Three Rules for Keeping on the Straight Path after Confession and Holy Communion

Instructions of St. Theophan the Recluse

Bishop of Tambov (+1894)

Our inner spiritual lives never get into the proper order all of a sudden. What is always required and what lies ahead is intensified labor over oneself, by the assimilation of good intentions and by the enabling of grace through the Holy Mysteries of Confession and Communion. This work and effort is directed towards destroying the disorder that reigns inside; in its place it establishes order and harmony, after which follows inner peace and a continual joyful mood of the heart.

Do not think, however, that for this you must redo everything, or bind yourself to a lot of rules. Absolutely not. Two or three little rules or precautions, are all you need.

Rule One: It is necessary to get in the habit of unceasing remembrance of God, along with fear and reverence. Be with the Lord no matter what you do; and turn to Him with your whole mind, trying to conduct yourself as you would in front of a king. You will soon get into the habit, just don't give up or break off.

To make it easier to acquire the habit of remembrance of God, there is a special method for fervent Christians; that is, the unceasing repetition of a short prayer of two or three words. Most common is "Lord, have mercy," or "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner." If you have never heard this, then listen, and if you have never done it, then begin doing it from this moment on. Whether you are walking, sitting, eating, going to bed, repeat over and over the prayer. From long practice of this, the words will fasten themselves to the tongue so that they will repeat themselves. Do not forget to combine this prayer with reverence.

Rule Two: Do not do anything that your conscience prohibits, and do not omit anything that it says to do, whether great or small. Follow your conscience undeviatingly, and with such perseverance that you would not allow yourself to do anything against it even if you were to die. The more decisively you act, then, the more powerful your conscience will become. The more powerful your conscience becomes, the more completely and forcefully it will inspire you with what is necessary and steer you away from what is unnecessary in words, deeds, and thoughts, and the more quickly your inner being will be put in order.

Rule Three: Supplement the first two rules with this third one--be patient. You must spiritually work and not give in to pleasing yourself or the world. There will be constant opposition to any good spiritual work you have begun. You must overcome this; therefore, you must exert more force and, consequently, be patient. Clothe yourself in this all-powerful armor and never allow your spirits to fall when you encounter misfortune. Everything will come with time. Be encouraged in your patience through this hope. That this is what happens is borne out by the experience of all people who have sought and accomplished salvation.

Three simple rules: remembrance of God with reverence; obey your conscience strictly and arm yourself with hope through patience. May the Lord bless you to be so inclined and to be in this frame of mind.

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THE END

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GLORY TO GOD

FOR ALL THINGS!