SAINT DIADOCHOS OF PHOTIKI
“When God recedes in order to
educate us, this brings great sadness, humility and even some measure of
despair to the soul. The purpose of this is to humble the soul’s
tendency to vanity and self-glory, for the heart at once is filled with
fear of God, tears of thankfulness, and great longing for the beauty of
silence. But the receding due to God’s complete withdrawl fills the soul
with despair, unbelief, anger and pride. We
who have experienced both kinds of receding should approach God in each
case in the appropriate way. In the first case we should offer Him
thanks as we plead in our own defence, understanding that He is
disciplining our unruly character by concealing His presence, so as to
teach us, like a good father, the difference between virtue and vice. In
the second case, we should offer Him ceaseless confession of our sins
and incessant tears, and practise a greater seclusion from the world, so
that by adding to our labours we may eventually induce Him to reveal
His presence in our hearts as before. Yet we must realize that when
there is a direct struggle between Satan and the soul- and I am speaking
here of the struggle that takes place when God recedes in order to
educate us- then grace conceals itself a little, as I have said, but
nevertheless supports the soul in a hidden way, so that in the eyes of
its enemies the victory appears to be due to the soul alone.” On Spiritual Knowledge and Discernment (AD 451)
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