They talk about St. Abba Anthony, that while living in the desert, he was once subjected to mental confusion, despondency and a special invasion of dark thoughts. While in this state, he began to pour out his sorrow before God. “Lord,” he said, “I want to be saved, but my thoughts do not allow me to do this. What should I do? How can I be saved?” Rising from the place where he was sitting, and moving away a little, he sat down in another place, and - behold - he sees a man unknown to him, carefully busy with the labor of his hands. This man either got up, leaving his needlework, and prayed, then again returned to his needlework: he sewed palm leaves. Then he got up again and prayed; After prayer, he again took up needlework. The one who acted in this way was an Angel sent by God to encourage Anthony and arouse him to courage. And Anthony heard a voice coming from the Angel: “Anthony, do this and you will be saved.” Hearing this, Anthony was very happy and encouraged: he began to do this and was saved. Source: St. Ignatius Bryanchaninov "Fatherland"
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru