Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov: The Holy Spirit, Who has hitherto invited and urged him only to weeping and penitence...

The Holy Spirit, Who has hitherto invited and urged him only to weeping and penitence, now invites him to rejoice: Let Israel rejoice in Him Who made him, and let the children of Sion exult over their King. Let them praise His name in choir, let them sing to Him with the timbrel and psaltery (Ps. 149:2).

That is because, after the soul’s renewal, its powers are brought into wonderful accord and harmony, and at the touch of divine grace become capable of producing spiritual sounds and tunes pleasing to God which rise to heaven before the throne of God.

Let my heart rejoice to fear Thy name! I will confess Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Thy name for ever; for Thy mercy is great toward me, and Thou hast delivered my soul out of the depths of hell (Ps. 85:11–13). The just shall confess Thy name, and the upright shall dwell in Thy presence (Ps. 139:14).

That is because, after the repulsion of the enemies which cause distraction and weaken and defile prayer, the mind enters the darkness of the unseen and stands in the presence of God without any means or intermediary.

This spiritual darkness is that veil, that curtain, which hides the face of God. That veil is the incomprehensibility of God for all created minds.

Compunction of heart then becomes so powerful that it is called confession. The blessed effect of the Prayer of Jesus in a proficient Christian, David depicts thus: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name (Ps. 102:1).

Exactly! At the abundant action of the Prayer of Jesus all the powers of the soul, and even the body, take part in it.

On the Prayer of Jesus 

FROM THE ASCETIC ESSAYS OF 

Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov

"If you would like to become a member of our facebook page, click "HERE"