Chapter 56
On Haste in Prayer Rules
56.2.1 The mercy of God be with you!
56.3.1 I owed you a reply.[1] I didn’t answer—there was a reason, which I won’t mention.
56.4.1 You are well, and your soul is as lively as your letter testifies. Glory to God! – I cry out together with you. May the Lord keep you! May the Lord bless your ninetieth year! You could be my grandmother, because I still have another year and a half or two to go before I reach my eightieth year... You’ve already crossed the boundary of the years of life we can bear (if by reason of strength they be eighty). Now you live by the mercy and gift of the Lord – and no measure has been set for that.
56.5.1 So may the Lord grant you to live and live! But everyday cares are all like a mountain on your shoulders. Well, there’s nothing to be done when there’s no one to delegate them to. So labor, hoping in God’s help for the successful completion of your work.
56.6.1 Your conscience is troubled by the hasty recitation of your prayer rule... And rightly so. Why do you listen to the enemy? It’s the enemy driving you... faster, faster... That’s why you don’t feel any fruit from prayer... But make it your rule not to hurry... Instead, say your prayers so that not a single word is spoken without awareness of its meaning and, as far as possible, feeling... Impose this labor on yourself with the decisiveness of a commander-in-chief, so that absolutely no objection to it arises... The enemy whispers—this is necessary and that is necessary—but you answer: I know without you, get away... See how prayer goes then... Otherwise you have only a prayer rule, but no prayer. But prayer alone nourishes the soul... That’s why you feel unsatisfied... Check by the clock how much time will pass if you don’t hurry... and you’ll see it’s only a few minutes. But what harm comes from rushing through the prayers?
56.7.1 The Lord bless you!
56.8.1 Your well-wisher, Bishop Theophan.
56.9.1 And I nearly forgot! I give thanks for the liturgical cloths.[2]
56.10.1 They’re very fine. May the Lord save you!
56.11.1