Письмо 188

I don’t write to you in response to every letter you send because I can’t. You know how much work I have, and, moreover, remember my advanced age, at which a person is sick even without illness. Perhaps my last strength will soon leave me, but may His all-holy will be done in everything. What a crude concept do you have about remembering your parent, as if the Lamb will not be slain for the soul of your parent on Sunday. Every day the Lamb of God is offered and slain, taking away the sins of the whole world, and moreover, all the departed are remembered by name, and in general all Orthodox Christians; Why do you think that the Lamb will not be slain for the departed soul? I don’t know what you’re talking about about funeral mass; Is it really possible that at a funeral or a custom-made mass the soul of only one of your parents will be remembered? No, everyone too - everyone is remembered at the proskomedia, and at the litany sometimes one and many are remembered; but the sacrament does not consist in the litany, but in the proskomedia and the performance of the sacraments. Say the Lord bless you. Have abstinence according to your strength, and pay attention to internal activities: self-reproach, humility, patience, love; Don’t look down on your neighbors and don’t judge them; look at your own sins and weaknesses. Take a closer look at what is causing you grief? Your passions; but you don’t want to show yourself to them, you say: I feel offended; you are looking for my care; How much I wrote and spoke to you, and supplied you with fatherly books that would lead you to the true good of salvation. You went to seek salvation, but you are losing your way. You know that you must obey and cut off your will, but you want me to obey you and cut off my will. If you do not see your weakness and do not reproach yourself, then what will be the benefit? You grieve, but don’t get married. I wish you peace, health and salvation. The sinful hieromonk Macarius. March 18, 1858. You might be interested in: