Today at Carthusian Matins:Life in God is like a precious chain, rich in gold, in which one virtue is closely linked with another, and all are harmonised into one whole. This must be so, since they all constitute one body – namely, they deify a man who sincerely lives by them, as it were enriching him with their connected links. A man is enriched by the faith, and if you will, by the hope and humility, with which he calls on the most sweet Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; and he is enriched also by peace and love.
The gift and coming of the Holy Spirit is given to the faithful from God the Father through Christ Jesus and His holy Name, as the most Divine and compassionate Lord Jesus said to the apostles: ‘It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you’ (Saint John 16:7). And, ‘But when the Comforter comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness’ (Saint John 15:26).
Especially those who have wished to embrace the field of divine silence and consecrate themselves to God, having renounced the world to practise hesychasm with wisdom, and to prefer prayer to the Lord above any other work or care, begging His mercy with undaunted hope.
Such men should have, as their constant practice and occupation, the invoking of His most holy and sweet Name, bearing it always in the mind, in the heart and on the lips. They should force themselves in every way possible to live, breathe, sleep and wake, walk, eat and drink with Him and in Him, and shall we say, do all that they have to do.
~ Callistus and Ignatius Xanthopoulos ~
