How to keep vitues in this world

 

It is a small passage from Abba Esaiou, which teaches us how we can be supported spiritually in the world of sin and temptation:

"There are three things that man acquires with difficulty. And these three help him to preserve in his soul all the virtues. These three are the following: mourning, tears for his sins and the constant remembrance of death.

He who thinks daily of death and says to himself that only today I will live in this vain world, will never sin before God.

On the contrary, he who hopes to live many years will fall into many sins.

The one who has in his mind the terrible criterion and prepares to account for all his actions before God and God takes care to clean the path of his life from sins.

Whereas he who is indifferent and says to himself, I have time until I reach that hour, dwells with the wicked.

Before you begin your daily work, remember what state of mind you are in and where you are going to go when you leave the perishable and temporary body and do not neglect a single day for your soul.

Watch constantly, so that you may constantly remember your end and have before your eyes death, eternal hell, as well as those who are tormented and suffer there.

And count yourself not as alive, but as one of those burning in eternal hell."

The name of Christ.

Almighty is the grace of God, it comes immediately to whoever invokes it. That is why the so-called mental or heart prayer, because it is done in the heart, with the constant invocation "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on the sinner" , is the best way of invoking Divine Grace.

Saint Hesychius the Elder writes: "Just as the more the rain falls on the earth, the more it softens it, so the earth of our hearts rejoices and is gladdened by the holy name of Christ, the more we call it and the more often we invoke it."

So here is the path that can soften our hard and proud heart and lead it to high humility, meekness and patience, where Pistis, Hope and Love find a place to stay.

From the book: "P.M. Sotirchos "Orthodox Life according to the Holy Fathers" Volume II - "Asteros" Publications