The Venerable Joseph the Hesychast speaks to us († August 28)
My son, teach everyone to pray with the mind, to ceaselessly say the prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." At first with the lips, then with the mind. Then with the mind and with the heart. And so they will soon find the Way of Life, the Gate of Paradise. Perhaps this very prayer will become Paradise within them.
In the Prayer of the Heart, as soon as the mind enters the heart, darkness is immediately dispelled, peace settles, everything calms, rejoices, sweetens, purifies. Man becomes joyful and pure from passions like an infant. The bodily members that cause him to stumble then become quiet, humble. Therefore, if anyone desires to taste this honey, it will become for him a fount of spiritual joy and gladness. Only let no one be cunning, hypocritical, envious, money-loving, pleasure-loving, thirsty for glory, passionate, and wish to pray in order to willingly remain in his passions, without regret and without desiring correction. Such a one openly despises the work of prayer and the Lord's mercy. Prayer helps everyone, but each must strive according to their strength. And God, according to each one's desire, bestows His grace upon them.
My son, do you want to crush the head of the serpent? Clearly confess all your thoughts at confession. In the cunning of thoughts lies the devil's power. Do you keep thoughts within yourself? The devil hides there. Do you bring them to light? He disappears. And then Christ rejoices, prayer advances, and the Light of grace brings comfort, calming your mind and heart. When grace comes, all the stratagems of the cunning one will cease, because grace abolishes them all.
If the mind manages to remain in the heart, then the meeting of two lovers who have not seen each other for a long time is accomplished. Love, joy, and heavenly tenderness! But at first, much labor is needed.
Prayer is made with much sweat at first. But after that, it is uttered by itself, without labor and with unspeakable spiritual delight. Because we have kinship with God – not by being, but because we are the breath of God – at the moment when we purify ourselves from sin through fasting, vigil, and prayer, through diligent work and sobriety, then the Good God sees us and sends us His refreshing grace. This grace, like a translucent cloud, illuminates, and the inner man, who a little earlier was in darkness, looks as if lit from afar. And grace remains with him as long as the Lord wills.
When grace overshadows you and the soul rises ablaze with love, then the divine union is accomplished. And the soul immerses itself so deeply in God that one can no longer distinguish one from the other, like the sun and light, or like fire with red-hot iron, which truly unite. Oh, what beauty in our Good God! What mercy!
Have you understood, my dear child? Nowhere else should your love incline, but with all your strength, with all the desire of your soul, you should love the Lord! Thus His grace will overshadow you. The heart cannot be divided: only to God should you worship and only Him should you serve. Ah, then... then Christ will come within you, together with the Father and the Spirit, and you will become a church of God! Oh, what joy for wretched clay! How many blessings the Lord bestows upon us!
From "Testimonies from Monastic Life," Byzantine Publishing House, 1996
Translation by Fr. Constantin Coman