Chapter 86
On Brief Prayers and Noetic Prayer
86.2.1 The mercy of God be with you!
86.3.1 You congratulated me on the beginning of Great Lent, and I congratulate you on its end. And now comes the Passion![1] May the Passion of the Lord be imprinted on your heart, awakening in you the corresponding feelings of contrition and humility!
86.4.1 In your previous letter – the one from January – you wrote that you allow everyone to approach the Holy Mysteries... This is very merciful and, I think, not contrary to the all-merciful Lord. But it also seems to me that you shouldn’t let this make those who come grow lax. Sincere repentance always deserves leniency; but those who come to confession with indifference can be stirred up somehow... Ask one of them whether his absolution could be postponed for a while... Would that cause him difficulty in any respect?... If it can be done, then postpone it, imposing a penance for that time – prostrations, self-control in food and sleep... and above all, contrition. When he has fulfilled it sincerely, then absolve him. And exhort them to abstain from sins.
86.5.1 You also wrote about voices heard by certain people. The thought of the ancient fathers is not to pay attention to this, without delving into the causes. Think this way yourselves and teach others the same... Inattention will shame the enemies, and they will stop performing such wonders.
86.6.1 What books should one advise novices to read? Whichever are most accessible. Such as: Saint John Chrysostom, Ephrem the Syrian, Abba Dorotheus, Saint Tikhon. Is it permissible to allow reading any stories? Yes, it is. Let them read the Menaion.[2] Stories and novels are also narratives. But they are all of a worldly character. It is better not to touch them. – You can stumble upon scandalous ones.
86.7.1 When you are worn out by conversations with visitors, don’t immediately begin your prayer after they leave, but first calm your spirit... then carry out your prayer rule... and drive away slothfulness... It’s a bad guest... and it doesn’t come alone.
86.8.1 From the fact that the Jesus Prayer is not mentioned, one cannot conclude that it was not in use. The point is not in the words, but in the little prayer. It was not the only one in use. Saint Cassian writes that in Egypt they used this little prayer: “O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me”. In other places other little prayers were in use, such as: ‘My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my shelter the Holy Spirit...’ And also: ‘I as a man have sinned, but You as a merciful God have mercy on me, seeing the weakness of my soul.’ – Among them is the Jesus Prayer. But later, preference was given to the Jesus Prayer.
86.9.1 The purpose of little prayers is to help gather the thoughts and maintain sobriety. The power is not in the words, but in the feeling toward God. This feeling is quickly formed in those who labor at prayer.
86.10.1 This, then, is noetic prayer. The intellect, standing in the heart, beholds God and noetically confesses to Him by calling upon Him... Feeling toward God is unceasing prayer without words.
86.11.1 May the Lord bless you!
86.12.1 Be saved!
86.13.1