"Why are you crying, Abba?" The disciples asked, and he answered:

"The great pillar of the church has just fallen," the elder meant the young monk. "Go to him and see what happened there."

The disciples went where the abba had said. The young monk lay on a mat and mourned the sin he had committed. When he saw the disciples, he said:

"Ask the elder to beg God to give me at least ten days, and I hope to deserve justification before Him." But five days later he died.

2. Abba Bessarion said: "When we humble ourselves and pray lest an alien joy enter us, we begin to boast, cease to watch our hearts, and plunge into sorrowful warfare. Often, because of our weakness, God shows mercy on us and casts Satan out of us. And if we neglect ourselves and reject the fear of God and attention, temptations are immediately allowed to us."

Chapter 10: On Being Strict About Self-Care, Correcting Mistakes, and Multiplying Good Deeds

1. From the Life of St. Syncliticia

Blessed Syncliticia said: "I knew a certain man who lived a virtuous life. He sat in his cell, watched the attack of thoughts and calculated which thought would be the first, which would be the second, and how long each of them would last, and compared whether the attack of thoughts was stronger or weaker today than yesterday. In this way, he knew exactly the grace of God and his own endurance and success, and overthrew the enemy.

2. It is necessary that we accept such rules and keep them. Those who sell short-lived things make an accounting at the end of each day, and if the profit for the day is large, they rejoice, and if they suffer losses, they grieve. All the more should we be vigilant, for we acquire for ourselves a true treasure and try to acquire for ourselves as many good things as possible. And if the enemy has cheated us even a little, we should be extremely indignant and even burst into tears from the damage suffered. Just don't despair and give up everything because of one mistake.

3. If you have ninety-nine sheep, look for the missing one. Do not be confused by one mistake you have made, do not flee from the Lord because of it, otherwise the devil will seize and destroy the entire flock of your deeds as soon as he notices that the flock has been left without the protection of the Lord. Do not leave the monastic army because of one sin. Our Lord is good, He will receive you as many times as you turn to Him. Therefore, try to receive forgiveness through sincere repentance.

2. From Otechnik

Abba Nisferoi said that a monk should "every evening and every morning give himself an account: what he has done from what God requires and what he has not done from what God forbids. And so check yourself all your life."

2. Abba Moses asked Abba Silouan: