—What kind of words are the most potent to benefit
others?
The most powerful word for edifying others is
practical—the example of our lives. St. Isaac the Syrian says the same: “The
speech of works is one thing; beautiful words without deeds, another.”
Afterwards he adds: “Many words without works are like an artist who paints
pictures of water on the wall but is not able to quench his
thirst.’’
—Another man asked Fr.
Cleopas: “Father Cleopas, can a virtuous Christian save his family and his
village by the holiness of his life?”
How can he not? The more
virtuous Christians there are in the world, in a country, in a community, the
more that country or community will be preserved from dangers, wars,
disturbances, famines, and all kinds of evil. On the other hand, the fewer elect
of God there are, the more severe will be God’s chastising blow. Someone asked a
certain Saint: ‘’Can one man save a city?’’ ‘’He can,’’ the Saint answered.
‘’The Prophet King David is an example. Listen to what God said: For the sake of
David My servant, I will not abandon the city of Jerusalem.’’
—A visiting layman asked him: “Father Cleopas, I
quarrelled with someone and have asked his forgiveness many times, but he
doesn’t want to forgive me. What can I do to be reconciled with
him?”
Do not say anything more to him, nor speak evil of him
to others, but pray to God for him and forgive him from your heart. In time the
anger will be extinguished, like a fire that is starved of
wood.
—How should Christians stand in church during services,
how should they pray, and what duties do they have when they go to
church?
Christians should stand in church with faith, fear of
God, and attention. They should force themselves as much as possible to pray
without distraction and with feeling of heart. Also, Christians have the
following duties: to go regularly to church, for whoever often misses the
services, except for the sick, are barred from the Holy Mysteries; to be
reconciled with all men and to ask forgiveness of anyone they have hurt; to
preserve their purity at least two days before going to church and at least one
day after; to come early to the divine services in order to have time to
venerate in peace and hear Matins. Every Christian should offer some gift to the
Lord according to his ability, even if it is very small, as a sacrifice from the
work of his hands. They should give names for commemoration, and ask the priest
to take out parts [from the prosphora] for the living and dead members of their
families. Christians should stand in church modestly and in good order, the men
on the right and the women on the left. They should wear clean and modest
clothes, and women should have scarves on their heads. It is forbidden to talk
during services without great need. After Divine Liturgy starts, everyone should
remain in his place and not move about to venerate the icons. They should follow
the Liturgy with pious attention, and listen to the prayers and singing of the
choir, the Epistle and Gospel readings, and the sermon. No one should leave the
church before the end of the Liturgy without great need. Those who have
confessed and prepared for Holy Communion should read the appropriate prayers
before Communion in advance, and before they approach the Holy Gifts they should
ask forgiveness of all the faithful. After the Liturgy, those who received
Communion should read the prayers of thanksgiving, spending that day in
spiritual joy and guarding themselves from all temptations. Parents should bring
their children to church regularly, taking care that they receive communion of
the Body and Blood of Christ. After the end of the divine services, Christians
should reverently return to their homes, spending the rest of the day thinking
of holy things, reading spiritual books, and visiting the sick. They are also
obligated to tell those at home who didn’t come to church about what they heard
and learned in church from the troparia, readings, and the sermon. These are the
most important duties of Christians when they go to church on Sundays and feast
days.
—What is prayer, and what kinds of prayer exist,
according to the Holy Fathers?
Evagrius of Pontus says:
‘’Prayer is the converse of the mind with God. Prayer is an offshoot of meekness
and angerlessness.” “Prayer is a fruit of joy and gratitude. It is the banishing
of sadness and despair,’’ according to Evagrius of Pontus. And the Fathers say
it is the union and joining of man with God, the strength of the world,
reconciliation with God, the mother and daughter of tears. Prayer is the key of
the kingdom of heaven, and according to Theophan the Recluse, it is the ascent
of the mind and thoughts to God. Prayer has three degrees: first, spoken or read
prayer, performed by the body; second, prayer of the thoughts, or mental prayer;
and third, prayer of the feelings, or of the heart.
—Generally our people pray little, but with much
humility. Can they hope for salvation through their small quantity of prayer?
And how should the sick or those who can’t read
pray?
Our Savior Jesus Christ said: When you pray, do not use
vain repetition like the gentiles, for they think they will be heard for their
much speaking. Do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before
you ask Him (Matt. 6:7-8). Then He taught us the ‘’Our Father.’’ Therefore, our
Savior Himself taught us brief prayer. Anyone who says short prayers, but with
humility and tender feeling, will be saved. Let us remember the holy elder who
prayed for forty years with the same prayer: “Lord, I as a man have sinned; do
Thou as God forgive me.”
—How can people fulfill the Apostle Paul’s command,
“Pray without ceasing?”
Anyone can pray without ceasing if he always walks
before God with his mind and heart. He can work with his hands while his mind
and heart are raised to God. The only thing I have to add is that the most
important thing in spiritual prayer is that our mind and heart are inseparable
from God, regardless of what time and place we are in. We must always be aware
of the presence of God. “This work applies to all kinds of prayer, and is
considered an uninterrupted prayer,” says St. Theophan the Recluse. This is the
feeling and spiritual contemplation of God that the blessed Prophet David had
when he said: “I beheld the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand,
that I might not be shaken...” (Ps. 15:8). So we must understand that a faithful
man’s life is a ceaseless prayer if his mind is always with
God.
—When we do good works, is that also a kind of prayer
to God?
Yes, it is. The Apostle Paul tells us this when he
says: Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by Him (Col. 3:17). Whenever one does a good
deed for the glory of God, or speaks for the benefit of others for the glory of
God, he has the prayer of works. Therefore St. Theodore the Studite, counselling
his disciples, said to them: “He who does good deeds and obeys with humility and
without protest, performs liturgy and priesthood”Taken from Spiritual Conversations with Romanian Elders by Fr. Ioanichie Balan.
