A Proof of the Resurrection of Human Bodies, Drawn From the Working of Mental Prayer

In a secluded, little-known, and insignificant monastery standing among forests and marshes, there lived a certain monk. With fear, with distrust of himself, and with close attention to the writings of the Fathers, he was penetrating into prayer performed by the mind in the depth and secret of the inner chamber of the soul.

Once the monk was standing in church, drawing his mind into his heart, when suddenly the heart moved in prayer toward the mind and drew the whole body along with it into a sacred, spiritual state—inexpressible in words, surpassing all the passions, comprehensible to experience alone. When the monk perceived this so extraordinary and new a condition of his body, his mind was illumined with a mysterious knowledge. There became clear to him the words of the holy John of the Ladder, which had until then seemed enigmatic and strange; he says: “‘I cried out with my whole heart’ (Ps 118:145), that is, with body, soul, and mind.”[1]

Behold the proof of the resurrection of human bodies, which I carry within myself! If the body is capable of spiritual feelings, if it can participate together with the soul in gracious consolation, if it can even now become a partaker of grace—how then shall it not rise for eternal life, according to the teaching of Scripture?

The bodies of God’s holy ones were salted with grace—and corruption could not touch them! By their victory over corruption they already prefigured their resurrection; by pouring forth healings, they prove the grace present in them and the eternal life dwelling in them, which is destined in due time to unfold in the glorious resurrection appointed and granted to humanity by our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.