Chapter 74
On Receiving Penitents and the Struggle Against the Passions
74.2.1 The mercy of God be with you!
74.3.1 A brother came to you for counsel, and something unfortunate happened to him.[1] You sent him to Father N.[2] and from that he received benefit. If that one is more helpful, then let him go to him.
74.4.1 Another brother like this one still comes to you, and doesn’t leave—let him come. And speak to him always what is profitable with humility and love. And then, when he leaves, stand and pray for him with greater warmth.
74.5.1 Remember the word of the apostle: If a man falls into some transgression, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness.
74.6.1 You are thinking of giving up eldership. Father N. He spoke well to you—not to turn anyone away. It’s good that they come and repent. And don’t turn anyone away, even if seventy times seven someone comes and repents of the same sin. Receive everyone warmly and paternally, as the father in the parable. Don’t frown, don’t speak harshly, but grieve and mourn together with them. Don’t rebuke or judge, but regard them as sick and oppressed by the enemy. Encourage them in the struggle by promising mercy and deliverance from the passion if they strictly keep themselves in check and use the means you propose. Against the passion of lust – fasting and prayer, and unceasing remembrance of God with the fear that the arrow of God’s righteousness may strike at the very moment of the sinful deed, and so on. – Bodily labor to the point of exhaustion is good... But the main thing is a firm resolve to resist sinful urges.
74.7.1 There’s a proverb: if you’ve taken hold of the shaft, don’t say you’re not strong enough.[3] – And bear this, your brother’s burden, without shrinking back.
74.8.1 Should one read the writings of Bishop Ignatius? Read it… Only don’t read the section on death – and even then, not all of it, but just a few pages, I think at the beginning, where he says that the soul and the angel are corporeal, and tries to prove it. It’s better to tear those pages out of the book. The whole article is very edifying, but those pages spoil it. The enemy provoked him. One may think (and I do think) that the soul and the angel are spiritual by nature, but clothed in a subtle ethereal body; but to think that they are body by nature – that’s impossible.
74.9.1 About Father’s lessons.[4] N., – what I called tricks – they’re listed in your note – here they are: closing the eyes, pressing the lips and mouth, pronouncing the words of the prayer without the teeth touching, holding back the breath, directing the nasal breath upward; whoever is stronger, let him pronounce the words of the prayer more forcefully, so that the heart may feel it.
74.10.1 May the Lord bless you!
74.11.1 Your well-wisher, Bishop Theophan.
74.12.1 year.