(Pseudo-)Macarius, Epistles and Speeches

Epistle 1. The greeting from me to you, my beloved children, I ask of you, the desired and beloved of my soul. My children, great is the glory of the saints, and we too should desire it and, together with them, investigate their deeds and emulate their labors, so that we may know by what means they attained the kingdom of Christ, or by what fruits and recompense they acquired it, for they were in poverty and exile, as if lost, and wandered in the deserts upon the earth, for truly they were strangers, hungry, and thirsty, and afflicted upon the earth. They obtained this glory, as the blessed Paul said: "By that distinction with which we are distinguished (for are not many noble in flesh?), but the poor of this world and the despised were chosen by God." And as I see, there is nothing else but that their diligence was set before God, and for this reason the crown of the kingdom was placed upon them. What did they have that we do not have? If we investigate that power of theirs, which they had as an aid from the grace from above, we find that diligence of theirs which they showed toward God, for they abandoned all their own will for the Lord's sake, took up their own cross for the Lord's sake, and followed Him.

Who among us is able, as if boasting, to say that God loves them more than all their possessions? For it brings no small shame upon us, that we always love something more than God. Moreover, we hear that saying of the Lord: "He who would come to me and does not forsake his father and his mother, is not worthy of me," and "He who does not reject all worldly glory cannot become my disciple." Now then, when we grieve over something, let us recall that rich man to whom the Lord said that he should abandon everything and follow him. If we resemble him, I think that the love of God is not perfected among us, as it was among those saints. For they loved God more than all their possessions, as Abraham loved God more than his only-begotten son, and each of the other saints—in their own struggle, while the holy martyrs loved God more than even their own soul. All these are evident, for nothing could separate them from that love of God, as the blessed Paul says: "What has separated us from that love of God? Hardship or narrowness, persecution or the sword..." and what follows these.

For not one of them can separate us from the love of Christ. And now, my children, let us love God more than all our possessions, so that we may be found blessed, like the saints. Let us strive and cast away every will of ours, by which each one of us is held captive, like the intentions of our mind, for the snares of the devil are many for each of us. O beloved children, flee from every transgression of the law. Persevere and let us be cut off for the sake of God's commandments. Do not listen to the counsel of your enemies, for they speak to you deceitfully, saying: "God will not blame you for this small and contemptible deed, or for this one commandment, for it is overlooked." Remember, then, that every transgression of the law, great or small, angers God. And again let us recall that saying of our Lord: "He who is found faithful in a small matter, let him be faithful also in many." Now again I desire, my children, that your souls be always a temple of God, and that you remind your neighbors of the good. For a heart that remembers evil and evil thoughts about his brother can never become a dwelling place of God.

But clothe yourselves in love, so that you may be his dwelling-place; for love is able to withstand and to halt the battles of the devil, and the devil fears to approach, for love is invulnerable. My children, beware of your brothers and never trouble them, nor listen to evil speech; for like a poisoned arrow it pierces the heart, and that luminous soul is darkened, for it is written: "If we love one another, God abides among us." Therefore, preserve love for one another and speak to your own souls with that sweetness of love, so that you may gain for yourselves the entire rule of the monastic life. Strip away that veil of darkness from your face, so that when the sorrow of the heart comes upon you, you may perceive the bitterness of the enemy, which is set like a weapon upon your lips and does not permit you to see the sweetness of your brother. But honor his dignity, for man is the image of God and is a temple of God, as Paul says: "We are temples of the living God," — as God said: "I will dwell among them.

Now let this be settled in your hearts, that you may fear and not speak evil of your neighbor, nor harm your brother by any deed, so that you may not anger God, who is settled within him. For if man is an image of God, you should fear him for this reason, because He who is settled within him. For every honor with which a man honors his neighbor is offered to God, and every good that a man does for his neighbor, he does for God, for it is He who says: "Whatever you do to one of these little ones, you do to Me." Now then, bow your hearts always toward God and be mindful, for He is among you and helps you from within, that you may be filled with goodness, for you are my laborers by the Lord, you are my fields; if you bear fruit, then my heart rejoices. Conduct yourselves with sincerity, and let your heart be pure toward all men, for this is a remedy against the despicable thoughts of the devil. Separate yourself from men, sit in your cell, and acquire patience; restrain your flesh with fasting, vigil, prayer, humility, mercy, and tears day and night.

These are poured out and become invisible, and they are destroyed from time to time, all those harmful thoughts of the devil that come upon a man. But there is no other helper of man; it is vain, false, and powerless. And these come by means of thoughts and hearing, for where love is not, there the devils become bold against a man. Therefore the Lord says to his disciples: "If you love one another, I am with you." For love is the Holy Spirit, but the devil is pride, evil speech, envy, malice. I beseech you, brothers, flee from all evil speech and from every wicked word, for these are what destroy your souls. I see the soul of a man, that as long as an evil thought has not yet come upon it, it is holy, like the sun; but when it hears an evil word from a brother, or evil speech, or a thought of impurity, that soul becomes darkened and the grace of its holiness is taken from it. And from then on, that wretched soul is troubled as if by storms, for it is expelled from holiness by thoughts, and then a merciless and bitter battle is raised against it, until they kill it. Oh, from that evil word which leads many astray, until it kills them.

Now we know this evil speech; let us flee from it and not listen to it. Who is the wise man who, having once fallen into a pit, would turn back to it a second time? For just as the serpent became a vessel of the enemy until it killed Adam, so also today there are such vessels of the enemy, who corrupt the minds of those who have not been wearied by that evil speech and slander, until they destroy the souls that listen to them. Now, therefore, let us greatly guard our own heads, so that we do not become a vessel of the enemy; and again let us guard our own heads, so that we do not become obedient to those who are already, behold, made into a vessel for him. Keep your ears, so that your heart may be pure. If your ears hear an evil word or slander, you are not perfect so as to keep your hearts and them pure. If you are overcome by them and yield to them, you will fall from them and not know it. But guard your own heads and do not listen to slander, so that you do not fall from them through ignorance. Be listeners, then, to these words, my children, and doers, and do not become mere listeners, as if to words prepared, and be careless of them. For everything has been said to you.

But if you merely listen to them, then all benefit shall be yours, if you keep them. I admonish you: flee from everything that would defile your hearts. Many are the wolves of these times, and they desire to tear apart the sheep, the simple in mind, as the holy spirit said beforehand: "The sheep have turned into wolves." Therefore, if anyone begins to speak evil with you, flee from him, lest you be scorched by the fire of his flame. And if someone is once overcome to speak evil of his brother, let no other raise it up, so as not to add fuel to his fire. And if you hear an evil word concerning a neighbor, turn it into a good word and speak a word of peace to the neighbor, until they are reconciled with each other, as it is said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

And now, my beloved children, when you gather together, speak to yourselves of that sweetness of God and that courage of the saints, and do not speak that evil word, for from it are born all the seeds of wickedness, because after that evil word, the seed of wickedness is revived, until it destroys you. But speak to one another with sincerity, and seek it out, and abide by it. Speak praise of the neighbor, so that your heart may be pure toward the neighbor, and so that all may be honored by you, for before the saints nothing is defiled. But if you associate in thought with the defiled, who love the passions and are despisers of all, you will find nothing pure with them. But if the devil, who is the enemy of peace, should incite you against your own brother, hasten and run to him with that sweetness of love, and do not delay even for a single hour, as if someone had a grievance against another, for it is written: "Let not the sun set on your anger." But run to them and greet them with that sweetness of love, so that the enemy may be put to shame and God may rejoice in your love.

Now then, all of you who have a desire to dwell in paradise, come and learn from our first father Adam to flee from every evil word; and you who are God-loving, learn not even to listen to evil speech or wicked thought, for it cast Adam out of paradise. If you say: "O God-lover, what is that to me? He who speaks evil to me—I do not flee from him, lest I offend his mind; nor do his words assault my heart, nor do they harm me at all." O wretch, do not say that, lest you fall unawares into that snare of evil-speaking, for you are not more trustworthy than Adam, who was in paradise. Nor are you more faithless than he who was created by the hand of God and had angels as his counsellors. For until then Adam did not know the taste of that deed. For this the word of wickedness knows. Now then, let us learn from him and guard our ears, for it is for this that the words of the fathers were written down, that we might hear them and keep ourselves. If God did not spare him who was created by His own hand, because he heard that evil word, neither will He spare us.

But now, my children, flee from every evil word, and do not even listen to the evil speech of your neighbor, lest you be burned by the fire of that flame. For there are vessels of the devil even today, just as the serpent was then, and he speaks his words through them, so that he may destroy those who listen to them; that is, through their words of wickedness. But from someone, even a despised one, he who is good draws forth good from his own good treasure; he humbles himself before his brother and says, "I am wicked, but I have honored that brother before me." Such a one clearly draws forth good by his own goodness. And all who approach him will benefit, for they speak to him with the sweetness of love because of the fear of God, which has consumed their inner being: "This is a true Israelite, in whose heart there is no guile." Beloved is he who praises his neighbor before all.

But if a wise man recognizes that cunning of the enemy and knows that it is that which brings evil into his heart toward his brother, let him flee from his snares and be saved. If again he recalls the fear of God and seeks humility, let him hasten and go to his brother, appease him, and say to him: "O, my brother and my lord, forgive me." And let him humble himself and fall before him with repentance. And then that enemy will be put to shame. Therefore, acquire this manner when you have a battle from the enemy against your neighbor. Remember your latter end, so that you may be at peace and so that you may win over your neighbor. My children, acquire the virtues of your own soul, so that by them you may become a dwelling-place of God. For that fierce one, peace and tranquility tame; that proud one, humility subdues; to that evil-speaker, peace brings into the heart that he may praise his neighbor; that faint-hearted one, patience buries alive; that lazy one, sobriety awakens from sloth; that heavy-hearted one, prayer makes vigilant and broad. Let your prayer, therefore, be with fear and trembling and with sighing of the soul, as it is written.

Pray always with the spirit, as our Lord said in the Gospel: "The true worshippers worship the Father with spirit and truth," for the Father also seeks such worshippers of His, for He says: "God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship Him with spirit and truth." Likewise, your prayer must be with fear and trembling, so that it may ascend like incense to the altar of God. Now, therefore, give your hearts to prayer, O my beloved children, and to the service of the saints with heartfelt diligence. With faith, as for your own sake, labor for the incorruptible inheritance. May that day come when you too will merit those eternal blessings and that rank in Christ's holy city, for as each one has given his heart, so shall he merit, according to his own doing.

And even if we were to spend all our times in holy service and fulfill all the desires of their hearts, all these are not worthy of even one word of theirs, which they speak concerning us at the time of distress, when they pray for us to those good ones, who are to bring from our Savior for the sake of the service which we performed for His servants, for He Himself says: "What you do for one of these little ones, you do for Me." Now therefore, serve them with faith and love, do not be hypocritical, nor with duplicity, but let firm faith be in your hearts, so that you may know the reward of all your labor. And so that there be no hypocrisy in all your deeds, for it is written: "In everything you do, do it heartily, as for the Lord, and not as for men." And again it is written: "Faith is unworthy, which comes from God, for it is.

And those who seek after him will again become givers of ransom, for the deeds of each one of us are recorded: whether it be service, or if someone prays more, or if someone bends the knees more, or if someone weeps more, or a fast of one day more, or even if someone speaks a word concerning God, everything down to handiwork is written down. Do not fear, my children; our Savior will deprive no one. Every labor that each of us performs will stand before us at the time when we depart from the flesh. Now then, be vigilant and do not look at those who are abundant in eating and whose mind does not admonish them, and let us say, "Just as they are laborers in vain, so too are they non-laborers." But strengthen your own selves with faith in your labors, for even if a man does but a little for the sake of pleasing, whether he restrains himself in food, every deed and labor that we perform will stand before us in that future age. Now then, cleave to labor and love it, and may it become sweet among you.

Do not blame the weakness of your flesh and become estranged from those good things, and repent on that day of resurrection, when those who have made you tremble bring vestments and crowns, and you see the royal vestment, and you find yourselves fearful before the thrones of Christ, so that all may give the ransom of their labors on that day of resurrection. What benefit would these our bodies bring us, if we eat and drink and sleep, and then fall short of those unending good things? Who indeed boasts in battle, if he does not first give his own self to death, until he prevails? Or who becomes crowned in the spectacle, if he does not by striking put to death that which comes upon him? Or who learns carpentry, if he does not first endure the beginning? Or what mason gathers a fee, but rather, what he has gained from his parents, that too he squanders evilly. So now, then, struggle, O my children, and do not allow those good things to pass away from you. May that kingdom and that sweetness, which is ever on your lips, not receive you, O my beloved children, for you are unable to be crowned without labor, for it is written: Through many hardships we are worthy to enter the kingdom of God.

From now on, each of you should labor according to your own strength. If someone is weak and cannot toil, let him praise the labors of his brother and magnify them and be convinced that he rejoices with him in good things. For it is a great glory, even if one cannot endure many labors, to praise the labors of his brother. Now, therefore, beware of yourselves and do not disparage the labor of your neighbors, for there are some who are unable to labor, and because they praise the labor of their neighbors, they enter into the peace of God in tranquility, for great is the reward of one who praises his neighbor, as it is written: "Let all praise and fear God." And again it is written: "Remember your neighbor more than yourself, count his [merit] more than your own," for the Lord said beforehand: "He who exalts himself shall be humbled." If someone disparages his brother before you, do not side with him, nor let any word be spoken on your part to disparage your brother, but attribute all disparagement to the enemy, for it is his. But let the praise of your brothers be manifest by you before all, and dwell on that same [praise], and it will be to your benefit.

Flee from every evil thought, for it made Adam a stranger to the glory which he had in the beginning. If he had not heeded that thought of Eve by the word of the serpent, he would never have received that seed of sin into his heart. Now, my children, we know from our first father that that thought of wickedness was not for his benefit. Let us flee from it, and when you wash the feet of your brother, speak to them the word of the saints and the fear of God. Sow the good seed in their hearts, for a pure mind never sees a man as evil in his own heart, but magnifies all, as the blessed Peter says: "God taught me not to call a man defiled or unclean." But a defiled heart abhors everything and strives to despise his neighbor. But you, my children, be zealous in honoring your neighbor, and have that sweetness of neighborly love in your hearts, and recount good deeds with praise, so that love may abide unceasingly in your hearts, that you may be disciples of the Lord Jesus, for he said: "By this all shall know that you are disciples, if you love one another.

Now, therefore, strive always to be in love with your neighbor, and each one of you should serve your neighbor with that grace ungrudgingly. Recall that servant to whom his Lord brought food from his own table, and he kept for himself only as much as sufficed, and divided the rest among his fellow servants, and because of this he became a dweller with the son of his Lord. Remember those graces which God wrought for us, for He sent His only-begotten Son into the world for our sake, and He became incarnate in the womb of a virgin and grew up like a child, and was baptized by John like all others, as the Apostle said: "As many as have been baptized by Christ, we have put on Christ." And you who have been baptized, who have received that seal of baptism, keep yourselves to preserve that seal with which you were sealed, so that you may be called worthy of that mystery which has been given to you. For you are transformed into children of God, as truly you have put on Christ. Guard yourselves greatly. Do not become negligent for the sake of your soul, for the Lord has redeemed us from the bondage of the devil. Let us not again bind ourselves with those same contemptible bonds, for it is shameful for us to be in contemptible bondage.

My children, take my words into your hearts and store them in the treasuries of your souls, for that day is coming when you will be asked about those fruits and you must give an account for everything that you have heard from me; let not my words become a burden to you. I speak these words to you because I care for your life and for the life of your souls, for I have shown you your entire life and have hidden nothing from you for any reason. Let us be heedless of our own selves until the judgment before us; let us place our hearts in our hands and turn to our God. O my children, would that we might recognize our fault with weeping and repentance, and let us not become like beasts, which have no understanding. May your labors be pitied, so that, when they are found, they may not suddenly be taken from you with impatience, as is customary among you, those who receive the fruit of your labors. Now therefore, since we recognize this, let us flee from them. Is there anyone wise who, having once fallen into a pit, would turn back to it again? But rather, let him warn others not to go to that place, and if those who hear are cautious, they will be saved. Know, therefore, that the pit is idleness.

Flee from it and with diligence store up that sweetness of repentance with love. For if repentance abides with you, all the virtues will hasten toward you, for great is the glory of repentance; joy is that tear of its eyes. It becomes eternal gladness for those who dwell within it. All its fruits are filled with the power of God. But I fear and tremble, lest negligence seize you and turn you back to your own ways. And then you would be ashamed before the face of repentance, to which you are summoned with tears. While you are still in these fleshly bodies, store up repentance and do not abandon it at all. Weep before the Savior until you are deemed worthy to hear His voice, which says: "Your sins are forgiven you, for our Savior is good and philanthropic and rejoices over repentance, and He Himself is our intercessor." Now then, let us not despise His goodness, my beloved children, so that His intercession, which is offered for us, may not find itself in vain through our turning back again to our own sins. And then our evil deeds would render that goodness of His idle, so that He would no longer intercede with the Father for us. Who would be so foolish as to abandon repentance and take up negligence?

For idleness is what destroys every intention of a man. Therefore, be always diligent, for there are many who wish us evil. Now then, my children, hasten in that struggle and love the sweetness of those labors, for that labor will lead you to repose and will heal those ailments of the heart. It is labor that prepares you for those heavenly goods, and labor makes you a partaker of the Holy Spirit. Let us labor while we still have this time, until the arrival of our departure. For if our escorts come, we will not be able to say to them: "Forgive us a few days, so that we may repent," for they will not wait for us at that time, and thereafter it will no longer be possible to repent in that place. All repentance is in this brief time, and after the departure from the flesh, repentance is no longer granted to us from then on, for God said concerning one who dies in sins: "I will no longer remember all his righteousnesses; all your testing has been revealed in these fleshly things." Let us therefore hasten while we still have this time, so that we may find fruit in the time of need. For if a man does not sow his field in the time of plowing, from where shall he reap in the time of harvest, or from where shall he find gathering for his treasure?

Now then, let us exert ourselves in this brief time, so that we may reap and not be undone, my children. Let each of us struggle according to his own strength, as Clement says: "And even if we cannot all become crowned, let us at least be found near those crowned ones." Beloved, let us be found within that struggle and be partakers with the fellow-strugglers of Christ, and let us struggle also according to our own strength. Let us not become like that servant who hid his master's silver and did nothing with it: he neither did something great to obtain the great, nor something small to obtain the small. Let us therefore strive to act according to our strength, for our Lord is good, and if a man does even a little, He gives great in return for that little. Now then, my children, let us struggle so that we may be near the righteous. Let us not, when we arrive at that place, lament, seeing our brothers in the height of righteousness because of their fruits, and then say: "Oh, why did we not also give ourselves unto death, and thus attain such glory?" Oh, my beloved children, blessed are those who are zealous with all their strength, for a single hour of rest will make them forget all their labor.

and then they will say in their hearts with repentance, those who were not diligent: "Why did we spare our bodies and give them rest at any time? And behold, now we are estranged from those eternal goods." My beloved children, speak to that weakness of your bodies, when they reason with you in your labors, thus: spare yourselves, so that you may not be harmed, and yield to weakness and burden others. What do you desire: those eternal, unending goods, or this worldly rest and estrangement from those eternal goods? O my beloved children, strive for those latter goods and do not yield to the reasoning of the body and become estranged from those eternal goods, for it is written: "The reasoning of the body is death, but the reasoning of the soul is life and peace." Let us therefore act according to the reasoning of the soul, so that we may be saved eternally. Which of the saints obtained the kingdom without labor and hardship? Or which of the holy ascetics became crowned without sufferings? Let us therefore not spare ourselves, so that we may not diminish our soul, and let us not regard the weakness of our bodies, so that we may not abandon the soul in fear.

And now, my children, let all your haste be to preserve the commandments of God, and hasten to afflict yourselves in every deed, so that you do not leave the soul neglected. And now, my children, let all your haste be to preserve the commandments of God, and hasten to afflict yourselves in every deed, so that you do not repent with heartfelt repentance for your own selves, but rather, so that we may say, as it were, that we have done according to all our strength. It is the grace of the Lord that gives you strength to endure that labor. And again, it is a matter of diligence to prepare the heart for labors according to our strength, for it is terrible to fall into that place of torment and affliction. Oh, how great an evil has seized those who despise the name of God and dishonor His commandments. O my beloved children, I do not wish to put you to shame, but I desire that you receive that glory of the saints, for that glory is eternal. Pray that we may become worthy of it. I am earth and ashes and utterly unworthy. Yet I do not cease from prayer to the Lord, that we may become worthy of that great joy of His coming. And you also pray for me, that the Lord may be with me until I depart to Him.

My children, great is your benefit. Act, then, according to its measure. Imitate the abstinence of the saints, as you imitate their orderly life. What benefit would it be to us if we give ourselves over to the pleasure of the flesh, since pleasure itself becomes a burden through that desire? A man is not pitiable because of eating, but because of desire. And now, my children, let us cast away from ourselves every fleshly desire, and for whatever the heart yearns for the flesh, let us not give them their will, but let us destroy their will. And if they see good food and the heart desires it, do not give it to them. Whatever you eat, my children, do not eat with desire, but eat with a calm heart. And as you imitate the courage of the saints, imitate also their love, which they had for one another, for each strove to honor his neighbor more than himself, and they wished to give the greater portion of food to their brother and to eat the lesser themselves. And thus they said with tears: "We are not even worthy of this." Now then, my children, see that they subjected themselves to great struggle, for our adversary is evil and, if he can, he does not spare us, for he is hostile to us.

Now do not be idle with yourselves, but keep yourselves from it always, and do not spare yourselves in labor. You must have even greater labor, and beware of every evil: of wrath and envy, of pride and evil-speaking. Beware, lest their thought enter your heart. Flee from vain boasting, so that your heart may not be troubled when they reproach you. My children, let all your boast be this: that you complete your labor and remain alive from every defilement until the day of judgment, for he who is the enemy of it hates negligence and will take away your labor secretly; and if he finds in it pride, or vain boasting, or evil-speaking, do not let it be taken from you. Cleave to virtue, so that your labors may be alive, for all labor is nothing before the virtues.

Take up fasting, for it is good, and prayer; but if we keep it and spend all our days in fasting, yet if you do not drink for many days and envy is found in you toward your brother, or you begrudge him and do not humble yourself before him so that there may be peace between you, your fasts and prayers and labors are in vain, for they have no virtues and are like a tree that has neither leaf nor fruit. For virtue is the crown of labors, and humility is the crown of fasting. Now then, you have known its power; keep it and do not abandon it, for Christ put it on until he destroyed all the power of the enemy, for he humbled himself and put on the flesh of death and became obedient unto death, until he destroyed the torments of hell. Let us also receive from his humility, so that he may grant us also from his grace, that we may crush that thought of pride. Let us resolve every fault of the enemy with humility. If you desire from his humility that he may grant us also from his grace, that we may crush that thought of pride. Let us resolve every fault of the enemy with humility.

If you desire to go in humility, so that you may be reconciled with your brother, do not reproach him for any fault whatsoever, but let that humility be in your heart, and blame yourself, and thus the enemy will be put to shame. It is better to be conquered by humility than to conquer by pride. Let each one of you strive, when approaching the holy offering, to be free from all bitterness of heart towards a brother, so that the angel who gives you the body and blood of Christ may rejoice. Let the fear of the Lord be always among you and consume your hearts. My children, if I have given you these commandments, and you become careless concerning them, you will give account for your deeds. And if I conceal and do not tell you of your fault, I will give account. Be therefore upright, my children, and let there be no evil in your hearts, but rather be blameless, so that you may ascend peacefully to heaven. Guard your hearts and let them be pure from every word and thought of the devil, for it is written: "Keep every door of your mouth." And again, the Lord loves those who are sincere of heart, and all the blameless are pleasing to Him. And further, the Lord Himself says: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Be ever watchful to guard your hearts with all purity, and never despise anyone in your hearts. Let the example of the Pharisee and the publican be far from you, and let not your heart be lifted up against your neighbor, as the Lord said: "He who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." Humble yourselves before your neighbor, and do not utter a single word against them, nor reproach them for anything, but rather rejoice in the fulfillment of your brother and in the grace that comes to him, and give your souls for their sake, and pity one another with complete love, so that you may thus uproot every root of the enemy. And the Lord Jesus will rejoice and dwell among you, and take delight in you, and He will guide you in whatever is worthy in every deed, and will reveal to you His will in all things. My children, I have hidden nothing from you of my own accord, but have shown you all that is best. Let not my words be in vain for you, nor despise them, and let not the abundance of my words become a surfeit for you. If you turn away from these commandments, I shall be blameless and free, but you will give account for them.

My children, let the fear of God be unceasing among you, and await that day of your examination, for your enemy is wicked; he goes about like a lion and seeks to devour your souls. But we, because we know this, it is fitting that we guard ourselves and not be undone by our own hand, for he lies in wait at the gates of our soul and, like a dog, strives to snatch the bread from our mouth, for he has drawn his bow and shoots his arrows continually. Now then, be vigilant and keep your armor ready, so that his arrow may not enter your hearts and destroy you, for the enemy always dips his own thoughts in his arrows, which destroy souls. If you are negligent, his arrow will reach your hearts and wound them; but strive and take up that sword of the soul and cut off his blow and the place of his arrow, before the poison spreads throughout the whole body. Guard yourselves and do not yield to his thoughts, and do not let your souls be destroyed by that enemy of yours.

Do not put yourselves in the way of beasts, lest they tear you apart with their wickedness; let them not deceive you, as though they were lovers and friends, and then treacherously betray you with their enmity. But stand firmly against them, as those ascetics who, when they array themselves against their advancing enemies, shoot at them unceasingly until they overcome and drive them from their borders. And you also, torment that mighty and foul one who continually tests you, as gold is tested in the crucible. And if you resist his thoughts, not heeding them, you will keep yourselves in the fear of God, and his help will surround you and deliver you from the terrors of the enemy. Strive, then, my children, and do not flee from the face of your enemies; neither fear nor be distressed in their trial, but endure with patience in all the trials that come upon you, for it is written: "Blessed is the man who endures trial, for he will be tested and will receive the crown of life." No one valiant will appear victorious unless he fights alone, and no one will be crowned without victory.

Do not despair, my children, in all your afflictions, for a crown of incorruption is prepared for you. Endure, O my children, in the labors of the enemy, for the Lord has said: "By your patience you shall gain your souls," and again He says: "He who endures shall be wholly saved." Therefore, preserve patience, so that the Lord may also say to you: "Those who endured trials with me, I promise you the kingdom, as my Father promised me, that you might eat and drink at my table of manifold food." And do not now add will upon will, but keep the will of your heart, as did your teacher, for he was not broken in that torment of Pilate, but fulfilled his cross until he sat at the right hand of the Father. Behold, our Savior has shown us the deed, how we may overcome him. For if you do not follow his deeds, you cannot overcome him. Now therefore let us also strive in our own struggle, until victory and a crown for our labors are given to us. Learn the conduct of your labors with caution and purity. Endure those trials of the enemy and thank the Lord in all your labors for that hope which is prepared in the heavens.

For the devil enters into some and casts upon them contempt for the servants of God and hatred of them. And this he does that they may become weary and stumble in that struggle. And that evil one does not know that by this very means they overcome him, which their teacher taught them for his defeat. But if they endure that reviling and shame and hatred with joy and do not become faint-hearted, they receive two crowns in that same struggle, and it is necessary that one crown be diminished. The tempter becomes the cause of two crowns through those trials which he brings upon them, for though they may be small for a while, they receive great and imperishable gifts. Again, there is a time, my children, to speak to you, as it is written: "This time is short, you are the salt of the earth. If that salt is scattered, how shall it season?" Guard yourselves, for it is the time of the end and the day is approaching, and men are multiplied in wickedness. But you, my children, strive and acquire a good and sincere heart, for it is written by the prophet: "Purify, O Israel, your heart, that you may be healed." And again it is written concerning those who are fixed upon evil remembrance: "For no one of such a kind is able to see God.

Let us strive, then, children, and cast away from ourselves every care and every remembrance of evil, and let us be blameless and forgive one another, as the commandment has been given to us, so that we may flee from every wickedness and every crafty depravity, that we may not be estranged from God. Let us be swift to forgive our neighbor, that we also may be forgiven, for the Judge has said beforehand: “If you do not forgive, neither will you be forgiven.” Now then, let us hasten, children, and forgive all with the heart, and our own debts shall be remitted, for they are many, but those to whom we forgive are very few, and for the sake of that very few, when we forgive our neighbors, all our debts are forgiven us. Let us remember that small fault of our neighbor, and let us seek well and truly with all our heart, that God also may do likewise in forgiving us. Let us not hold that wickedness hidden within our hearts while we say with the mouth: “I have forgiven you.” For He who is the searcher of the heart knows your heart’s thoughts, for He did not say: “If you do not say, ‘I have forgiven you,’” but rather: “If each one of you does not forgive his brother with all his heart, the Father in heaven will not forgive you your sins.

The rule of forgiveness before men is a matter of words of the mouth. When one says, "I have forgiven," that is a visible forgiveness of theirs, for the thoughts of the heart are not known. But he who knows the hidden things of the heart, before him it is that you forgive with all your heart, so that he also may forgive you all your sins. Let not wickedness estrange you from God and diminish your reward from your fervor, for from now on judgment is given concerning this matter. Now then, let us present ourselves, since the Lord has given us the path by his goodness, that we may heal ourselves without labor. Let us keep this humble commandment, which is liberating for us without labor. Forgive with all your heart and do not harbor reproach in your hearts toward your neighbor. Let us recall that of the Scripture which says: "Beware of yourself, lest you also experience." And again: "He who thinks of standing, let him beware lest he fall." Let us take this medicine before we fall ill, and let us be good toward our neighbor at the time of his trial, so that God may also be good to us at the time of our trial, for we all fall. Let us therefore be merciful, so that we may also be pitied.

Let us not fall short in our word to our neighbor, so that we too may not be given a word at the time of our own fall. For He has said to us beforehand, as it were: "As you do, so I do to you." Let us not be accusers of one another, so that He may not accuse us, for He has already said: "With what measure you mete out, it shall be meted out to you." O my beloved children, become children of love, for love brings you near to God. Fear one another with the fear of Christ. The younger, obey your elders without murmuring and faint-heartedness; conduct yourselves with obedience and humility, and listen to them with the fear of God. Be ready to fulfill whatever task they command you, with joy and without murmuring. Do not serve only before the eyes, like flatterers of men, but as servants of God, so that for His sake you may receive full recompense in all the labors of your work. Say in your hearts: "We serve the Lord, and not man." And the elders, shepherd the younger without wrath, for love does not become wrathful. Bear with them in love, as our Lord bore with us in love. Lead them in every good thing.

Know this: our Savior did not overcome that enemy by the height of His divinity, but He humbled Himself and abased Himself until He overcame that mighty and proud one, so that He might teach us that this is the way of victory by which we overcome. Therefore, follow the humility of your Teacher, so that He may also teach us victory and that through Him we may overcome our adversary. Endure labors together, so that you may thus be perfected in the love of Christ. Do not be misanthropic towards one another. If someone has a fault, do not speak of it with another. Remember that you too have faults, and do not let them be forgotten in your heart. If we do not wish that someone speak of us, neither is it fitting for us to speak of a neighbor with a neighbor, but rather seek all the more humility among yourselves and deliberate within it. Exalt one another with the fear of God, so that God may also exalt you. Do not tell your neighbor any evil word that you hear in a place, lest you humble yourselves when speaking to one another, for it is a humiliation both for the speaker and the hearer. And when you wish to go somewhere, go with the fear of God, and let that very thing be unhindered for you in every place wherever you go.

And do not lift up your faces before men, and do not gaze with your eyes downward, but with your heart look upward toward heaven. Be rather like speechless ones before men and like eloquent ones before God. Adorn your heads with all the learning of theology, and conduct yourselves with all the humility that befits monks, so that your conduct in that time of hunger may be wondrous and may magnify your Father in heaven. My children, hold your bodies as strangers to this world, that you may partake of those eternal goods. Beloved, the first transgression, which occurred in paradise, was from food. And the struggle which our Savior undertook until He overcame the enemy is fasting—this is the first struggle which our Savior bequeathed to us. Let us therefore strive toward that which lies ahead, so that we may attain to His perfection. Let us remember the struggle which He bequeathed to us, that is, fasting and prayer, as He said concerning the demons: "They cannot pass through except by fasting and prayer, for they secretly fight and devour our souls." Now therefore let us enter into that struggle of fasting. May that toil of His be sweet to us.

I know, my beloved, that you know the struggle of fasting, but I admonish you to do more and to receive a greater reward. My children, my heart rejoices over you, for what you have done during these forty days has become fruit for you for this entire year, for these are the days in which our Savior rejoices, because you have partaken of his labors. If we emulate him, we shall also be magnified with him. Now, my children, let us preserve that struggle always, and do not think that this fast of forty days has brought you into the kingdom of God, for it is written: "He who endures shall be wholly saved." Do not be like some from the people who have received the honor of their knighthood and do not stand guard at the place of battle where they were appointed to stand. If the lord comes and finds them not standing guard, he will not spare them but will destroy them. And you also keep watch as the lord has commanded you. Do not become idle even for a single day, for this struggle is day by day. When there is no fasting, there is vigil; when there is no bodily vigil, there is vigil of the mind, for this vigil is unceasing. Further, it is written: "He who guards his mouth guards his soul.

Persist, then, in fasting, for this is the completion of your labors. Even if you fast on bread alone, if you do not possess humility together with the other virtues, it is like a man who fills a vessel with honey, and, who knows, a little hole is in it, and he does not know it, and after some time that wretched one comes to see it and finds that the honey has leaked out, and he did not perceive it. Guard your own selves. Lest you also destroy your labors and not perceive it, but rather the more carefully guard your own selves from the cunning of your enemies. Beloved ones, flee from idleness, for many are those who envy us. If they are able to do something to someone, they do not hesitate at all, for they are enraged against us, they constantly seek a pretext concerning us, and when we become idle, then they swiftly and eagerly rush upon us and oppress us. When they see us, that we speak in anger towards a neighbor, they also hasten, that they might gain mastery over us. When again they hear us, when we speak evil of one another, or become proud, they rule over us and boast and say: "Behold, we have destroyed their labors." Let it not be, then, that our enemies rejoice over us, and let not the heart of our haters be glad over us.

My children, preserve repentance entirely and do not cast it out from your dwellings, and do not again give yourselves over to your sloth and forget that sweetness of repentance. Do not leave it outside your doors, that which stands and knocks, as if you would not open to it, for it has poured itself into your bosom. Would you then go forth and find food and drink and forget it? I fear, behold, lest you find some comfort and flee from it. Guard yourselves, for there are many who envy you. Blessed is he who abides in repentance until the coming of the Lord. And if you should depart from those labors of repentance and are unable to fast on the days of the solitary, magnify hospitality, diligently read books, sweetly fulfill your rule, and perform the liturgy well with fear and trembling. Be afraid of the mystery of which you partake. Do not become slothful in hastening to church, so that the angel of the offering may bless you. Be afraid of those angels who hasten to church before you, so that you may not become slothful; be afraid of Michael, who stands and sees who it is that first enters, or who it is that has been slothful.

Hasten again to the church, so that your hearts may be purified by that prayer and hymnody and reading of the canon after the manner of the apostles, until the bringing to you of that life; for it is that which disperses all those powers of darkness from the soul. Approach therefore diligently, so that you may receive the flesh and blood of Christ. Let there be no stain within your hearts, for it is that which disperses those evil powers and protects us from the enemy, as it is written: "If that blood of goats and rams and that ash of heifers purifies those defiled ones, like unto those flesh of purification, how much more the flesh of Christ, who with a holy spirit offered his own self immaculately, purifies also our minds from dead works for the service of the living and true God." And our Lord said: "He who eats my flesh, he abides with me and I with him." And then he says: "I am living from the Father, and he who eats me shall also be living from me." Now if someone becomes slothful and remains outside of this, evil multiplies within him and those powers of darkness overcome him. And he who is alien to them has no life, but all his labors are vain.

For this self has not been hindered, which every body partakes of, but it has fled from the life by the spirit. For it has separated itself from its own self and become alienated from that eternal life. But we, beloved children, let us flee to it with faith, with fear and trembling, so that it may heal us from all sickness and from all fear of the enemy. Therefore be vigilant in spirit and full of fruit, so that you may approach God boldly and that sin may not be lacking in the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose glory and power are now and forever and unto the ages of ages, amen. I read to you, all my beloved, by the Lord. May the Lord preserve you in peace. Amen.