Letter 174: I have been most wishful to write constantly to your excellency, but I have from time to time denied myself, for fear of causing any temptation to beset you, because of those who are ill disposed toward me. As I am told, their hatred has even gone so far that they make a fuss if any one happens to receive a letter from me. But now that you have ...

From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea To: A widow Date: ~367 AD Context: Basil writes to a widow who has initiated correspondence, offering spiritual counsel on keeping the fear of God and the Day of Judgment always in mind. I have very much wanted to write to your excellency regularly, but I have held back from time to time for fear of causing you trouble on account of those who are ill-disposed toward me. Their hostility has apparently reached the point where they make a scene if anyone so much as receives a letter from me. But now that you have begun writing to me yourself -- and very good of you it is -- sharing everything that is on your mind, I am moved to write back. Let me make up for what I have missed, and at the same time respond to what you have written. Truly blessed is the soul that, night and day, has no other anxiety than this: how, when the great day comes -- when all creation stands before the Judge and gives an account of its deeds -- she too may pass her reckoning with ease. For whoever keeps that day and that hour always before them, and constantly reflects on the defense they will need before a tribunal where no excuses will avail, will sin either not at all or not seriously. We begin to sin when the fear of God fails in us. When people have a clear picture of what awaits them, the awe within them will never let them fall into reckless action or thought. So keep God in your mind. Hold the fear of him in your heart. Enlist everyone you can to join you in prayer, for great is the help of those who are able to move God by their persistence. Never stop doing this. While we live in the flesh, prayer will be a mighty helper. And when we depart from this life, it will be provision enough for the journey to the world to come. Concern for your soul is a good thing. But despondency, dejection, and despair of salvation -- these are poison to the soul. Trust in the goodness of God. Look for his help. Know that if we turn to him rightly, he will not withhold his mercy.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To a Widow. I have been most wishful to write constantly to your excellency, but I have from time to time denied myself, for fear of causing any temptation to beset you, because of those who are ill disposed toward me. As I am told, their hatred has even gone so far that they make a fuss if any one happens to receive a letter from me. But now that you have begun to write yourself, and very good it is of you to do so, sending me needful information about all that is in your mind, I am stirred to write back to you. Let me then set right what has been omitted in the past, and at the same time reply to what your excellency has written. Truly blessed is the soul, which by night and by day has no other anxiety than how, when the great day comes wherein all creation shall stand before the Judge and shall give an account for its deeds, she too may be able easily to get quit of the reckoning of life. For he who keeps that day and that hour ever before him, and is ever meditating upon the defense to be made before the tribunal where no excuses will avail, will sin not at all, or not seriously, for we begin to sin when there is a lack of the fear of God in us. When men have a clear apprehension of what is threatened them, the awe inherent in them will never allow them to fall into inconsiderate action or thought. Be mindful therefore of God. Keep the fear of Him in your heart, and enlist all men to join with you in your prayers, for great is the aid of them that are able to move God by their importunity. Never cease to do this. Even while we are living this life in the flesh, prayer will be a mighty helper to us, and when we are departing hence it will be a sufficient provision for us on the journey to the world to come. Anxiety is a good thing; but, on the other hand, despondency, dejection, and despair of our salvation, are injurious to the soul. Trust therefore in the goodness of God, and look for His succour, knowing that if we turn to Him rightly and sincerely, not only will He not cast us off forever, but will say to us, even while we are in the act of uttering the words of our prayer, Lo! I am with you. About this page Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202174.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.