Письмо 154

I am very sorry about your embarrassment, which is coming from the enemy. You consider yourself such a sinner that there is no one like you, not understanding that the enemy is fighting you with blasphemous thoughts, putting into your thoughts inappropriate and inexplicable words; and you think that they come from you, but you, on the contrary, do not have them, but you are horrified, grieved and embarrassed, while they are not yours at all, but the enemy; there is not the slightest part of your participation in them and you shouldn’t even impute them to sin, but you need to be calm, not paying any attention to them and imputing them to nothing; they will disappear. And when you are embarrassed about this, grieve and despair, this consoles the enemy and he rebels against you even more with it. Don’t consider them a sin at all, and you will calm down; what need do you have to grieve for the sins of the enemy; he also blasphemed the Lord in heaven. If these blasphemous thoughts were yours, then you would not grieve, as happens to those who do this voluntarily - infidels or freethinkers; but I’m sure about you - that you are horrified to even think about this, it’s obvious that these thoughts are not yours, but the enemy’s; but on your part this is such guilt and sin! You think a lot about yourself, are carried away by pride, despise others, condemn them, and the like, and you care little about this, and this is why this scourge is unleashed on you, so that you humble yourself and consider yourself the last of all, but not be embarrassed, for embarrassment is the fruit of pride. Stop judging, don’t think too much about yourself, don’t despise others, then blasphemous thoughts will go away. To strengthen you and confirm this, read from St. John Climacus, in the 23rd degree, continuation of blasphemous thoughts; there you will clearly see that I am writing to you the truth. So, be calm; even if thoughts come again, do not be embarrassed about them, they are not yours; and the confessor just needs to say that blasphemous thoughts confuse him, without explaining in detail. Mnogohreshny I.M. December 14, 1856. You might be interested in: