Chapter 36
On Short Little Prayers and Humility
36.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
36.3.1 As you prepare for Holy Communion, you’ve been repeating one good verse and asking whether you can continue doing so? You can. Whenever a little prayer falls upon your heart, learn it by heart and repeat it often… No matter how many you collect. From them a many-stringed Psalter will be formed… and strum it, delighting your spiritual hearing. That you’re trying not to give yourself any self-indulgence is a good thing. You must keep yourself taut, like a soldier in formation… But don’t fall into self-conceit and self-esteem! God forbid! Hearing admonitions from above from time to time, you may naturally think that you’re someone exceptional, standing out from the crowd, but in fact this is more a witness to your weakness than to your strength. Humble yourselves with this thought... and remind yourselves more often of your own mistakes, of which we all have plenty. May the Lord keep you in humility! You do well to go often to the common refectory—how good that is! The sisters won’t grumble—and they’ll get used to the order. And it’s good for you yourselves, too—you’ll be less inclined to put on airs.[1]
36.4.1 Written notes are beneficial, but memorising is better... and corresponding practice is better still. But don’t your own good thoughts come to you?.. They come to everyone... They are inspired by the Guardian Angel, and you should write them down... Do you know the story about a certain elder... whose cell walls were all covered with writing? When he was asked what it was? He answered: these are thoughts that the angel of God inspires in me... In the Yelets monastery (Oryol province) not so long ago there labored a nun – Magdalene... who would write down the thoughts that came to her on small pieces of paper and paste them in visible places on the walls... But you start a notebook and write them down as they occur to you. And your handiwork is going well – it’s a great protection from idleness.
36.5.1 May the Lord bless you!
36.6.1 Be saved!
36.7.1 Your well-wisher, Bishop Theophan.
36.8.1