114. Vision of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Eucharist

 

Saint Sabbas the Sanctified accepted into one of his monasteries a wealthy noble as a novice. Sadly, being spoiled by his life of abundance, the novice could barely work as hard as other monks, and he could hardly keep the fast as other monks. He would eat different foods that his relatives would bring to him, which was against the rules of the monastery. 

The saint wanted to spare the young novice the embarrassment, so, instead of rebuking him, he prayed fervently for him. During the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God the prayer was answered through this vision given to the novice.

He was standing in the church during the evening service, when suddenly he saw a radiant Lady flanked by two angels. One of the angels held a cloth, and the other, a chalice filled with bread. The monks were approaching Her, and, after one of the angels wiped their sweaty faces with a cloth, She would give them a piece of the heavenly bread with a golden spoon.

The young novice also tried to approach Her, but he rejected on account of receiving either the Eucharist or to be touched with the cloth. The Mother of God said to him: “How can you take the Body of My Son when you did not fast? How can the cloth of an angel dry your face when you did not work in the field with the rest of the brethren?”

The novice immediately informed St. Sabbas of the vision. He started fasting and working according to the rule, and was made worthy of a blessed death.

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112. Mental Health Advice from the Saints

The following collection of quotes was graciously assembled by Courtney Haubert. 

If you say “I want to feel better, but nothing seems to work. I just want to give up”,

Saint Peter of Damascus replies:

“Patient endurance kills the despair that kills the soul; it teaches the soul to take comfort and not to grow listless in the face of its many battles and afflictions.”

If you say “Nothing seems to be going right in my life. Every time I try something new, it always just falls apart. Why bother trying?”,

Saint Nilus of Sinai replies:

“Do not be always wanting everything to turn out as you think it should, but rather as God pleases, then you will be undisturbed and thankful in your prayer.”

If you say “I don’t want to bother my friends with my problems. I feel like they’ll judge me, or won’t understand,”

Saint Nikodemos replies,

“The genuineness of a friend is shown at a time of trial, if he shares the distress you suffer.”

If you say “I feel like I’m a terrible person. I can’t stop thinking about all the awful things I’ve done. How could God forgive me?”,

Saint John Chrysostom replies: “Be ashamed when you sin, not when you repent.”

If you say, “I’m so frustrated and irritated all the time. Other people are the worst!”

Saint Maximus the Confessor replies: “When a trial comes upon you unexpectedly, do not blame the person through whom it came, but try to discover why it came, and then you will find a way of dealing with it.”

If you say “Sometimes I feel like I’m all alone, like God doesn’t care about my suffering,”

Saint John Chrysostom replies: “God has not forgotten the man to whom He sends sufferings and trials, but in this way is proving His closeness to him.”

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96. Missing Church Services on Purpose

Saint Jacob of Evia served for four years in Greek army in his youth, and he was as devout then as when he became an elder later in his life. Despite mocking from his peers, he was very much liked by his superiors, who granted him a leave of absence so he could attend Paschal and other Holy Week services. His joy knew no end.

With paper in his hand, he returned to the barracks, but there he saw a fellow soldier who was dejected on account of not being able to see his fiancé. He inquired the battle mate when he would like to be absent, and the soldier replied that he would like to have Pascha off, as well as days on Great Thursday and the following days, so he could attend the majestic services with his loved one.

Saint Jacob immediately went and procured the permission from his superiors for his friend to go instead of him. He remained behind, on guard duty, while the Church celebrated the Crucifixion and glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

He spent his guard duty on the hill over Athens, witnessing many Christians going to churches, to receive the holy light, that is, to light candles that announce that Christ is risen. He prayed the Jesus Prayer, and as he did so, the True Holy Light, the grace of God, came upon him, and in his own words, “a light came from on high and rested on me, and I became all light.”

Saint Jacob sacrificed what he loved most, his own presence at the most important services of Church year, so that his friend could experience them and so he could be with his future bride - in return, He gained Christ Himself in his soul. Many of us won’t be able to attend a single service during this outbreak - but that is a non-existent inconvenience for Christ our God. May He come to us likewise whenever we cannot confess, whenever we cannot receive the Eucharist, whenever we cannot sing “Christ is risen” together in person; and in these tiring times, His grace will shine that much brighter. Come, Christ our light, and dispel darkness of sin and disease. Amen.

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