Homily 75 continues to be St. Isaac‘s most exceptional and powerful reflection. He speaks about the oft neglected practice of night vigils. This, he tells us, is the most powerful form of prayer, more powerful than praying during the daytime. Isaac tells us that this is not because there is something magical about praying at night. He is not fostering a kind of superstition here. He is quite simply telling us the praying at night offers a person the opportunity to come before God without any distraction or impediment; humbling the mind and body by disciplining oneself through fasting not only from food but also from sleep. Unencumbered, the soul searches for God with an urgent longing. Having nothing weighing it down, it swiftly runs to the Beloved and seeks to remain in His embrace unceasingly. It is for this reason that the devil envies vigils above other all other forms of prayer. For, Isaac tells us, even when it is practiced poorly and in an undisciplined fashion, God produces great fruit in the soul.
The Evergetinos -Vol I, Hypothesis XX, Part I
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter One: On Renunciation, Part VI
The Evergetinos - Vol I, Hypothesis XIX, Part IV
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter One: On Renunciation, Part V
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis XIX, Part III
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter One: On Renunciation, Part IV
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis XIX, Part II
Repentance: Life’s Continual Effort
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter One: On Renunciation, Part III
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis XVIII, Part V and Hypothesis XIX, Part I
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter One: On Renunciation, Part II
The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter One: On Renunciation, Part I
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis XVIII, Part IV
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Seventy-Eight, Part II and Letter Seventy-Nine
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis XVIII, Part III
Enter By The Narrow Gate: The Ascetic Podvig of Living in the World
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Seventy-Seven, Part II
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis XVIII, Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Seventy-Six, Part II and Letter Seventy-Seven, Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Seventy-Five, Part II and Letter Seventy-Six, Part I
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