acquired from humility; and as much as it brings benefit, on the contrary, exaltation damages; which we ourselves have seen in experience on many. I wrote to N.N. what books to read, and she should follow your order: read three sheets of paper morning and evening, with a slight change, allowing, if the matter is not finished, to still read up to half a sheet. Thank God that she recognized her mental decline; The Lord is strong to grant her healing, but not suddenly, but as she humbles herself; but this is no small thing. May the Lord help you to see the fruit of your care for her. Oh... I don’t know what to tell you anymore; As the Lord tells you, admonish them; I wrote something to them; That’s why they are seditious because they are both right, i.e. proud; But God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble; – when they humble themselves, they will calm down (Matthew 11:29). Where can we go from sorrows? - and where to look for a place where they cannot penetrate. When the Lord Himself, who committed no sin, being in the flesh, deigned to suffer, leaving us an image so that we might follow His footsteps; and through many sorrows it is fitting for us to enter the kingdom of God; what will we do when they come against our will! And it is only by the providence of God that we are allowed to test our patience, then we must, having submitted to the will of God, bear sorrow with patience and bear the infirmities of the weak, not to please ourselves, but our neighbor (Rom. 15:1). The guilt of your sorrows is from the unworldliness of your sisters; with God's help, consider each other's confusion and exhort each to self-reproach, humility and patience; and where necessary, and through whom the temptation comes, you can also restrain it, according to the authority given to you: insist, reprove, rebuke in time and in time, with all long-suffering and humility (2 Tim. 4:2). Apparently the enemy raises a storm and confusion especially among those who do not have humility and think that something is being: and you try so that they, with humility, self-reproach and patience, defeat his treachery. May the Lord abolish his flattery and the power erected on your holy abode; and from these embarrassments let him produce the best, to his shame. I wish you, having completed this holy act of self-destruction in a soul-saving manner, to meet with heartfelt joy the bright feast of the Resurrection of Christ, with all your sisters in Christ, and to celebrate it in deep peace and tranquility. Mnogohreshny I.M. April 7, 1842 You might be interested in: