Letter 775

To Eugenius the Monk. It is impossible for the one being trained by temptations to pass through them without grief. Yet nevertheless, after the passing of the temptations and the withdrawal of the demons, such people are filled with much joy, and with sweet tears, and with divine thoughts -- all those who have worked the exceedingly profitable labor and the saving affliction in their hearts. For it says: "According to the multitude of the sorrows in my heart, the consolations of God and his assurances gladdened my soul." [Psalm 93:19 LXX (94:19)]

Ἀμήχανον χωρὶς λύπης παρελθεῖν τὸν ἐπαιδευό- μενον τοῖς πειρασμοῖς. Πλὴν ὅμως μετὰ τὴν παρα- δρομὴν τῶν πειρασμῶν, καὶ τὴν ὑποχώρησιν τῶν δαιμόνων, πολλῆς χαρᾶς πληροῦνται οἱ τοιοῦτοι, καὶ δακρύων γλυκέων, καὶ νοημάτων θείων, ὅσοι ἐγειρ- γησαν τὸν ὑπερωφελῆ πόνον καὶ τὴν σώζουσαν θλῖψιν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν. « Κατὰ γὰρ τὸ πλῆθος, φησί, τῶν ἐν τῇ ἐμῇ καρδίᾳ ὀδυνηρῶν, αἱ παρακλήσεις τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ αἱ πληροφορίαι εὔφραναν τὴν ψυχήν μου. »