Wisdom!: Readings = from the=20 Fathers of the Church

The holy and life-giving Faith of the Church as = expounded=20 by Her Saints.

Archive for September, 2005

Fr. Seraphim (Rose) of Platina: On the Mind of=20 the Fathers

Thursday, September 29th, 2005=20

Spiritual life does not mean being in the clouds while saying the = Jesus=20 Prayer or going through the various motions. It means discovering the = laws of=20 this spiritual life as they apply to one=E2=80=99s own position, = one=E2=80=99s situation. This=20 comes over the years by attentive reading of the Holy Fathers with a = notebook,=20 writing down those passages which seem most significant to us, studying = them,=20 finding how they apply to us, and, if need be, revising earlier views of = them as=20 we get a little deeper into them, finding what one Father says about = something,=20 what a second Father says about the same thing, and so on. There is no=20 encylopedia that will give you that. You cannot decide you want to find = all=20 about some one subject and begin reading the Holy Fathers. There are a = few=20 indexes in the writings of the Fathers, but you cannot simply go at = spiritual=20 life in that way. You have to go at it a little bit at a time, taking = the=20 teaching in as you are able to absorb it, going back over the same texts = in=20 later years, reabsorbing them, getting more, and gradually coming to = find out=20 how these spiritual texts apply to you. As a person does that, he = discovers that=20 every time he reads the same Holy Father he finds new things. He always = goes=20 deeper into it.

=E2=80=93Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works, = 466

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St. Innocent of Alaska: The Way Into the Kingdom=20 of Heaven

Friday, September 23rd, 2005=20

Introduction

We were created to live on earth unlike animals who die and disappear = with=20 time, but with the high purpose to live with God =EF=BF=BD not for a = hundred years or so=20 =EF=BF=BD but for eternity!

Every individual instinctively strives for happiness. This desire has = been=20 implanted in our nature by the Creator Himself, and therefore it is not = sinful.=20 But it is important to understand that in this temporary life it is = impossible=20 to find full happiness, because that comes from God and cannot be = attained=20 without Him. Only He, who is the ultimate Good and the source of all = good, can=20 quench our thirst for happiness.

Material things can never wholly satisfy us. Indeed, we know from = experience=20 that every item we have desired has pleased us only for a short while. = Then it=20 became boring, and we started to desire something else. This process of=20 satisfaction and boredom then repeated itself many times. The most = striking=20 example of unquenchable thirst for happiness was Solomon, the famous = King of=20 Israel, who lived around 1000 B.C. He was so rich that all the household = utensils in his palaces were made of pure gold. He was so wise that = kings and=20 famous people from far away lands came to hear him. He was so famous = that his=20 foes trembled at the mere mention of his name. He could easily satisfy = any of=20 his wishes, and it seemed that there was no pleasure that he did not = possess or=20 could not obtain. But with all of this, Solomon could not find total = happiness=20 to the end of his life. He described his many years of searching for = happiness=20 and his continual disappointments in the book of Ecclesiastes, which he = began=20 with the following phrase: Vanity of vanities, all is vanity (Ecc. = 1:2).

Innumerable other wise people who were also successful in life came = to the=20 same conclusion. It seems that in the depth of our subconscious = something=20 reminds us that we are just wanderers on this earth and that our true = happiness=20 is not here but there, in that other and better world known as Paradise = or the=20 Heavenly Kingdom. Let man own the whole world and everything that is in = it, yet=20 all this will interest him for no more than a short period, while the = immortal=20 soul, thirsting for personal communication with God, will remain=20 unsatisfied.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth in order to return = to us our=20 lost capacity to spend eternity in the blissful presence of God. He = revealed to=20 people that all their evil lies in sin and that no one through their own = efforts=20 can overcome the evil within themselves and attain communion with God. = Sin,=20 ingrained in our nature since the fall, stands between us and God like a = high=20 wall. If the Son of God had not descended to us through His mercy for = us, had=20 not taken on our human nature, and had not by His death conquered sin, = all=20 mankind would have perished for ever! Now, thanks to Him, those who wish = to=20 cleanse themselves from evil can do so and return to God and obtain = eternal=20 bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Now we will discuss in detail how you can achieve this aim. We will=20 examine:

Which benefits were granted to us by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

How Jesus Christ lived on earth and suffered for us.

Which path leads to the Kingdom of Heaven.

How Jesus Christ helps us to walk along the path of salvation.
Read=20 the rest of this entry =C2=BB

Posted in St.=20 Innocent of Alaska | Comments Off

St. Seraphim of Sarov: Conversation With Nicholas=20 Motovilov III

Sunday, September 11th, 2005=20

=E2=80=9CI will tell you something else, so that you may understand = still more=20 clearly what is meant by the grace of God, how to recognize it and how = its=20 action is manifested particularly in those who are enlightened by it. = The grace=20 of the Holy Spirit is the light which enlightens man. The whole of = Sacred=20 Scripture speaks about this. Thus our holy Father David said: Thy word = is a lamp=20 to my feet, and a light to my path (Ps. 118:105), and: Unless Thy law = had been=20 my meditation I should have died in my humiliation (Ps. 118:92). In = other words,=20 the grace of the Holy Spirit which is expressed in the Law by the words = of the=20 Lord=E2=80=99s commandments is my lamp and light. And if this grace of = the Holy Spirit=20 (which I try to acquire so carefully and zealously that I meditate on = Thy=20 righteous judgements seven times a day) did not enlighten me amidst the = darkness=20 of the cares which are inseparable from the high calling of my royal = rank,=20 whence should I get a spark of light to illumine my way on the path of = life=20 which is darkened by the ill-will of my enemies?

=E2=80=9CAnd in fact the Lord has frequently demonstrated before many = witnesses how=20 the grace of the Holy Spirit acts on people whom He has sanctified and = illumined=20 by His great inspiration [14]. Remember Moses after his talk with God on = Mount=20 Sinai. He so shone with an extraordinary light that people were unable = to look=20 at him. He was even forced to wear a veil when he appeared in public. = Remember=20 the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor. A great light encircled = Him, and=20 His raiment became shining, exceedingly white like snow (Mk. 9:3), and = His=20 disciples fell on their faces from fear. But when Moses and Elias = appeared to=20 Him in that light, a cloud overshadowed them in order to hide the = radiance of=20 the light of the divine grace which blinded the eyes of the disciples. = Thus the=20 grace of the All-Holy Spirit of God appears in an ineffable light to all = to whom=20 God reveals its action.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CBut how,=E2=80=9D I asked Father Seraphim, =E2=80=9Ccan I = know that I am in the grace of the=20 Holy Spirit?=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CIt is very simple, your Godliness,=E2=80=9D he replied. = =E2=80=9CThat is why the Lord says:=20 =E2=80=98All things are simple to those who find knowledge=E2=80=99 = (Prov. 8:9, Septuagint). The=20 trouble is that we do not seek this divine knowledge which does not puff = up, for=20 it is not of this world. This knowledge which is full of love for God = and for=20 our neighbour builds up every man for his salvation. Of this knowledge = the Lord=20 said that God wills all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of = the=20 truth (I Tim. 2:4). And of the lack of this knowledge He said to His = Apostles:=20 Are you also yet without understanding (Mat. 15:16)? Concerning this=20 understanding [15], it is said in the Gospel of the Apostles: Then = opened He=20 their understanding (Lk. 24:45), and the Apostles always perceived = whether the=20 Spirit of God was dwelling in them or not; and being filled with = understanding,=20 they saw the presence of the Holy Spirit with them and declared = positively that=20 their work was holy and entirely pleasing to the Lord God. That explains = why in=20 their Epistles they wrote: It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us = (Acts=20 15:28). Only on these grounds did they offer their Epistles as immutable = truth=20 for the benefit of all the faithful. Thus the holy Apostles were = consciously=20 aware of the presence in themselves of the Spirit of God. And so you = see, your=20 Godliness, how simple it is!=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CNevertheless,=E2=80=9D I replied, =E2=80=9CI do not = understand how I can be certain that I=20 am in the Spirit of God. How can I discern for myself His true = manifestation in=20 me?=E2=80=9D

Father Seraphim replied: =E2=80=9CI have already told you, your = Godliness, that it is=20 very simple and I have related in detail how people come to be in the = Spirit of=20 God and how we can recognize His presence in us. So what do you want, my = son?=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CI want to understand it well,=E2=80=9D I said.

Then Father Seraphim took me very firmly by the shoulders and said: = =E2=80=9CWe are=20 both in the Spirit of God now, my son. Why don=E2=80=99t you look at = me?=E2=80=9D

I replied: =E2=80=9CI cannot look, Father, because your eyes are = flashing like=20 lightning. Your face has become brighter than the sun, and my eyes ache = with=20 pain.=E2=80=9D

Father Seraphim said: =E2=80=9CDon=E2=80=99t be alarmed, your = Godliness! Now you yourself=20 have become as bright as I am. You are now in the fullness of the Spirit = of God=20 yourself; otherwise you would not be able to see me as I = am.=E2=80=9D

Then, bending his head towards me, he whispered softly in my ear: = =E2=80=9CThank the=20 Lord God for His unutterable mercy to us! You saw that I did not even = cross=20 myself; and only in my heart I prayed mentally to the Lord God and said = within=20 myself: =E2=80=98Lord, grant him to see clearly with his bodily eyes = that descent of Thy=20 Spirit which Thou grantest to Thy servants when Thou art pleased to = appear in=20 the light of Thy magnificent glory.=E2=80=99 And you see, my son, the = Lord instantly=20 fulfilled the humble prayer of poor Seraphim. How then shall we not = thank Him=20 for this unspeakable gift to us both? Even to the greatest hermits, my = son, the=20 Lord God does not always show His mercy in this way. This grace of God, = like a=20 loving mother, has been pleased to comfort your contrite heart at the=20 intercession of the Mother of God herself. But why, my son, do you not = look me=20 in the eyes? Just look, and don=E2=80=99t be afraid! The Lord is with = us!=E2=80=9D

After these words I glanced at his face and there came over me an = even=20 greater reverent awe. Imagine in the center of the sun, in the dazzling = light of=20 its midday rays, the face of a man talking to you. You see the movement = of his=20 lips and the changing expression of his eyes, you hear his voice, you = feel=20 someone holding your shoulders; yet you do not see his hands, you do not = even=20 see yourself or his figure, but only a blinding light spreading far = around for=20 several yards and illumining with its glaring sheen both the = snow-blanket which=20 covered the forest glade and the snow-flakes which besprinkled me and = the great=20 Elder. You can imagine the state I was in!

=E2=80=9CHow do you feel now?=E2=80=9D Father Seraphim asked me.

=E2=80=9CExtraordinarily well,=E2=80=9D I said.

=E2=80=9CBut in what way? How exactly do you feel well?=E2=80=9D

I answered: =E2=80=9CI feel such calmness and peace in my soul that = no words can=20 express it.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CThis, your Godliness,=E2=80=9D said Father Seraphim, = =E2=80=9Cis that peace of which the=20 Lord said to His disciples: My peace I give unto you; not as the world = gives,=20 give I unto you (Jn. 14:21). If you were of the world, the world would = love its=20 own; but because I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world = hates=20 you (Jn. 15:19). But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (Jn. = 16:33).=20 And to those people whom this world hates but who are chosen by the = Lord, the=20 Lord gives that peace which you now feel within you, the peace which, in = the=20 words of the Apostle, passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7). The Apostle=20 describes it in this way, because it is impossible to express in words = the=20 spiritual well-being which it produces in those into whose hearts the = Lord God=20 has infused it. Christ the Saviour calls it a peace which comes from His = own=20 generosity and is not of this world, for no temporary earthly prosperity = can=20 give it to the human heart; it is granted from on high by the Lord God = Himself,=20 and that is why it is called the peace of God. What else do you = feel?=E2=80=9D Father=20 Seraphim asked me.

=E2=80=9CAn extraordinary sweetness,=E2=80=9D I replied.

And he continued: =E2=80=9CThis is that sweetness of which it is said = in Holy=20 Scripture: They will be inebriated with the fatness of Thy house; and = Thou shalt=20 make them drink of the torrent of Thy delight (Ps. 35:8) [16]. And now = this=20 sweetness is flooding our hearts and coursing through our veins with = unutterable=20 delight. From this sweetness our hearts melt as it were, and both of us = are=20 filled with such happiness as tongue cannot tell. What else do you = feel?=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CAn extraordinary joy in all my heart.=E2=80=9D

And Father Seraphim continued: =E2=80=9CWhen the Spirit of God comes = down to man and=20 overshadows him with the fullness of His inspiration [17], then the = human soul=20 overflows with unspeakable joy, for the Spirit of God fills with joy = whatever He=20 touches. This is that joy of which the Lord speaks in His Gospel: A = woman when=20 she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she is=20 delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that = a man is=20 born into the world. In the world you will be sorrowful [18]; but when I = see you=20 again, your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you = (Jn.=20 16:21-22). Yet however comforting may be this joy which you now feel in = your=20 heart, it is nothing in comparison with that of which the Lord Himself = by the=20 mouth of His Apostle said that that joy eye has not seen, nor ear heard, = nor has=20 it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for them that = love Him (I=20 Cor. 2:9). Foretastes of that joy are given to us now, and if they fill = our=20 souls with such sweetness, well-being and happiness, what shall we say = of that=20 joy which has been prepared in heaven for those who weep here on earth? = And you,=20 my son, have wept enough in your life on earth; yet see with what joy = the Lord=20 consoles you even in this life! Now it is up to us, my son, to add = labours to=20 labours in order to go from strength to strength (Ps. 83:7), and to come = to the=20 measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13), so that = the words=20 of the Lord may be fulfilled in us: But they that wait upon the Lord = shall renew=20 their strength; they shall grow wings like eagles; and they shall run = and not be=20 weary (Is. 40:31); they will go from strength to strength, and the God = of gods=20 will appear to them in the Sion (Ps. 83:8) of realization and heavenly = visions.=20 Only then will our present joy (which now visits us little and briefly) = appear=20 in all its fullness, and no one will take it from us, for we shall be = filled to=20 overflowing with inexplicable heavenly delights. What else do you feel, = your=20 Godliness?=E2=80=9D

I answered: =E2=80=9CAn extraordinary warmth.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CHow can you feel warmth, my son? Look, we are sitting in the = forest. It is=20 winter out-of-doors, and snow is underfoot. There is more than an inch = of snow=20 on us, and the snowflakes are still falling. What warmth can there = be?=E2=80=9D

I answered: =E2=80=9CSuch as there is in a bath-house when the water = is poured on the=20 stone and the steam rises in clouds.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CAnd the smell?=E2=80=9D he asked me. =E2=80=9CIs it the same = as in the bath-house?=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CNo,=E2=80=9D I replied. =E2=80=9CThere is nothing on earth = like this fragrance. When in my=20 dear mother=E2=80=99s lifetime I was fond of dancing and used to go to = balls and=20 parties, my mother would sprinkle me with scent which she bought at the = best=20 shops in Kazan. But those scents did not exhale such = fragrance.=E2=80=9D

And Father Seraphim, smiling pleasantly, said: =E2=80=9CI know it = myself just as well=20 as you do, my son, but I am asking you on purpose to see whether you = feel it in=20 the same way. It is absolutely true, your Godliness! The sweetest = earthly=20 fragrance cannot be compared with the fragrance which we now feel, for = we are=20 now enveloped in the fragrance of the Holy Spirit of God. What on earth = can be=20 like it? Mark, your Godliness, you have told me that around us it is = warm as in=20 a bath-house; but look, neither on you nor on me does the snow melt, nor = does it=20 underfoot; therefore, this warmth is not in the air but in us. It is = that very=20 warmth about which the Holy Spirit in the words of prayer makes us cry = to the=20 Lord: =E2=80=98Warm me with the warmth of Thy Holy Spirit!=E2=80=99 By = it the hermits of both=20 sexes were kept warm and did not fear the winter frost, being clad, as = in fur=20 coats, in the grace-given clothing woven by the Holy Spirit. And so it = must be=20 in actual fact, for the grace of God must dwell within us, in our heart, = because=20 the Lord said: The Kingdom of God is within you (Lk. 17:21). By the = Kingdom of=20 God the Lord meant the grace of the Holy Spirit. This Kingdom of God is = now=20 within us, and the grace of the Holy Spirit shines upon us and warms us = from=20 without as well. It fills the surrounding air with many fragrant odours, = sweetens our senses with heavenly delight and floods our hearts with = unutterable=20 joy. Our present state is that of which the Apostle says; The Kingdom of = God is=20 not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy = Spirit (Rom.=20 14:17). Our faith consists not in the plausible words of earthly wisdom, = but in=20 the demonstration of the Spirit and power (cp. I Cor.2:4). That is just = the=20 state that we are in now. Of this state the Lord said: There are some of = those=20 standing here who shall not taste of death till they see the Kingdom of = God come=20 in power (Mk. 9:1). See, my son, what unspeakable joy the Lord God has = now=20 granted us! This is what it means to be in the fullness of the Holy = Spirit,=20 about which St. Macarius of Egypt writes: =E2=80=98I myself was in the = fullness of the=20 Holy Spirit.=E2=80=99 With this fullness of His Holy Spirit the Lord has = now filled us=20 poor creatures to overflowing. So there is no need now, your Godliness, = to ask=20 how people come to be in the grace of the Holy Spirit. Will you remember = this=20 manifestation of God=E2=80=99s ineffable mercy which has visited = us?=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t know, Father,=E2=80=9D I said, = =E2=80=9Cwhether the Lord will grant me to remember=20 this mercy of God always as vividly and clearly as I feel it = now.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CI think,=E2=80=9D Father Seraphim answered me, =E2=80=9Cthat = the Lord will help you to=20 retain it in your memory forever, or His goodness would never have = instantly=20 bowed in this way to my humble prayer and so quickly anticipated the = request of=20 poor Seraphim; all the more so, because it is not given to you alone to=20 understand it, but through you it is for the whole world, in order that = you=20 yourself may be confirmed in God=E2=80=99s work and may be useful to = others. The fact=20 that I am a Monk and you are a layman is utterly beside the point. What = God=20 requires is true faith in Himself and His Only-begotten Son. In return = for that=20 the grace of the Holy Spirit is granted abundantly from on high. The = Lord seeks=20 a heart filled to overflowing with love for God and our neighbour; this = is the=20 throne on which He loves to sit and on which He appears in the fullness = of His=20 heavenly glory. =E2=80=98Son, give Me thy heart,=E2=80=99 He says, = =E2=80=98and all the rest I Myself=20 will add to thee (Prov. 23:26; Matt. 6:33),=E2=80=99 for in the human = heart the Kingdom=20 of God can be contained. The Lord commanded His disciples: Seek first = the=20 Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be = added to=20 you; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things (Mat. = 6:32,33). The Lord does not rebuke us for using earthly goods, for He = says=20 Himself that, owing to the conditions of our earthly life, we need all = these=20 things; that is, all the things which make our human life more peaceful = and make=20 our way to our heavenly home lighter and easier. That is why the holy = Apostle=20 Paul said that in his opinion there was nothing better on earth than = piety and=20 sufficiency (cp. II Cor.9:8; I Tim.6:6). And Holy Church prays that this = may be=20 granted us by the Lord God; and though troubles, misfortunes and various = needs=20 are inseparable from our life on earth, yet the Lord God neither willed = nor=20 wills that we should have nothing but troubles and adversities. = Therefore, He=20 commands us through the Apostles to bear one another=E2=80=99s burdens = and so fulfill=20 the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). The Lord Jesus personally gives us the = commandment=20 to love one another, so that, by consoling one another with mutual love, = we may=20 lighten the sorrowful and narrow way of our journey to the heavenly = country. Why=20 did He descend to us from heaven, if not for the purpose of taking upon = Himself=20 our poverty and of making us rich with the riches of His goodness and = His=20 unutterable generosity? He did not come to be served by men but to serve = them=20 Himself and to give His life for the salvation of many. You do the same, = your=20 Godliness, and having seen the mercy of God manifestly shown to you, = tell of it=20 to all who desire salvation. The harvest truly is great, says the Lord, = but the=20 labourers are few (Lk. 10:2). The Lord God has led us out to work and = has given=20 us the gifts of His grace in order that, by reaping the ears of the = salvation of=20 our fellow-men and bringing as many as possible into the Kingdom of God, = we may=20 bring Him fruit=EF=BF=BDsome thirtyfold, some sixtyfold and some a = hundredfold. Let us=20 be watchful, my son, in order that we may not be condemned with that = wicked and=20 slothful servant who hid his talent in the earth, but let us try to = imitate=20 those good and faithful servants of the Lord who brought their Master = four=20 talents instead of two, and ten instead of five (Cf. Mat. 25:14-30).

=E2=80=9COf the mercy of the Lord God there is no shadow of doubt. = You have seen for=20 yourself, your Godliness, how the words of the Lord spoken through the = Prophet=20 have been accomplished in us: I am not a God far off, but a God near at = hand=20 (cp. Jer. 23:23), and thy salvation is at thy mouth (cp. Deut. 30:12-14; = Rom.=20 10:8-13). I had not time even to cross myself, but only wished in my = heart that=20 the Lord would grant you to see His goodness in all its fullness, and He = was=20 pleased to hasten to realise my wish. I am not boasting when I say this, = neither=20 do I say it to show you my importance and lead you to jealousy, or to = make you=20 think that I am a Monk and you only a layman. No, no, your Godliness! = The Lord=20 is nigh unto all them that call upon Him in truth (Ps. 144:18) and there = is no=20 partiality with Him (Eph. 6:9). For the Father loves the Son and gives=20 everything into His hand (cp. Jn. 3:35). If only we ourselves loved Him, = our=20 heavenly Father, in a truly filial way! The Lord listens equally to the = Monk and=20 the simple Christian layman provided that both are Orthodox believers, = and both=20 love God from the depth of their souls, and both have faith in Him, if = only as a=20 grain of mustard seed; and they both shall move mountains. =E2=80=98One = shall move=20 thousands and two tens of thousands=E2=80=99 (cp. Deut. 32:30). The Lord = Himself says:=20 All things are possible to him who believes (Mk. 9:23). And the holy = Apostle=20 Paul loudly exclaims: I can do all things in Christ Who strengthens me = (Phil.=20 4:13). But does not our Lord Jesus Christ speak even more wonderfully = than this=20 of those who believe in Him: He who believes in Me, not only the works = that I=20 do, but even greater then these shall he do, because I am going to My = Father.=20 And I will pray for you that your joy may be full. Hitherto you have = asked=20 nothing in My name. But now ask=E2=80=A6 (Jn. 14:12,16; 16:24).

=E2=80=9CThus, my son, whatever you ask of the Lord God you will = receive, if only it=20 is for the glory of God or for the good of your neighbour, because what = we do=20 for the good of our neighbour He refers to His own glory. And therefore = He says:=20 =E2=80=9CAll that you have done unto one of the least of these, you have = done unto Me=E2=80=9D=20 (cp. Matt. 25:40). And so, have no doubt that the Lord God will fulfill = your=20 petitions, if only they concern the glory of God or the benefit and = edification=20 of your fellow men. But, even if something is necessary for your own = need or use=20 or advantage, just as quickly and graciously will the Lord be pleased to = send=20 you even that, provided that extreme need and necessity require it. For = the Lord=20 loves those who love Him. The Lord is good to all men; He gives = abundantly to=20 those who call upon His Name, and His bounty is in all His works. He = will do the=20 will of them that fear Him and He will hear their prayer, and fulfill = all their=20 plans. The Lord will fulfill all thy petitions (cp. Ps. 144:19; 19:4,5). = Only=20 beware, your Godliness, of asking the Lord for something for which there = is no=20 urgent need. The Lord will not refuse you even this in return for your = Orthodox=20 faith in Christ the Saviour, for the Lord will not give up the staff of = the=20 righteous to the lot of sinners (cp. Ps. 124:3), and He will speedily = accomplish=20 the will of His servant David; but He will call him to account for = having=20 troubled Him without special need, and for having asked Him for = something=20 without which he could have managed very easily.

=E2=80=9CAnd so, your Godliness, I have now told you and given you a = practical=20 demonstration of all that the Lord and the Mother of God have been = pleased to=20 tell you and show you through me, poor Seraphim. Now go in peace. The = Lord and=20 the Mother of God be with you always, now and ever, and to the ages of = ages.=20 Amen. Now go in peace.=E2=80=9D

And during the whole of this time, from the moment when Father = Seraphim=E2=80=99s=20 face became radiant [19], this illumination continued; and all that he = told me=20 from the beginning of the narrative till now, he said while remaining in = one and=20 the same position. The ineffable glow of the light which emanated from = him I=20 myself saw with my own eyes. And I am ready to vouch for it with an = oath.

Endnotes

* The very discovery of Motovilov=E2=80=99s manuscript is a great = miracle. For about=20 seventy years, this most valuable manuscript lay buried in complete = oblivion and=20 was in danger of being destroyed, for it had already been thrown away = and was=20 lying in a heap of rubbish in an attic under a layer of bird-droppings. = Here it=20 was miraculously found by S. A. Nilus, the famous author of the book = Multum in=20 Parvo. Reverently searching for scraps of the great Seraphim=E2=80=99s = life, Nilus was=20 rummaging among odds and ends in the attic and was already beginning to = lose=20 hope of finding anything when an exercise book which was very = indistinctly=20 written attracted his attention. This proved to be the memoirs of = Motovilov, and=20 that is how they came to be given to the world. The memoirs were found = in 1902=20 and printed in the =E2=80=9CMoscow News=E2=80=9D in 1903; almost = simultaneously the exposition=20 of the relics of St. Seraphim took place.

14. Lit. =E2=80=9Cdescents.=E2=80=9D Slavonic naitie.

15. In the Slavonic one word represents three different Greek = words.

16. The same word which in Slavonic means delight in Russia means=20 sweetness.

17. Lit. =E2=80=9Cdescent.=E2=80=9D Slavonic naitie.

18. =E2=80=9CIn the world you will be sorrowful.=E2=80=9D This is the = Slavonic for =E2=80=9CIn the=20 world you will have tribulation=E2=80=9D(Jn.16:33). St. Seraphim has = transposed it to=20 its present context.

19. Or, =E2=80=9Cbecame illumined,=E2=80=9D =E2=80=9Cbegan to = shine.=E2=80=9D

This text was kindly provided by New Sarov Press.

St. = Seraphim of=20 Sarov=E2=80=99s Conversation With Nicholas Motovilov

Posted in St.=20 Seraphim of Sarov | Comments Off

St. Seraphim of Sarov: Conversation With Nicholas=20 Motovilov II

Saturday, September 10th, 2005=20

=E2=80=9CNow I will tell you about myself, poor Seraphim. I come of a = merchant family=20 in Kursk. So when I was not yet in the Monastery we used to trade with = the goods=20 which brought us the greatest profit. Act like that, my son. And just as = in=20 business the main point is not merely to trade, but to get as much = profit as=20 possible, so in the business of the Christian life the main point is not = merely=20 to pray or to do some other good deed. Though the Apostle says: Pray = without=20 ceasing (I Thess. 5:17), yet, as you remember, he adds: I would rather = speak=20 five words with my understanding than ten thousand words with the tongue = (I Cor.=20 14:13). And the Lord says: Not everyone that says unto Me: Lord, Lord, = shall be=20 saved, but he who does the will of My Father, that is he who does the = work of=20 God and, moreover, does it with reverence, for cursed is he who does the = work of=20 God negligently (Jer. 48:10). And the work of God is: Believe in God and = in Him=20 Whom He has sent, Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:1;6:29). If we understand the=20 commandments of Christ and of the Apostles aright, our business as = Christians=20 consists not in increasing the number of our good deeds which are only = the means=20 of furthering the purpose of our Christian life, but in deriving from = them the=20 utmost profit, that is in acquiring the most abundant gifts of the Holy=20 Spirit.

=E2=80=9CHow I wish, your Godliness, that you yourself may acquire = this inexhaustible=20 source of divine grace, and may always ask yourself: Am I in the Spirit = of God=20 or not? And if you are in the Spirit, blessed be God!=EF=BF=BDthere is = nothing to grieve=20 about. You are ready to appear before the awful judgement of Christ = immediately.=20 For =E2=80=98In whatsoever I find you, in that I will judge = you.=E2=80=99 But if we are not in=20 the Spirit, we must discover why and for what reason our Lord God the = Holy=20 Spirit has willed to abandon us; and we must seek Him again, and must go = on=20 searching until our Lord God the Holy Spirit has been found and is with = us again=20 through His goodness. And we must attack the enemies that drive us away = from Him=20 until even their dust is no more, as has been said by the Prophet David: = I shall=20 pursue my enemies and overtake them; and I shall not turn back till they = are=20 destroyed. I shall harass them, and they will not be able to stand; they = will=20 fall under my feet. (Ps. 17:37-38).

=E2=80=9CThat=E2=80=99s it, my son. That is how you must spiritually = trade in virtue.=20 Distribute the Holy Spirit=E2=80=99s gifts of grace to those in need of = them, just as a=20 lighted candle burning with earthly fire shines itself and lights other = candles=20 for the illumining of all in other places, without diminishing its own = light.=20 And if it is so with regard to earthly fire, what shall we say about the = fire of=20 the grace of the All-Holy Spirit of God? For earthly riches decrease = with=20 distribution, but the more the heavenly riches of God=E2=80=99s grace = are distributed,=20 the more they increase in him who distributes them. Thus the Lord = Himself was=20 pleased to say to the Samaritan woman: Whoever drinks of this water will = thirst=20 again. But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never = thirst;=20 but the water that I shall give him will be in him a well of water = springing up=20 into eternal life (Jn. 4:13-14).

=E2=80=9CFather,=E2=80=9D said I, =E2=80=9Cyou speak all the time of = the acquisition of the grace of=20 the Holy Spirit as the aim of the Christian life. But how and where can = I see=20 it? Good deeds are visible, but can the Holy Spirit be seen? How am I to = know=20 whether He is with me or not?=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CAt the present time,=E2=80=9D the Elder replied, = =E2=80=9Cowing to our almost universal=20 coldness to our holy faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and our inattention = to the=20 working of His Divine Providence in us, and to the communion of man with = God, we=20 have gone so far that, one may say, we have almost abandoned the true = Christian=20 life. The testimonies of Holy Scripture now seem strange to us, when, = for=20 instance, by the lips of Moses the Holy Spirit says: And Adam saw the = Lord=20 walking in paradise (cp. Gen. 3:10), or when we read the words of the = Apostle=20 Paul: =E2=80=98We went to Achaia, and the Spirit of God went not with = us; we returned to=20 Macedonia, and the Spirit of God came with us=E2=80=99. More than once = in other passages=20 of Holy Scripture the appearance of God to men is mentioned.

=E2=80=9CThat is why some people say: =E2=80=98These passages are = incomprehensible. Is it=20 really possible for people to see God so openly?=E2=80=99 But there is = nothing=20 incomprehensible here. This failure to understand has come about because = we have=20 departed from the simplicity of the original Christian knowledge. Under = the=20 pretext of education, we have reached such a darkness of ignorance that = what the=20 ancients understood so clearly seems to us almost inconceivable. Even in = ordinary conversation, the idea of God=E2=80=99s appearance among men = did not seem=20 strange to them. Thus, when his friends rebuked him for blaspheming God, = Job=20 answered them: How can that be when I feel the Spirit of God in my = nostrils?=20 (cp. Job 27:3). That is, =E2=80=98How can I blaspheme God when the Holy = Spirit abides=20 with me? If I had blasphemed God, the Holy Spirit would have withdrawn = from me;=20 but lo, I feel His breath in my nostrils.=E2=80=99

=E2=80=9CIn exactly the same way it is said of Abraham and Jacob that = they saw the=20 Lord and conversed with Him, and that Jacob even wrestled with Him. = Moses and=20 all the people with him saw God when he was granted to receive from God = the=20 tables of the law on Mount Sinai. A pillar of cloud and a pillar of = fire, or, in=20 other words, the evident grace of the Holy Spirit, served as guides to = the=20 people of God in the desert. People saw God and the grace of His Holy = Spirit,=20 not in sleep or in dreams, or in the excitement of a disordered = imagination, but=20 truly and openly.

=E2=80=9CWe have become so inattentive to the work of our salvation = that we=20 misinterpret many other words in Holy Scripture as well, all because we = do not=20 seek the grace of God and in the pride of our minds do not allow it to = dwell in=20 our souls. That is why we are without true enlightenment from the Lord, = which He=20 sends into the hearts of men who hunger and thirst wholeheartedly for = God=E2=80=99s=20 righteousness.

=E2=80=9CMany explain that when it says in the Bible: =E2=80=98God = breathed the breath of=20 life into the face of Adam the first-created, who was created by Him = from the=20 dust of the ground,=E2=80=99 it must mean that until then there was = neither human soul=20 nor spirit in Adam, but only the flesh created from the dust of the = ground. This=20 interpretation is wrong, for the Lord God created Adam from the dust of = the=20 ground with the constitution which our dear little Father, the holy = Apostle Paul=20 describes: May your spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless at = the=20 coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Thess. 5:23). And all these three = parts of=20 our nature were created from the dust of the ground, and Adam was not = created=20 dead, but an active living being like all the other animate creatures of = God=20 living on earth. The point is that if the Lord God had not breathed = afterwards=20 into his face this breath of life (that is, the grace of our Lord God = the Holy=20 Spirit Who proceeds from the Father and rests in the Son and is sent = into the=20 world for the Son=E2=80=99s sake), Adam would have remained without = having within him=20 the Holy Spirit Who raises him to Godlike dignity. However perfect he = had been=20 created and superior to all the other creatures of God, as the crown of = creation=20 on earth, he would have been just like all the other creatures which, = though=20 they have a body, soul and spirit each according to its kind, yet have = not the=20 Holy Spirit within them. But when the Lord God breathed into = Adam=E2=80=99s face the=20 breath of life, then, according to Moses=E2=80=99 word, Adam became a = living soul (Gen.=20 2:7), that is, completely and in every way like God, and, like Him, for = ever=20 immortal. Adam was immune to the action of the elements to such a degree = that=20 water could not drown him, fire could not burn him, the earth could not = swallow=20 him in its abysses, and the air could not harm him by any kind of action = whatever. Everything was subject to him as the beloved of God, as the = king and=20 lord of creation, and everything looked up to him, as the perfect crown = of God=E2=80=99s=20 creatures. Adam was made so wise by this breath of life which was = breathed into=20 his face from the creative lips of God, the Creator and Ruler of all, = that there=20 never has been a man on earth wiser or more intelligent than he, and it = is=20 hardly likely that there ever will be. When the Lord commanded him to = give names=20 to all the creatures, he gave every creature a name which completely = expressed=20 all the qualities, powers and properties given to it by God at its = creation.

=E2=80=9COwing to this very gift of the supernatural grace of God = which was infused=20 into him by the breath of life, Adam could see and understand the Lord = walking=20 in paradise, and comprehend His words, and the conversation of the holy = Angels,=20 and the language of all beasts, birds and reptiles and all that is now = hidden=20 from us fallen and sinful creatures, but was so clear to Adam before his = fall.=20 To Eve also the Lord God gave the same wisdom, strength and unlimited = power, and=20 all the other good and holy qualities. And He created her not from the = dust of=20 the ground but from Adam=E2=80=99s rib in the Eden of delight, in the = Paradise which He=20 had planted in the midst of the earth.

=E2=80=9CIn order that they might always easily maintain within = themselves the=20 immortal, divine [8] and perfect properties of this breath of life, God = planted=20 in the midst of the garden the tree of life and endowed its fruits with = all the=20 essence and fullness of His divine breath. If they had not sinned, Adam = and Eve=20 themselves as well as all their posterity could have always eaten of the = fruit=20 of the tree of life and so would have eternally maintained the = quickening power=20 of divine grace.

=E2=80=9CThey could have also maintained to all eternity the full = powers of their=20 body, soul and spirit in a state of immortality and everlasting youth, = and they=20 could have continued in this immortal and blessed state of theirs for = ever. At=20 the present time, however, it is difficult for us even to imagine such=20 grace.

=E2=80=9CBut when through the tasting of the tree of the knowledge of = good and=20 evil=EF=BF=BDwhich was premature and contrary to the commandment of = God=EF=BF=BDthey learnt the=20 difference between good and evil and were subjected to all the = afflictions which=20 followed the transgression of the commandment of God, then they lost = this=20 priceless gift of the grace of the Spirit of God, so that, until the = actual=20 coming into the world of the God-Man Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God was = not yet=20 in the world because Jesus was not yet glorified (Jn. 7:39).

=E2=80=9CHowever, that does not mean that the Spirit of God was not = in the world at=20 all, but His presence was not so apparent [9] as in Adam or in us = Orthodox=20 Christians. It manifested only externally; yet the signs of His presence = in the=20 world were known to mankind [10]. Thus, for instance, many mysteries in=20 connection with the future salvation of the human race were revealed to = Adam as=20 well as to Eve after the fall. And for Cain, in spite of his impiety and = his=20 transgression, it was easy to understand the voice which held gracious = and=20 divine though convicting converse with him. Noah conversed with God. = Abraham saw=20 God and His day and was glad (cp. Jn. 8:56). The grace of the Holy = Spirit acting=20 externally was also reflected in all the Old Testament prophets and = Saints of=20 Israel. The Hebrews afterwards established special prophetic schools = where the=20 sons of the prophets were taught to discern the signs of the = manifestation of=20 God or of Angels, and to distinguish the operations of the Holy Spirit = from the=20 ordinary natural phenomena of our graceless earthly life. Simeon who = held God in=20 his arms, Christ=E2=80=99s grand-parents Joakim and Anna, and countless = other servants=20 of God continually had quite openly various divine apparitions, voices = and=20 revelations which were justified by evident miraculous events. Though = not with=20 the same power as in the people of God, nevertheless, the presence of = the Spirit=20 of God also acted in the pagans who did not know the true God, because = even=20 among them God found for Himself chosen people. Such, for instance, were = the=20 virgin-prophetesses called Sibyls who vowed virginity to an unknown God, = but=20 still to God the Creator of the universe, the all-powerful Ruler of the = world,=20 as He was conceived by the pagans. Though the pagan philosophers also = wandered=20 in the darkness of ignorance of God, yet they sought the truth which is = beloved=20 by God, and on account of this God-pleasing seeking, they could partake = of the=20 Spirit of God, for it is said that the nations who do not know God = practice by=20 nature the demands of the law and do what is pleasing to God (cp. Rom. = 2:14).=20 The Lord so praises truth that He says of it Himself by the Holy Spirit: = Truth=20 has sprung out of the earth, and righteousness has looked down from = heaven (Ps.=20 84:11).

=E2=80=9CSo you see, your Godliness, both in the holy Hebrew people, = a people beloved=20 by God, and in the pagans who did not know God, there was preserved a = knowledge=20 of God=EF=BF=BDthat is, my son, a clear and rational comprehension of = how our Lord God=20 the Holy Spirit acts in man, and by means of what inner and outer = feelings one=20 can be sure that this is really the action of our Lord God the Holy = Spirit, and=20 not a delusion of the enemy. That is how it was from Adam=E2=80=99s fall = until the=20 coming in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ into the world.

=E2=80=9CWithout this perceptible realization of the actions of the = Holy Spirit which=20 had always been preserved in human nature, men could not possibly have = known for=20 certain whether the fruit of the seed of the woman who had been promised = to Adam=20 and Eve had come into the world to bruise the serpent=E2=80=99s head = (Gen. 3:15).

=E2=80=9CAt last the Holy Spirit foretold to St. Simeon, who was then = in his 65th=20 year, the mystery of the virginal conception and birth of Christ from = the most=20 pure Ever-Virgin Mary. Afterwards, having lived by the grace of the = All-Holy=20 Spirit of God for three hundred years, in the 365th year of his life he = said=20 openly in the Temple of the Lord that he knew for certain [11] through = the gift=20 of the Holy Spirit that this was that very Christ, the Saviour of the = world,=20 Whose supernatural conception and birth from the Holy Spirit had been = foretold=20 to him by an Angel three hundred years previously.

=E2=80=9CAnd there was also Saint Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of = Phanuel, who=20 from her widowhood had served the Lord God in the Temple of God for = eighty=20 years, and who was known to be a righteous widow, a chaste servant of = God, from=20 the special gifts of grace she had received. She too announced that He = was=20 actually the Messiah Who had been promised to the world, the true = Christ, God=20 and Man, the King of Israel, Who had come to save Adam and mankind.

=E2=80=9CBut when our Lord Jesus Christ condescended to accomplish = the whole work of=20 salvation, after His Resurrection, He breathed on the Apostles, restored = the=20 breath of life lost by Adam, and gave them the same grace of the = All-Holy Spirit=20 of God as Adam had enjoyed. But that was not all. He also told them that = it was=20 expedient for them that He should go to the Father, for if He did not = go, the=20 Spirit of God would not come into the world. But if He, the Christ, went = to the=20 Father, He would send Him into the world, and He, the Comforter, would = guide=20 them and all who followed their teaching into all truth and would remind = them of=20 all that He had said to them when He was still in the world. What was = then=20 promised was grace upon grace (Jn. 1:16).

=E2=80=9CThen on the day of Pentecost He solemnly sent down to them = in a tempestuous=20 wind the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire which alighted on = each of=20 them and entered within them and filled them with the fiery strength of = divine=20 grace which breathes bedewingly and acts gladdeningly in souls which = partake of=20 its power and operations (Cp. Acts 2:1-4). And this same fire-infusing = grace of=20 the Holy Spirit which is given to us all, the faithful of Christ, in the = Sacrament of Holy Baptism, is sealed by the Sacrament of Chrismation on = the=20 chief parts of our body as appointed by Holy Church, the eternal keeper = of this=20 grace. It is said: =E2=80=98The seal of the Gift of the Holy = Spirit.=E2=80=99 On what do we put=20 our seals, your Godliness, if not on vessels containing some very = precious=20 treasure? But what on earth can be higher and what can be more precious = than the=20 gifts of the Holy Spirit which are sent down to us from above in the = Sacrament=20 of Baptism? This Baptismal grace is so great and so indispensable, so = vital for=20 man, that even a heretic is not deprived of it until his very death; = that is,=20 till the end of the period appointed on high by the Providence of God as = a=20 life-long test of man on earth, in order to see what he will be able to = achieve=20 (during this period given to him by God) by means of the power of grace = granted=20 him from on high.

=E2=80=9CAnd if we were never to sin after our Baptism, we should = remain for ever=20 Saints of God, holy, blameless and free from all impurity of body and = spirit.=20 But the trouble is that we increase in stature, but do not increase in = grace and=20 in the knowledge of God as our Lord Jesus Christ increased; but on the = contrary,=20 we gradually become more and more depraved and lose the grace of the = All-Holy=20 Spirit of God and become sinful in various degrees, and most sinful = people. But=20 if a man is stirred by the wisdom of God which seeks our salvation and = embraces=20 everything, and he is resolved for its sake to devote the early hours to = God and=20 to watch in order to find his eternal salvation [12], then, in obedience = to its=20 voice, he must hasten to offer true repentance for all his sins and must = practice the virtues which are opposite to the sins committed. Then = through the=20 virtues practiced for Christ=E2=80=99s sake he will acquire the Holy = Spirit Who acts=20 within us and establishes in us the Kingdom of God. The word of God does = not say=20 in vain: The Kingdom of God is within you (Lk. 17:21), and it suffers = violence,=20 and the violent take it by force (Mat. 11:12) [13]. That means that = people who,=20 in spite of the bonds of sin which fetter them and (by their violence = and by=20 inciting them to new sins) prevent them from coming to Him, our Saviour, = with=20 perfect repentance for reckoning with Him, yet force themselves to break = their=20 bonds, despising all the strength of the fetters of sin=EF=BF=BDsuch = people at last=20 actually appear before the face of God made whiter than snow by His = grace. Come,=20 says the Lord: Though your sins be as purple, I will make them white as = snow=20 (Is. 1:18).

=E2=80=9CSuch people were once seen by the holy Seer John the Divine = clothed in white=20 robes (that is, in robes of justification) and palms in their hands (as = a sign=20 of victory), and they were singing to God a wonderful song: Alleluia. = And no one=20 could imitate the beauty of their song. Of them an Angel of God said: = These are=20 they who have come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes, = and=20 have made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:9-14). They were = washed=20 with their sufferings and made white in the Communion of the immaculate = and=20 life-giving Mysteries of the Body and Blood of the most pure and = spotless=20 Lamb=EF=BF=BDChrist=EF=BF=BDWho was slain before all ages by His own = will for the salvation of=20 the world and Who is continually being slain and divided until now but = is never=20 exhausted. Through the Holy Mysteries we are granted our eternal and = unfailing=20 salvation as a viaticum to eternal life, as an acceptable answer at His = awful=20 judgement and as a precious substitute beyond our comprehension for that = fruit=20 of the tree of life of which the enemy of mankind Lucifer who fell from = heaven=20 would have liked to deprive our human race. Though the enemy and devil = seduced=20 Eve, and Adam fell with her, yet the Lord not only granted them a = Redeemer in=20 the fruit of the seed of the woman Who trampled down death by death, but = also=20 granted us all in the woman, the Ever-Virgin Mary Mother of God, who = crushes the=20 head of the serpent in herself and in all the human race, a constant = mediatress=20 with her Son and our God, and an invincible and insistent intercessor = even for=20 the most desperate sinners. That is why the Mother of God is called the = =E2=80=98Plague=20 of Demons,=E2=80=99 for it is not possible for a devil to destroy a man = so long as the=20 man himself has recourse to the help of the Mother of God.

=E2=80=9CAnd I must further explain, your Godliness, the difference = between the=20 operations of the Holy Spirit who dwells mystically in the hearts of = those who=20 believe in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ and the operations of = the=20 darkness of sin which, at the suggestion and instigation of the devil, = acts=20 predatorily in us. The Spirit of God reminds us of the words of our Lord = Jesus=20 Christ and always acts triumphantly with Him, gladdening our hearts and = guiding=20 our steps into the way of peace, while the false diabolic spirit reasons = in the=20 opposite way to Christ, and its actions in us are rebellious, stubborn, = and full=20 of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of = life.

=E2=80=9CAnd whoever lives and believes in Me shall not die for ever = (Jn. 11:26). He=20 who has the grace of the Holy Spirit in reward for right faith in = Christ, even=20 if on account of human frailty his soul were to die from some sin or = other, yet=20 he will not die for ever, but he will be raised by the grace of our Lord = Jesus=20 Christ Who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29) and freely gives = grace=20 upon grace. Of this grace, which was manifested to the whole world and = to our=20 human race by the God-Man, it is said in the Gospel: In Him was life, = and the=20 life was the light of men (Jn. 1:4); and further: And the light shines = in the=20 darkness; and the darkness did not overpower it (Jn. 1:5). This means = that the=20 grace of the Holy Spirit which is granted at Baptism in the name of the = Father=20 and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in spite of men=E2=80=99s falls into = sin, in spite of=20 the darkness surrounding our soul, nevertheless shines in the heart with = the=20 divine light (which has existed from time immemorial) of the inestimable = merits=20 of Christ. In the event of a sinner=E2=80=99s impenitence this light of = Christ cries to=20 the Father: =E2=80=98Abba, Father! Be not angry with this impenitence to = the end (of his=20 life)=E2=80=99. And then, at the sinner=E2=80=99s conversion to the way = of repentance, it=20 effaces completely all trace of past sin and clothes the former sinner = once more=20 in a robe of incorruption woven from the grace of the Holy Spirit, = concerning=20 the acquisition of which, as the aim of the Christian life, I have been = speaking=20 so long to your Godliness.

Endnotes

8. Lit. =E2=80=9CGod-gracious=E2=80=9D or = =E2=80=9CDivine-grace-given.=E2=80=9D

9. Lit. =E2=80=9CHis abiding (stay, sojourn, dwelling, residence) was = not so=20 full-measured.=E2=80=9D

10. Or, =E2=80=9Cwere proved true.=E2=80=9D

11. Lit. =E2=80=9Cpalpably recognized=E2=80=9D or = =E2=80=9Cperceptibly realized.=E2=80=9D

12. Cp. Wisdom 7:27; 6:14-20.

13. Lit. =E2=80=9CThe Kingdom of Heaven is forced, and the forceful = seize it=E2=80=9D; or=20 =E2=80=9Cthe Kingdom of Heaven is stormed, and the stormers capture = it.=E2=80=9D Cp. Luke 16:16;=20 =E2=80=9CEveryone forces himself into it.=E2=80=9D

This text was kindly provided by New Sarov Press.

St. = Seraphim of=20 Sarov=E2=80=99s Conversation With Nicholas Motovilov

Posted in St.=20 Seraphim of Sarov | Comments Off

St. Seraphim of Sarov: Conversation With Nicholas=20 Motovilov I

Friday, September 9th, 2005=20

It was Thursday. The day was gloomy. The snow lay eight inches deep = on the=20 ground; and dry, crisp snowflakes were falling thickly from the sky when = Father=20 Seraphim began his conversation with me in a field adjoining his near = hermitage,=20 opposite the River Sarovka, at the foot of the hill which slopes down to = the=20 river bank. He sat me on the stump of a tree which he had just felled, = and he=20 himself squatted opposite me.

=E2=80=9CThe Lord has revealed to me,=E2=80=9D said the great Elder, = =E2=80=9Cthat in your childhood=20 you had a great desire to know the aim of our Christian life, and that = you=20 continually asked many great spiritual persons about it.=E2=80=9D

I must say here that from the age of twelve this thought had = constantly=20 troubled me. I had, in fact, approached many clergy about it; but their = answers=20 had not satisfied me. This was not known to the Elder.

=E2=80=9CBut no one,=E2=80=9D continued Father Seraphim, =E2=80=9Chas = given you a precise answer.=20 They have said to you: =E2=80=98Go to Church, pray to God, do the = commandments of God,=20 do good=EF=BF=BDthat is the aim of the Christian life.=E2=80=99 Some = were even indignant with=20 you for being occupied with profane curiosity and said to you: = =E2=80=98Do not seek=20 things that are beyond you.=E2=80=99 But they did not speak as they = should. And now poor=20 Seraphim will explain to you in what this aim really consists.

=E2=80=9CPrayer, fasting, vigil and all other Christian activities, = however good they=20 may be in themselves, do not constitute the aim of our Christian life, = although=20 they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end. The true aim = of our=20 Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. As = for=20 fasts, and vigils, and prayer, and almsgiving, and every good deed done = for=20 Christ=E2=80=99s sake, they are only means of acquiring the Holy Spirit = of God. But=20 mark, my son, only the good deed done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake brings = us the fruits of=20 the Holy Spirit. All that is not done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake, even = though it be good,=20 brings neither reward in the future life nor the grace of God in this. = That is=20 why our Lord Jesus Christ said: He who gathers not with Me scatters = (Luke=20 11:23). Not that a good deed can be called anything but gathering, since = even=20 though it is not done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake, yet it is good. = Scripture says: In=20 every nation he who fears God and works righteousness is acceptable to = Him (Acts=20 10:35). [1]

=E2=80=9CAs we see from the sacred narrative, the man who works = righteousness is so=20 pleasing to God that the Angel of the Lord appeared at the hour of = prayer to=20 Cornelius, the God-fearing and righteous centurion, and said: = =E2=80=98Send to Joppa to=20 Simon the Tanner; there shalt thou find Peter and he will tell thee the = words of=20 eternal life, whereby thou shalt be saved and all thy house.=E2=80=99 = Thus the Lord uses=20 all His divine means to give such a man in return for his good works the = opportunity not to lose his reward in the future life. But to this end = we must=20 begin here with a right faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, = Who came=20 into the world to save sinners and Who, through our acquiring for = ourselves the=20 grace of the Holy Spirit, brings into our hearts the Kingdom of God and = opens=20 the way for us to win the blessings of the future life. But the = acceptability to=20 God of good deeds not done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake is limited to this: = the Creator=20 gives the means to make them living (cp Heb. 6:1). It rests with man to = make=20 them living or not. That is why the Lord said to the Jews: If you had = been=20 blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, We see, and your sin = remains on=20 you (Jn. 9:41). If a man like Cornelius enjoys the favour of God for his = deeds,=20 though not done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake, and then believes in His Son, = such deeds will=20 be imputed to him as done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake merely for faith in = Him. But in the=20 opposite event a man has no right to complain that his good has been no = use. It=20 never is, except when it is done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake, since good = done for Him not=20 only merits a crown of righteousness in the world to come, but also in = this=20 present life fills us with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, as it = is=20 said: God gives not the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and = has=20 given all things into His hand. (Jn. 3:34-35).

=E2=80=9CThat=E2=80=99s it, your Godliness [2]. In acquiring this = Spirit of God consists the=20 true aim of our Christian life, while prayer, vigil, fasting, almsgiving = and=20 other good works [3] done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake are merely means for = acquiring the=20 Spirit of God.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CWhat do you mean by acquiring?=E2=80=9D I asked Father = Seraphim. =E2=80=9CSomehow I don=E2=80=99t=20 understand that.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CAcquiring is the same as obtaining,=E2=80=9D he replied. = =E2=80=9CYou understand, of course,=20 what acquiring money means? Acquiring the Spirit of God is exactly the = same. You=20 know well enough what it means in a worldly sense, your Godliness, to = acquire.=20 The aim in life of ordinary worldly people is to acquire or make money, = and for=20 the nobility it is in addition to receive honours, distinctions and = other=20 rewards for their services to the government. The acquisition of = God=E2=80=99s Spirit is=20 also capital, but grace-giving and eternal, and it is obtained in very = similar=20 ways, almost the same ways as monetary, social and temporal capital.

=E2=80=9CGod the Word, the God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ, compares = our life with a=20 market, and the work of our life on earth He calls trading, and says to = us all:=20 Trade till I come (Lk. 19:13), redeeming the time, because the days are = evil=20 (Eph. 5:16). That is to say, make the most of your time for getting = heavenly=20 blessings through earthly goods. Earthly goods are good works done for = Christ=E2=80=99s=20 sake and conferring on us the grace of the All-Holy Spirit.

=E2=80=9CIn the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, when the = foolish ones lacked=20 oil, it was said: =E2=80=98Go and buy in the market.=E2=80=99 But when = they had bought, the door=20 of the bride-chamber was already shut and they could not get in. Some = say that=20 the lack of oil in the lamps of the foolish virgins means a lack of good = deeds=20 in their lifetime. Such an interpretation is not quite correct. Why = should they=20 be lacking in good deeds if they are called virgins, even though foolish = ones?=20 Virginity is the supreme virtue, an angelic state, and it could take the = place=20 of all other good works.

=E2=80=9CI think that what they were lacking was the grace of the = All-Holy Spirit of=20 God. These virgins practiced the virtues, but in their spiritual = ignorance they=20 supposed that the Christian life consisted merely in doing good works. = By doing=20 a good deed they thought they were doing the work of God, but they = little cared=20 whether they acquired thereby the grace of God=E2=80=99s Spirit. Such = ways of life based=20 merely on doing good without carefully testing whether they bring the = grace of=20 the Spirit of God, are mentioned in the Patristic books: =E2=80=98There = is another way=20 which is deemed good at the beginning, but it ends at the bottom of = hell.=E2=80=99

=E2=80=9CAntony the Great in his letters to Monks says of such = virgins: =E2=80=98Many Monks=20 and virgins have no idea of the different kinds of will which act in = man, and=20 they do not know that we are influenced by three wills: the first is = God=E2=80=99s=20 all-perfect and all-saving will: the second is our own human will which, = if not=20 destructive, yet neither is it saving; and the third is the = devil=E2=80=99s will=EF=BF=BDwholly=20 destructive.=E2=80=99 And this third will of the enemy teaches man = either not to do any=20 good deeds, or to do them out of vanity, or to do them merely for = virtue=E2=80=99s sake=20 and not for Christ=E2=80=99s sake. The second, our own will, teaches us = to do everything=20 to flatter our passions, or else it teaches us like the enemy to do good = for the=20 sake of good and not care for the grace which is acquired by it. But the = first,=20 God=E2=80=99s all-saving will, consists in doing good solely to acquire = the Holy Spirit,=20 as an eternal, inexhaustible treasure which cannot be rightly valued. = The=20 acquisition of the Holy Spirit is, so to say, the oil which the foolish = virgins=20 lacked. They were called foolish just because they had forgotten the = necessary=20 fruit of virtue, the grace of the Holy Spirit, without which no one is = or can be=20 saved, for: =E2=80=98Every soul is quickened by the Holy Spirit and = exalted by purity=20 and mystically illumined by the Trinal Unity.=E2=80=99 [4]

=E2=80=9CThis is the oil in the lamps of the wise virgins which could = burn long and=20 brightly, and these virgins with their burning lamps were able to meet = the=20 Bridegroom, Who came at midnight, and could enter the bridechamber of = joy with=20 Him. But the foolish ones, though they went to market to buy some oil = when they=20 saw their lamps going out, were unable to return in time, for the door = was=20 already shut. The market is our life; the door of the bridechamber which = was=20 shut and which barred the way to the Bridegroom is human death; the wise = and=20 foolish virgins are Christian souls; the oil is not good deeds but the = grace of=20 the All-Holy Spirit of God which is obtained through them and which = changes=20 souls from one state to another=EF=BF=BDthat is, from corruption to = incorruption, from=20 spiritual death to spiritual life, from darkness to light, from the = stable of=20 our being (where the passions are tied up like dumb animals and wild = beasts)=20 into a Temple of the Divinity, into the shining bridechamber of eternal = joy in=20 Christ Jesus our Lord, the Creator and Redeemer and eternal Bridegroom = of our=20 souls.

=E2=80=9CHow great is God=E2=80=99s compassion to our misery, that is = to say, our inattention=20 to His care for us, when God says: Behold, I stand at the door and knock = (Rev.=20 3:20), meaning by =E2=80=98door=E2=80=99 the course of our life which = has not yet been closed by=20 death! Oh, how I wish, your Godliness, that in this life you may always = be in=20 the Spirit of God! =E2=80=98In whatsoever I find you, in that will I = judge you,=E2=80=99 says=20 the Lord. [5]

=E2=80=9CWoe to us if He finds us overcharged with the cares and = sorrows of this=20 life! For who will be able to bear His anger, who will withstand the = wrath of=20 His countenance? That is why it has been said: Watch and pray, lest you = enter=20 into temptation (Mk. 14:38), that is lest you be deprived of the Spirit = of God,=20 for watching and prayer bring us His grace.

=E2=80=9COf course, every good deed done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake = gives us the grace of the=20 Holy Spirit, but prayer gives us it most of all, for it is always at = hand, so to=20 speak, as an instrument for acquiring the grace of the Spirit. For = instance, you=20 would like to go to Church, but there is no Church or the Service is = over; you=20 would like to give alms to a beggar, but there isn=E2=80=99t one, or you = have nothing to=20 give; you would like to preserve your virginity [6], but you have not = the=20 strength to do so because of your temperament, or because of the = violence of the=20 wiles of the enemy which on account of your human weakness you cannot = withstand;=20 you would like to do some other good deed for Christ=E2=80=99s sake, but = either you have=20 not the strength or the opportunity is lacking. This certainly does not = apply to=20 prayer. Prayer is always possible for everyone, rich and poor, noble and = humble,=20 strong and weak, healthy and sick, righteous and sinful.

=E2=80=9CYou may judge how great the power of prayer is even in a = sinful person, when=20 it is offered whole-heartedly, by the following example from Holy = Tradition.=20 When at the request of a desperate mother who had been deprived by death = of her=20 only son, a harlot whom she chanced to meet, still unclean, from her = last sin,=20 and who was touched by the mother=E2=80=99s deep sorrow, cried to the = Lord: =E2=80=98Not for the=20 sake of a wretched sinner like me, but for the sake of the tears of a = mother=20 sorrowing for her son and firmly trusting in Thy loving kindness and Thy = almighty power, Christ God, raise up her son, O Lord!=E2=80=99 And the = Lord raised him=20 up.

=E2=80=9CYou see, your Godliness! Great is the power of prayer, and = it brings most of=20 all the Spirit of God, and is most easily practiced by everyone. We = shall be=20 blessed if the Lord God finds us watchful and filled with the gifts of = His Holy=20 Spirit. Then we may boldly hope to be caught up=E2=80=A6in the clouds to = meet the Lord=20 in the air (I Thes. 4:17) Who is coming with great power and glory (Mk. = 13:26)=20 to judge the living and the dead (I Pet. 4:5) and to reward every man = according=20 to his works (Mat. 16:27).

=E2=80=9CYour Godliness deigns to think it a great happiness to talk = to poor=20 Seraphim, believing that even he is not bereft of the grace of the Lord. = What=20 then shall we say of the Lord Himself, the never-failing source of every = kind of=20 blessing, both heavenly and earthly? Truly in prayer we are granted to = converse=20 with Him, our all-gracious and life-giving God and Saviour Himself. But = even=20 here we must pray only until God the Holy Spirit descends on us in = measures of=20 His heavenly grace known to Him. And when He deigns to visit us, we must = stop=20 praying. Why should we then pray to Him, =E2=80=98Come and abide in us = and cleanse us=20 from all impurity and save our souls, O Good One,=E2=80=99 when He has = already come to=20 us to save us who trust in Him and truly call on His Holy Name, that = humbly and=20 with love we may receive Him, the Comforter, in the mansions of our = souls=20 hungering and thirsting for His coming.

=E2=80=9CI will explain this to your Godliness by an example. Imagine = that you have=20 invited me to pay you a visit and at your invitation I come to have a = talk with=20 you. But you continue to invite me, saying: =E2=80=98Come in, please. Do = come in!=E2=80=99 Then=20 I should be obliged to think: =E2=80=98What is the matter with him? Is = he out of his=20 mind?=E2=80=99 So it is with regard to our Lord God the Holy Spirit. = That is why it is=20 said: Be still and realize that I am God; I shall be exalted among the = heathen,=20 I shall be exalted in the earth (Ps. 45:10). That is, I shall appear and = shall=20 continue to appear to everyone who believes in Me and calls upon Me, and = I shall=20 converse with him as I once conversed with Adam in Paradise, with = Abraham and=20 Jacob and other servants of Mine, with Moses and Job, and those like = them.

=E2=80=9CMany explain that this stillness refers only to worldly = matters; in other=20 words, that during prayerful converse with God you must =E2=80=98be = still=E2=80=99 with regard=20 to worldly affairs. But I will tell you in the name of God that not only = is it=20 necessary to be dead [7] to them at prayer, but when by the omnipotent = power of=20 faith and prayer our Lord God the Holy Spirit condescends to visit us, = and comes=20 to us in the plenitude of His unutterable goodness, we must be dead to = prayer=20 too.

=E2=80=9CThe soul speaks and converses during prayer, but at the = descent of the Holy=20 Spirit we must remain in complete silence, in order to hear clearly and=20 intelligibly all the words of eternal life which He will then deign to=20 communicate. Complete soberness of both soul and spirit, and chaste = purity of=20 body is required at the same time. The same demands were made at Mount = Horeb,=20 when the Israelites were told not even to touch their wives for three = days=20 before the appearance of God on Mount Sinai. For our God is a fire which = consumes everything unclean, and no one who is defiled in body or spirit = can=20 enter into communion with Him.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CYes, Father, but what about other good deeds done for = Christ=E2=80=99s sake in order=20 to acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit? You have only been speaking of=20 prayer!=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=9CAcquire the grace of the Holy Spirit also by practicing all = the other=20 virtues for Christ=E2=80=99s sake. Trade spiritually with them; trade = with those which=20 give you the greatest profit. Accumulate capital from the superabundance = of=20 God=E2=80=99s grace, deposit it in God=E2=80=99s eternal bank which will = bring you immaterial=20 interest, not four or six percent, but one hundred percent for one = spiritual=20 ruble, and even infinitely more than that. For example, if prayer and = watching=20 give you more of God=E2=80=99s grace, watch and pray; if fasting gives = you much of the=20 Spirit of God, fast; if almsgiving gives you more, give alms. Weigh = every virtue=20 done for Christ=E2=80=99s sake in this manner.

Endnotes

1. St. Seraphim is giving the sense of Acts 10:5ff. and not quoting=20 literally.

2. Lit. =E2=80=9CYour God-lovingness,=E2=80=9D corresponding to the = English idioms =E2=80=9CYour=20 Worship=E2=80=9D, =E2=80=9CYour Excellency=E2=80=9D, etc.

3. =E2=80=9CGood works.=E2=80=9D It is one compound word in Russian, = and may also be=20 translated =E2=80=9Cvirtue=E2=80=9D. St. Augustine says: = =E2=80=9CWisdom=E2=80=99s labours are virtues.=E2=80=9D

4. Antiphon of the Byzantine Rite, Tone 4.

5. St. Justin (Dial. 47) records this =E2=80=9Cunwritten = saying=E2=80=9D of Christ.

6. That is, you would like to remain unmarried.

7. Lit. =E2=80=9Cbe still.=E2=80=9D

This text was kindly provided by New Sarov Press.

St. = Seraphim of=20 Sarov=E2=80=99s Conversation With Nicholas Motovilov

Posted in St.=20 Seraphim of Sarov | Comments Off

St. Andrew of Crete: Sermon on the Nativity of the=20 Virgin Mary

Thursday, September 8th, 2005=20

The present Feast is for us the beginning of feasts. Serving as = boundary to=20 the law and to prototypes, at the same time it serves as a doorway to = grace and=20 truth. =E2=80=9CFor Christ is the end of the law=E2=80=9D (Rom 10:4), = Who, having freed us from=20 the letter (of the law), raises us to spirit.

Here is the end (to the law): in that the Lawgiver, having made = everything,=20 has changed the letter in spirit and gathers everything in Himself (Eph = 1:10),=20 enlivening the law with grace: grace has taken the law under its = dominion, and=20 the law has become subjected to grace, so that the properties of the law = not=20 suffer reciprocal commingling, but only so that by Divine power, the = servile and=20 subservient (in the law) are transformed into the light and free (in = grace), so=20 that we are not =E2=80=9Cin bondage to the elements of the = world=E2=80=9D (Gal 4:3) and not in a=20 condition under the slavish yoke of the letter of the law.

Here is the summit of Christ=E2=80=99s beneficence towards us! Here = are the mysteries=20 of revelation! Here is the theosis [divinization] assumed upon = humankind, the=20 fruition worked out by the God-Man.

The radiant and bright descent of God for people ought to have a = joyous=20 basis, opening to us the great gift of salvation. Such also is the = present=20 feastday, having as its basis the Nativity of the Theotokos, and as its = purpose=20 and end, the uniting of the Word with flesh, this most glorious of all = miracles,=20 unceasingly proclaimed, immeasurable and incomprehensible.

The less comprehensible it is, the more it is revealed; and the more = it is=20 revealed, the less comprehensible it is. Therefore the present = God-graced day,=20 the first of our feastdays, showing forth the light of virginity and the = crown=20 woven from the unfading blossoms of the spiritual garden of Scripture, = offers=20 creatures a common joy.

Be of good cheer, it says, behold, this is the Feast of the Nativity = of the=20 Virgin and of the renewal of the human race! The Virgin is born, She = grows and=20 is raised up and prepares Herself to be the Mother of the All-Sovereign = God of=20 the ages. All this, with the assistance of David, makes it for us an = object of=20 spiritual contemplation. The Theotokos manifests to us Her God-bestown = Birth,=20 and David points to the blessedness of the human race and wondrous = kinship of=20 God with mankind.

And so, truly one ought to celebrate the mystery today and to offer = to the=20 Mother of God a word by way of gift: since nothing is so pleasing to Her = as a=20 word and praise by word. It is from here also that we receive a twofold = benefit:=20 first, we enter into the region of truth, and second, we emerge from the = captivity and slavery of the written law. How so? Obviously, when = darkness=20 vanishes, then light appears; so also here: after the law follows the = freedom of=20 grace.

The present day solemnity is a line of demarcation, separating the = truth from=20 its prefigurative symbol, and ushering in the new in place of the old. = Paul,=20 that Divine Trumpet of the Spirit, exclaims about this: =E2=80=9CIf = anyone is in Christ,=20 he is a new creature; old things pass away and behold, all things have = become=20 new (2 Cor 5:17); for the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in = of a=20 better hope did, by which we draw near to God=E2=80=9D (Heb 7:19). The = truth of grace=20 has shown forth brightly.

Let there now be one common festal celebration in both heaven and on = earth.=20 Let everything now celebrate, that which is in the world and that beyond = the=20 world. Now is made the created temple for the Creator of all; and = creation is=20 readied into a new Divine habitation for the Creator. Now our nature = having been=20 banished from the land of blessedness receives the principle of theosis = and=20 strives to rise up to the highest glory.

Now Adam offers from us and for us elements unto God, the most worthy = fruit=20 of mankind: Mary, in Whom the new Adam is rendered Bread for the = restoration of=20 the human race. Now is opened the great bosom of virginity, and the = Church, in=20 the matrimonial manner, places upon it a pure, truly spotless pearl.

Now human worthiness accepts the gift of the first creation and = returns to=20 its former condition; the majesty darkened by formless sin, through the=20 conjoining by His Mother by birth =E2=80=9Cof Him Beauteous by = Goodness,=E2=80=9D man receives=20 beauty in a most excellent and God-seemly visage. And this creating is = done=20 truly by the creation, and recreation by theosis, and theosis by a = return to the=20 original perfection!

Now a barren one has become a mother beyond expectation, and the = Theotokos=20 has given birth without knowing man, and She sanctifies natural birth. = Now the=20 majestic color of the Divine purple is readied and impoverished human = nature is=20 clothed in royal worthiness. Now, according to prophecy, sprouts forth = the=20 Offshoot of David, Who, having eternally become the green-sprouting = Staff of=20 Aaron, has blossomed forth for us with the Staff of Power: Christ.

Now from Judah and David is descended a Virgin Maiden, rendering of = Herself=20 the royal and priestly worthiness of Him Who has taken on the priesthood = of=20 Aaron according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 7:15). Now the renewal = of our=20 nature is begun, and the world responding, assuming a God-seemly form, = receives=20 the principle of a second Divine creation.

The first creation of mankind occurred from the pure and unsullied = earth; but=20 their nature darkened its innate worthiness, they were deprived of grace = through=20 the sin of disobedience; for this we were cast out of the land of life = and, in=20 place of the delights of Paradise, we received temporal life as our = inheritance=20 by birth, and with it the death and corruption of our race.

All started to prefer earth to heaven, so that there remained no hope = for=20 salvation, beyond the utmost help. Neither the natural nor the written = law, nor=20 the fiery reconciliative sayings of the prophets had power to heal the = sickness.=20 No one knew how to rectify human nature and by what means it would be = most=20 suitable to raise it up to its former worthiness, so long as God the = Author of=20 all did not deign to reveal to us another arranged and newly-constituted = world,=20 where the pervasive form of the old poison of sin is annihilated, and = granting=20 us a wondrous, free and perfectly dispassionate life, through our = re-creation in=20 the baptism of Divine birth.

But how would this great and most glorious blessing be imparted to = us, so in=20 accord with the Divine commands, if God were not to be manifest to us in = the=20 flesh, not subject to the laws of nature, nor deign to dwell with us in = a manner=20 known to Him? And how could all this be accomplished, if first there did = not=20 serve the mystery a Pure and Inviolate Virgin, Who contained the = Uncontainable,=20 in accord with the law, yet beyond the laws of nature? And could some = other=20 virgin have done this besides She alone, Who was chosen before all = others by the=20 Creator of nature?

This Virgin is the Theotokos, Mary, the Most Glorious of God, from = Whose womb=20 the Most Divine came forth in the flesh, and by Whom He Himself arranged = a=20 wondrous temple for Himself. She conceived without seed and gave birth = without=20 corruption, since Her Son was God, though also He was born in the flesh, = without=20 mingling and without travail.

This Mother, truly, avoided that which is innate to mothers but = miraculously=20 fed Her Son, begotten without a man, with milk. The Virgin, having given = birth=20 to the One seedlessly conceived, remained a pure Virgin, having = preserved=20 incorrupt the marks of virginity. And so in truth She is named the = Mother of=20 God; Her virginity is esteemed and Her birth-giving is glorified. God, = having=20 joined with mankind and become manifest in the flesh, has granted Her a = unique=20 glory. Woman=E2=80=99s nature suddenly is freed from the first curse, = and just as the=20 first brought in sin, so also does the first initiate salvation = also.

But our discourse has attained its chief end, and I, celebrating now = and with=20 rejoicing sharing in this sacred feast, I greet you in the common joy. = The=20 Redeemer of the human race, as I said, willed to arrange a new birth and = re-creation of mankind: just as the first creation, taking dust from the = virginal and pure earth, where He formed the first Adam, so also now, = having=20 arranged His Incarnation upon the earth, and so to speak, in place of = dust He=20 chooses out of all the creation this Pure and Immaculate Virgin and, = having=20 re-created mankind in His Chosen One from among mankind, the Creator of = Adam is=20 made the New Adam, in order to save the old.

Who indeed was This Virgin and from what sort of parents did She = come? Mary,=20 the glory of all, was born of the tribe of David, and from the seed of = Joachim.=20 She was descended from Eve, and was the child of Anna. Joachim was a = gentle man,=20 pious, raised in God=E2=80=99s law. Living prudently and walking before = God he grew old=20 without child: the years of his prime provided no continuation of his = lineage.=20 Anna was likewise God-loving, prudent, but barren; she lived in harmony = with her=20 husband, but was childless. As much concerned about this, as about the=20 observance of the law of the Lord, she indeed was daily stung by the = grief of=20 childlessness and suffered that which is the usual lot of the childless = =E2=80=94 she=20 grieved, she sorrowed, she was distressed, and impatient at being = childless.

Thus, Joachim and his spouse lamented that they had no successor to = continue=20 their line; yet the spark of hope was not extinguished in them = completely: both=20 intensified their prayer about the granting to them of a child to = continue their=20 line. In imitation of the prayer heard of Hannah (1 Kings 1: 10), both = without=20 leaving the temple fervently beseeched God that He would undo her = sterility and=20 make fruitful her childlessness. And they did not give up on their = efforts,=20 until their wish be fulfilled. The Bestower of gifts did not contemn the = gift of=20 their hope. The unceasing power came quickly in help to those praying = and=20 beseeching God, and it made capable both the one and the other to = produce and=20 bear a child. In such manner, from sterile and barren parents, as it = were from=20 irrigated trees, was borne for us a most glorious fruition =E2=80=94 the = all-pure=20 Virgin.

The constraints of infertility were destroyed =E2=80=94 prayer, = upright manner of=20 life, these rendered them fruitful; the childless begat a Child, and the = childless woman was made an happy mother. Thus the immaculate Fruition = issuing=20 forth from the womb occurred from an infertile mother, and then the = parents, in=20 the first blossoming of Her growth brought Her to the temple and = dedicated Her=20 to God. The priest, then making the order of services, beheld the face = of the=20 girl and of those in front of and behind, and he became gladdened and = joyful,=20 seeing as it were the actual fulfillment of the Divine promise.

He consecrated Her to God, as a reverential gift and propitious = sacrifice =E2=80=94=20 and, as a great treasury unto salvation, he led Her within the very = innermost=20 parts of the temple. Here the Maiden walked in the upright ways of the = Lord, as=20 in bridal chambers, partaking of heavenly food until the time of = betrothal,=20 which was preordained before all the ages by Him Who, by His unscrutable = mercy,=20 was born from Her, and by Him Who before all creation and time and = expanse=20 Divinely begat Him, and together with His consubstantial and co-reigning = and=20 co-worshipped Spirit =E2=80=94 this being One Godhead, having One = Essence and Kingdom,=20 inseparable and immutable and in which is nothing diverse, except the = personal=20 qualities. Wherefore, in solemnity and in song I do offer the Mother of = the Word=20 the festal gift; since that He born of Her hath taught me to believe in = the=20 Trinity: the Son and Word Without-Beginning hath made in Her His = Incarnation;=20 the Father begetting Him hath blessed this; the Holy Spirit hath signed = and=20 sanctified the womb which incomprehensibly hath conceived.

Now is the time to question David: in what did the God of all = forswear him?=20 Speak, O Psalmist and Prophet! He hath sworn from the fruit of my loin = to sit=20 upon my throne (Ps 131/132:11). Here in this He is forsworn and wilt not = break=20 His oath, He hath forsworn and His Word is sealed with a deed! = =E2=80=9COnce =E2=80=94 said he =E2=80=94=20 I forswear by My Holiness, that I lie not to David; his seed wilt = prevail=20 forever, and his throne, like the sun before Me and like the moon = coursing the=20 ages: a faithful witness also in heaven=E2=80=9D (Ps 88/89:35-38). God = hath fulfilled=20 this oath, since it is not possible for God to lie (Heb 6:18). Consider = this:=20 Christ in the flesh is named my Son (Mt. 22: 42), and all nations will = worship=20 my Lord and Son (Ps 71/72:11), seeing him sit upon a virginal throne! = Here also=20 is the Virgin, from Whose womb the Pre-eternal One issued forth, = incarnated at=20 the end of the ages and renewing the ages, likewise sprung forth from my = loins!=20 All this is so!

People of God, holy nation, sacred gathering! Let us revere our = paternal=20 memory; let us extol the power of the mystery! Each of us, in the = measure given=20 by grace, let us offer a worthy gift for the present feast. Fathers = =E2=80=94 a=20 prosperous lineage; mothers =E2=80=94 fine children; the unbearing = =E2=80=94 the not-bearing of=20 sin; virgins =E2=80=94 a twofold prudence, of soul and of body; = betrothed =E2=80=94 praiseworthy=20 abstinence. If anyone of you be a father, let him imitate the father of = the=20 Virgin; and if anyone be without child =E2=80=94 let them make harvest = of fruitful=20 prayer, cultivating a life pleasing to God. The mother, feeding her = children,=20 let her rejoice together with Anna, raising her Child, given to her in=20 infertility through prayer.

She that is barren, not having given birth, lacking the blessing of a = child,=20 let her come with faith to the God-given Offshoot of Anna and offer = there her=20 barrenness. The virgin, living blamelessly, let her be a mother by = discourse,=20 adorning by word the elegance of soul. For a betrothed =E2=80=94 let her = offer mental=20 sacrifice from the fruits of prayer. All together rich and poor, lads = and=20 maidens, old and young (Ps 48:2, 148:12), priests and levites =E2=80=94 = let all together=20 keep the feast in honor of the Maiden, the Theotokos and the Prophetess: = from=20 Her has issued forth the Prophet, foretold by Moses, Christ God and = Truth (Dt=20 18:15). Amen.

=E2=80=93St. Andrew of Crete, Sermon on=20 the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

Posted in The Mother=20 of God | 1=20 Comment =C2=BB

Fr. Seraphim (Rose) of Platina: Raising the Mind, Warming = the Heart

Friday, September 2nd, 2005=20

The writings of the Russian philosopher Ivan Kireyevsky contain some = basic=20 ideas which are very apropos for us today. The usual argument between = faith and=20 reason, he wrote, is not correct. Reason is such a thing that it must be = raised=20 up to a higher level, and this is what the Orthodox Church tries to = give. By=20 itself, reason does not offer any more than an understanding of this=20 two-dimensional, corporeal realm, with which most of the critics and = scholars of=20 the West are occupying themselves. There is something, however, above = this.=20 According to Western thinking, if you go =E2=80=9Cabove=E2=80=9D this, = you usually have to deny=20 reason and =E2=80=9Cjump into the dark.=E2=80=9D In Orthodoxy this is = not so, for the reason=20 itself is so exposed to Truth that it begins to be elevated above = itself. . .=20 .

The one thing that can save us is simplicity. It can be ours if in = our hearts=20 we pray to God to make us simple; if we just do not think ourselves so = wise; if,=20 when it comes to a question like, =E2=80=9CCan we paint an icon of God = the Father?=E2=80=9D we=20 do not come up with a quick answer and say, =E2=80=9COh, of course = it=E2=80=99s this=20 way=EF=BF=BDsuch-and-such Council said so-and-so, canon number = so-and-so.=E2=80=9D And so either=20 we, =E2=80=9Cknowing=E2=80=9D that we must be right, have to = excommunicate everyone else=EF=BF=BDin=20 which case we have =E2=80=9Cgone off the deep end=E2=80=9D=EF=BF=BDor = else we have to stop and think,=20 =E2=80=9CWell, I guess I don=E2=80=99t know too much.=E2=80=9D The more = we have this second attitude,=20 the more we will be protected from spiritual dangers.

Accept simply the faith you receive from your fathers. If there is a=20 simplehearted priest near you, give thanks to God. Consider that because = you are=20 so complex, =E2=80=9Cintellectual=E2=80=9D and moody, you should be able = to learn much from him.=20 The more you grow in Orthodoxy by reading and exposure to Church and = contact=20 with Orthodox people, the more you will be able to =E2=80=9Cfeel your = way=E2=80=9D in the whole=20 realm of Orthodoxy. You will begin to see the wisdom behind things and = people=20 you had dismissed before. You will begin to see that even if the people = who are=20 the =E2=80=9Clinks=E2=80=9D to the past are not consciously = =E2=80=9Cwise,=E2=80=9D nevertheless, God is guiding=20 the Church. We know that He is with the Church until the end; there is = no reason=20 to =E2=80=9Cgo off the deep end,=E2=80=9D to fall into apostasy and = heresy.

If we follow the simple path=EF=BF=BDdistrusting our own wisdom, = doing the best that=20 we can, yet realizing that our mind, without warmth of heart, is a very = weak=20 tool=EF=BF=BDthen what Kireyevsky talked about will begin to happen: an = Orthodox=20 philosophy of life will begin to be formed in us.

=E2=80=93Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim of Platina, Raising = the Mind,=20 Warming the Heart

Posted in Fr. Seraphim (Rose) of Platina = |=20 Comments Off