When evil thoughts arise in us after good thoughts, we need to silence our thoughts and, looking into the depths of our hearts, say: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me," and sometimes only half: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me," which is more necessary for beginners, as Gregory of Sinaite said. The Fathers find that it is even better to say: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." God is especially pleased when we recognize ourselves as sinners.

Thus, one should always pray diligently: standing, or sitting, or lying down, gathering the mind in the heart and holding the breath as much as possible; not to breathe often, as Symeon the New Theologian teaches. And St. Gregory of Sinai teaches us thus: "Always call on the Lord Jesus in hope, patience and expectation that the Lord Jesus Christ will deliver you from all temptations." When your spirit is freed from temptations through this prayer, listen even more to your heart and continue your prayer with your mind in your heart. "There are many virtues, but they are only part of sobriety; prayer in the heart is the source of all good and waters the soul like a garden," said Gregory of Sinai.

From Homily 5

On Our Temptations, Struggles and Victories, and on the Eight Most Important Passionate Thoughts (Temptations)

Manifold, say the Fathers, are the types of our struggle, with the help of which we gain victory over insidious temptations (evil thoughts), according to the strength of the combatants; we mean prayer for thoughts, arguing with them, and, finally, humiliating them and driving them away. The most perfect thoughts can humiliate, suppress and renounce, and those who succeed can oppose, oppose. But the indigent and the weak should pray against the

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Overwhelm them and Luklpme's thoughts, Ml good. Bearing in mind, SV. St. Isaac the Syrian says that virtues steal our passions.

There are, however, eight main passionate thoughts (temptations), say the Fathers, from whom others are born: gluttony, fornication, love of money, anger, sorrow, despondency, vanity, pride.

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About the memory of death and about the Last Judgment, how and with what to occupy one's mind in order to root this remembrance in one's heart

The Fathers said that for our (monastic) work it is very useful and necessary to think about our death and to keep the Last Judgment before our eyes.

Philotheus the Sinaite established a rule for this activity: from early morning until the time for the meal, one must remain in thoughts of God, that is, in prayer and guarding the heart; after we thank God, we should think about death and the Last Judgment. Those who care about this should first of all remember the words of the Lord: "This night the angels will take your soul from you (cf. Lk. 12. 20). Think also about the words of the Holy Apostles: Horses are near to all 0 Pet. 4. 7); The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5. 2).

As of all meals bread is the most necessary, so of all the virtues is the memory of death; And just as a hungry man cannot forget bread, so he who wants to be saved cannot but remember death, say the Fathers. Many laymen and monks who lived happily, loved all earthly things, and hoped for a long life, did not reach old age because the knife of death cut off their lives.