May God Give You Wisdom! The Letters of Fr. John Krestiankin. Letters to Clergymen,To Those Desiring the Priestly Rank, and to Priests’ Wives. Part 6

Choosing a helpmate

Dear in the Lord A.!

Your resolve is needed before you choose your life's path.

Your heart is more inclined towards family life; this is also a podvig, like monastisicm, if not even more complicated. After all, you would be responsible not only for yourself, but for your wife and children. But you must decide. There is no salvation in life without podvig.

You must also choose a friend according to your heart, knowing well the podvig of life for which you are taking a helpmate. But if you marry and your wife is a hindrance, this is tragedy for a priest.

I will pray to the Lord and ask that He give you a helpmate for your life and for your service to the Church.

You also need to fulfill Vladyko's blessing.

May God give you wisdom!

The Lord will behold the fruit of your labors

P.

God blessed your entering the seminary — so study hard, and grow there physically and spiritually.

You will prove yourself during these years of study, where your matured little heart will incline itself. Only, firmly preserve your purity of soul and body, and avoid all “romance.” God needs a pure sacrifice.

In the final year of seminary the Lord will behold the fruits of your labors, and determine your life's path.

God's blessing to you!

Stand firm in the truth

Slave of God Y.!

I have no advice for you. Everything was said to you already by those with whom you discussed the priesthood. How could you accept the priesthood when you cannot even arrange your own life properly, and abandon your hope in God whenever you are met with temptations?

We are living in such times, when only faith in the fact that Divine Providence arranges life can overcome all the difficulties of life.

If your goal in life is specific — the salvation of your soul for eternity, then we will pass through all temptations with thankfulness to God, and we will stand firm in the Truth.

HTML code for blogs <table id="art7379" style="margin:20px;" border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;padding:30px 30px 20px 30px;border:1px solid #cccccc;background:#ffffff;"><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/7379.htm" style="color:black;text-decoration:none;border:none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/pfr.johnletters07.jpg" border=0 align="left" alt="May God Give You Wisdom! The Letters of Fr. John Krestiankin. Letters to Clergymen,To Those Desiring the Priestly Rank, and to Priests’ Wives. Part 6" style="margin:0px 10px 10px 0px;border:1px solid black;float:left;"><em style="display:block;color:#792e00;padding-bottom:2px;"></em><strong style="display:block;font-size:17px;text-transform:uppercase;text-decoration:underline;">May God Give You Wisdom! The Letters of Fr. John Krestiankin. Letters to Clergymen,To Those Desiring the Priestly Rank, and to Priests’ Wives. Part 6</strong><em style="display:block;padding:2px 0px 0px 0px;line-height:103%;font-size:15px;text-transform:none;"></em><span style="display:block;padding:5px 0px 10px 0px;">Your heart is more inclined towards family life; this is also a podvig, like monastisicm, if not even more complicated. After all, you would be responsible not only for yourself, but for your wife and children. But you must decide. There is no salvation in life without podvig.</a></span></td></tr></table> See preview

Save link Add link

Print RSS

May God Give You Wisdom! The Letters of Fr. John Krestiankin. Letters to Clergymen,To Those Desiring the Priestly Rank, and to Priests’ Wives. Part 6Your heart is more inclined towards family life; this is also a podvig, like monastisicm, if not even more complicated. After all, you would be responsible not only for yourself, but for your wife and children. But you must decide. There is no salvation in life without podvig.