June 7, 1833.

148. It is miserable, immeasurably sad to grieve over the death of a mother. Choosing an old woman for the revelation of thoughts. Force yourself to be patient

Your writings filled with sorrowful expressions have been received, and compassion for mankind has sufficiently touched my most depraved heart. Feeling in his right mind, he remembered that it is miserable to grieve immensely and to kill oneself untimely, — in every possible way we should thank the Lord for everything, no matter how He punishes us with punishments in this world. And compassion came to me not for the death of my mother, I am sure that she was raptured from us to rest! But for you, who have remained orphans, who have still badly formed your morality by the funeral feast of obedience. But I only firmly remember that the Most Merciful Lord in His Divine Scripture clearly explained that "He does not desire the death of the sinner, but wants all to be saved, and to come to true understanding" (cf. Ezekiel XXXIII, 11).

And therefore we must reason: if the Lord had foreseen that according to our inclinations we could have gained complete benefit from the memorable Mother Barbara, then in every possible way He would have left us alive to live with us. But apparently we can tell you frankly that we turned out to be unworthy of such a Mother and a condescender to our infirmities, and during our life with her we did not know how to appreciate her care for us: but not infrequently, due to the enemy's darkness, we caused murmuring and reproach against her, and often in our thoughts we condemned her for her infirmities during her service and painful illness. And how we, and most of all you, can now fully see in reality what feelings we felt during our life with Mother and what feelings we felt after Mother Christ.

And if the Most Merciful Lord invisibly grants you to cleave in spirit to an old woman, then, being tempted, you will know better the value, and how to revere your teacher, and in the goodness of the Lord you will prosper.

Again, daughter Anna, I, the accursed one, in accordance with your benevolence, boldly ask and pray, as I have heard from the father's letter, that in the last hours of Mother Anna's life, the Lord has vouchsafed you and Mother Anthia to inherit Mother Anthia's cell. Although I love you in spirit, as a daughter, I also remember that you have a tough temper, in which I advise the Lord to try to pacify yourself, and to accustom yourself to patience, and force yourself to respect and prefer Mother Anthia. "May the Most Merciful Lord answer thee in humility, and more than those which I have written; And you know that humility, self-reproach and patience are victory for every temptation. May the Lord help you and preserve you, and protect you from the snares of the enemy, and may He forgive all your sins, and I send my fatherly forgiveness and blessing to the unworthy.

149. Internal warfare is overcome by patience, self-reproach, and humility

Your letter, sent with the mail, I, unwanted, have received, in which you confess by confession your pompous and proud wisdom, and most of all you are overcome by contempt, and because of this you are confused and despair. However, Glory be to the Most Merciful Lord, that through the intercession of the God-pleasing Father, you and the packs have not been rejected from the bosom of your only mother and guardian for your most passionate soul and the bearing of infirmities...

And that you do not find a likeness of the memorable Mother Barbara, I dare not contradict you about this. But how unworthy we have turned out to be that Mother Barbara should live a little longer and take advantage of us, and therefore we must follow the advice of St. John of the Ladder and ask questions with undoubted faith, and the Holy Spirit will give us through a clear pronunciation through her lips soul-edifying answers and advice.

… On the outside there is war, but on the inside it is intense and dangerous—for such a calamitous battle you must strive to bring victory, namely, by patience, self-reproach, and humility. That you describe your former habits in order to do good to all, and since you have been allowed to become poor for your humility, then you must keep yourself in moderation and treat others with words alone.

I entrust you to the protection of the Almighty Lord — and may the Lord enlighten you, and may He enlighten you for good, and may He help, and may He preserve you from all the snares of the devil, and may He forgive you all your sins, and as a great sinner, I send you fatherly forgiveness and blessing.

January 2, 1834.

150. Watch, be sober, and be of good courage. The Lord, by our good will, is able to send the means to salvation

I have read your ill-written lines, and because of the weakness of my understanding, may the Most Merciful Lord forgive you, and may He enlighten you, and enlighten you with His grace and mercy. In the same way I beseech you and beseech you with humility, be sober and courageous, and shun the wines that deviate to flesh and blood and to all voluptuous movements, and from the clouds and the noisy storm of disturbances that torment your mind and feelings, and wish to plunge your good will into the mire of voluptuousness. But we, if we see something in thought and creep and from the evil Speculator in ourselves, let us even then, having arisen, flow with repentance and tenderness to Him who revives the dead, and raises up the fallen, and crowns those who suffer from such evil tormentors, and grants freedom and the gifts of reasoning against strife.