Conversations on the Gospel of Mark

“When we pray,” writes Fr. John of Kronstadt, - then in a strange way the most holy, lofty objects rotate in thoughts on a par with earthly, everyday, insignificant objects: for example, God and some favorite object, for example, money, some thing, clothes, hat or any sweet piece, sweet drink or any external difference, cross, order, ribbon, etc. "

But as soon as the prayer ends, all these motley, incoherent thoughts immediately disappear, like clouds scattered by the wind. Often you will not even remember what you thought about during prayer and what seemed then extremely important and necessary, requiring a serious discussion.

This circumstance best proves the presence in obsessive thoughts of an outside force hostile to prayer.

Vasily (Preobrazhensky), Bishop of Kineshma.

"Conversations on the Gospel of Mark".

Chapter 5.