Letter 755

To Philagrius the Bishop. Mortify for me, I beg you, the members of your body; spend everything, if it be possible, upon the spirit. Do not shrink from walking the narrow road that is passable by few [cf. Matthew 7:14]. Become lowly and exalted, mortal and immortal, earthly and heavenly, an heir of God, a fellow-heir of Christ [cf. Romans 8:17]. Let unceasing prayer be present [cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17]; psalmody fair to the eye, intent, and harmonious of mind; meditation upon the divine oracles; the frequent bending of hardened knees; wakefulness of both soul and body, with tears that wipe away the filth which, as is to be expected, steals in through the senses; the support of those who are worn down; and care, and food, and clothing, and drink for those who suffer. For these things and such as these, when they are present in you and day by day abound and increase, leave you neither idle nor unfruitful [cf. 2 Peter 1:8]; and they will present you [text corrupt here; the sense is "which will present you"] to Christ the God of all on the day of recompense.

Νέκρωσόν μοι, παρακαλῶ, τὰ μέλη τοῦ σώματός σου· πάντα, εἴπερ δυνατόν, τῷ πνεύματι προσ- δαπάνησον. Τὴν στενὴν, καὶ ὀλίγοις βατὴν ὁδὸν βα- δίζειν μὴ κατόκνει. Γενοῦ ταπεινὸς καὶ ὑψηλὸς, θνητὸς καὶ ἀθάνατος, ἐπίγειος καὶ οὐράνιος, Θεοῦ κληρονόμος, Χριστοῦ συγκληρονόμος. Προσέστω εὐχὴ ἀδιάλειπτος, ψαλμῳδία εὐόφθαλμος, καὶ σύντονος, καὶ σύμφρων, θείων λογίων μελέτη, κλίσις γονάτων κατεσκληκότων πυκνὴ, γρηγόρησις καὶ ψυχῆς, καὶ σώματος, μετὰ δακρύων ἀποσμηχόντων τὸν, ὡς εἰκὸς, διὰ τῶν αἰσθήσεων, παρεισιόντα ῥύπον, ἀντίληψις τῶν καταπονουμένων, κηδεμονία τε, καὶ τροφὴ, καὶ ἔνδυμα, καὶ ποτὸν τῶν πονεμένων. Ταῦτα γὰρ καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐνυπάρχοντά σοι, καὶ ὁσημέραι πλεονάζοντά τε καὶ αὐξοντα, οὐκ ἀργὸν, οὐδὲ ἀκαρπόν· ὅς δείξα Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ τῶν ἁπάντων, ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς μισθαποδοσίας.