Письмо 67
The World's False Progress
The author reflects on the irony of modern progress and the increasing difficulty of living a faithful Christian life.
Yesterday, N. N. stopped by. He's preparing for Communion in secret.1 In some places, you're in trouble if you don't go to church, but here, you can expect unpleasantness for going. It's all progress! But there is progress even into the depths of hell! What a sad turn minds are taking!
Courage in the Cross
The author encourages the recipient to overcome fear by relying on the power of the Cross and the intercession of the Mother of God.
What kind of fears did you have? The power of the Cross is with us! Strengthening yourselves with hope and faith that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world, protect yourselves with the sign of the Cross.✦ But maybe it wasn't much; it has passed and won't come back.2 You have the Mother of God there with you.
The Labor of Prayer
Practical advice on maintaining a consistent prayer life and the importance of spiritual reading.
What can I say to you about prayer? After all, you can't go without praying. Work hard at prayer as much as you can. You can make do with bows alone, without reading prayers; and when you're weak, you can stay in prayer while sitting — and you must always keep your mind from turning away from the Lord.3 Lord, help you! Do what you can—just don't allow yourselves to go without the labor of prayer. For your reading, you have Saint Isaac the Syrian. It's good that you have him.
Attention and Blessing
A final exhortation to remain attentive in the spiritual life, followed by a blessing.
Everything is there; just pay attention. May the Lord bless you!
Read the original Russian
Вчера N. N. заезжал. Он говеет украдкою. В иных местах в церковь не пойдешь – беда; а у нас за то, что пойдешь, ожидай неприятности. Все прогресс! Но ведь есть прогресс и во дно адово! Печальное направление умов!
Что у вас за страхи были? С нами крестная сила! Укрепясь упованием и верою, что болий есть, иже в нас, нежели – иже в мире, ограждайтесь крестным знамением. Но, может быть, это так что-нибудь; прошло и не воротится. Там у вас Матерь Божия.
Что вам сказать о молитве? Не молиться ведь нельзя. Потрудите себя на молитве, сколько сможете. Можно остаться с одними поклонами, без чтения молитв, и, сидя, в молитве пребывать можно, когда есть слабость, да и всегда от Господа не отступать умом должно. Помоги вам, Господи! Делайте, как сможете, только без труда молитвеннаго не позволяйте себе быть. Для чтения вам святой Исаак Сирианин. Хорошо, что он есть у вас.
Там все есть, только внимайте! Да благословит вас Господь!
Scripture echoes
- ↩1John.4.4 — You are from God, little children, and you have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Notes
- 1 ↩Russian говеет refers to the Orthodox practice of preparing for Holy Communion (fasting, prayer, confession), not ordinary everyday fasting alone.
- 2 ↩«это так что-нибудь» is dismissive colloquial Russian: something slight/inconsequential, not a definite event.
- 3 ↩поклоны rendered as 'bows' (Orthodox prayer bows/prostrations); could also be 'prostrations' if full prostrations are intended.
Letters on the Christian Life companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit