Heavenly Father! Grant me the grace to take care in every possible way to tempt my children by my actions, but, constantly keeping in mind their behavior, to distract them from errors, to correct their errors, to restrain their stubbornness and obstinacy, to refrain from striving for vanity and frivolity; let them not be carried away by foolish thoughts; let them not follow their hearts; let them not forget Thee and Thy law. Let not iniquity destroy their mind and health, let not the sins of their spiritual and physical strength weaken. Sprinkle them with the dew of Thy grace; let them increase in virtue and holiness; may they grow in Thy favor and in the love of godly people.

Father of mercies and all mercy! Out of parental feeling, I would wish my children every abundance of earthly blessings, I would wish them blessings from the dew of heaven and from the fat of the earth, but may Thy holy will be with them! Arrange their fate according to Thy good pleasure, do not deprive them of their daily bread in life, send down upon them all that is necessary in time for the acquisition of blessed eternity; be merciful to them when they sin against Thee; do not impute to them the sins of youth and their ignorance; bring their hearts to contrition when they resist the guidance of Thy goodness; punish them and have mercy on them, directing them to the path that is pleasing to Thee, but do not reject them from Thy presence! Accept their prayers with good pleasure; grant them success in every good deed; Turn not Thy face away from them in the days of their affliction, lest temptations come upon them beyond their strength. Overshadow them with Thy mercy; let Thy angel walk with them, and preserve them from every misfortune and evil way.

Good God! Make me a mother who rejoices in her children, that they may be my joy in the days of my life, and my support in my old age. Grant me, trusting in Thy mercy, to stand with them at Thy Dread Judgment and with unworthy boldness to say: Here am I and my children, whom Thou hast given me, O Lord! That together with them, glorifying Thy ineffable goodness and eternal love, I exalt Thy most holy name, O Father, Son and Holy Soul, unto the ages of ages. Amen.

(Compiled by St. Ambrose of Optina).

What is the difference between repentance and repentance?

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov)  

Repentance is the realization of one's sinfulness and the experience associated with such awareness. This is not only regret for committing transgressions that are contrary to the commandments and moral norms, but something more – repentance, that is, condemnation of everything wrongly done: "For sorrow for God's sake worketh unfailing repentance unto salvation, but worldly sorrow worketh death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Consequently, for the sacrament of repentance to be effective, sincere heartfelt repentance and a firm intention to correct one's life are necessary.

Is abortion permissible if conception occurred as a result of rape?

Hieromonk Job (Gumerov)  

For some reason, your reasoning completely forgets the innocent baby who is to be killed. Hardly anyone will argue that rape is a serious trauma for a girl, but this does not lead to any right to kill someone who has done no harm to anyone. Life is one of the greatest mysteries of God. The Lord God did not give anyone the right to kill. Murder is a violation of the most important commandment – "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17). This prohibition expressed the great theological truth that all people are God's creations, and constitute His inheritance, which no man can encroach upon.

There are many cases when women go through the entire period of pregnancy, give birth, and then leave the babies in the hospital. People suffering from infertility take abandoned babies into the family and raise them as full-fledged members of society. The mere fact of conception as a result of rape does not mean that the child will be spiritually or physically deficient.

Abandonment of one's child is a sin, but not as grave as murder.

Dear Lydia! Do you know how an abortion is performed? I will give a description made by a man who committed many murders of infants, and then was horrified and gave up this criminal occupation.