Chapter 27

Scripture Commands Nothing Impossible

A brother asked: “How can the mind pray without ceasing when, singing psalms, reading, conversing with others, attending to our needs, we distract it with various thoughts?” The elder answered: “Holy Scripture commands nothing impossible. The Apostle himself, who wrote this commandment, sang, read, taught, worked and suffered persecution, yet prayed without ceasing. Unceasing prayer consists in maintaining the mind in great goodwill and ardent aspiration toward God, to think of Him alone, to occupy oneself with Him alone, to see Him alone, to fall down to Him in heartfelt prayer, always to hang on an unshakeable hope in Him and in trust in Him to be bold in all deeds and circumstances.” (3, 76)