Praying for the sick.St. Sophrony the Athonite

 

Jesus heals the Canaanite's daughter.

It is not at all easy for a monk to bear the burden of being a confessor. On the one hand it is beneficial for him personally when people think poorly of him, since censure fosters humility. More urgent prayer rises to God from the ailing heart. It is easier for him to cry to God for the salvation of the world, since he himself exists by suffering, like the suffer­ing of the great majority of the inhabitants of the earth. On the other hand, if he is engaged in the work of a spiritual father, every negative word about him instils distrust in him on the part of people in need of exhortations, comfort and support. His sorrow is twofold: for himself as being unworthy of his calling, and then for the harm brought on the whole Church, on all mankind, when the authority of the priest is undermined. Unheeding a spiritual father's injunctions is tantamount to rejecting the word of Christ Himself. (He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiserh you despiseth ... him that sent me,")

La Paternité Céleste. Saint Sophrony l'Athonite.

         

Saint Sophrony avec son fils spirituel
Père Seraphin.

     La soif de Dieu, la Lumière qui procède de Lui, sa force agissant en nous, comment les représenter? Je reconnais mon incapacité d'écrire. En fait, je n'évite pas de répéter sans cesse, pour ainsi dire, la même chose. Soit je tombe dans des détails superflus et lassants, soit je suis trop sommaire.

On Theophany.Metropolitan Antonius (El Soury)

St. Georges Cathedral of Charleston - West Virginia - 8 / 1 / 2023

On the Incarnation.St. Sophrony the Athonite