Not even a month had passed since his wedding when his wife became desperately ill, and except for brief periods of relief, suffered over the course of a whole year. Fr. Theodosius was alarmed by his wife's sickly state, but he was firm in the spirit and constantly impressed upon her that she must endure:
"...we must endure every visitation of God's punishing righteousness and paternal love with feelings of gratitude and absolute devotion to Him. ...only this can suppress carnal-mindedness in a man and bring down upon him the grace of the Holy Spirit."
Priest Theodosius Levtisky 1845 †
March 9th (Church calendar)
March 9th (Church calendar)
— from a Collection of Lives: Russian Ascetics of Piety, NHM Bp. Nicodemus, (old ROCOR) St. Panteleimon monastery Mt. Athos 1907, translation by Old Paths Press (world orthodox) 2025 p. 91
____________________
OL 1992 (2) has another translation:
"...only a period of punitive truth and Fatherly love can stifle the human wisdom of a person and humble one enough to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit."
https://orthodoxlifemagazines.blogspot.com
Posts
As a newly-ordained priest, Fr. Theodosius surely had to endure his wife's illness also, not just as her caretaker, but also he had to start his ministry without her help. And this reminds me of another spiritual saying that the patient and the caretaker receive the same reward.
ReplyDelete