Письмо XXIII. Пресвитеру Стефану

It is characteristic of spiritual love not only to benefit those in need when they are present, but also to console them in their absence and not allow souls to be separated from their bodies and the power of the word, thanks to which the soul bears the image of the Creator, to be limited to space - and either in the presence of one’s own person to conduct decent conversations with loved ones, or in absence to communicate through letters. After all, nature wisely invented this method, by God’s grace, for the sake of the inseparable union of those physically far removed from each other in space. After all, this is how speech penetrates the soul more often and more often through voice and writing, so that we constantly contemplate those who, out of love, are always spiritually present for us, and embrace them, and distract them from all sorrows. So do not forget me, your child and student, honest Fathers, and as disciples and teachers of love, feed my soul suffering from hunger with the word of virtue, and enlighten my mind, oppressed by the darkness of ignorance, looking at the heavenly reward prepared for you for this, even if you have to be distracted for a while from better and more important activities. I know that there is no equal glory to talking directly with God and compassionately caring for the weakest. However, this is not alien to God’s decrees. [354] You might be interested in: