Acest om a trait ca un adevarat sfânt,a fost si isihast si mucenic si apostol.
A fost prigonit de familia si cunoscutii lui, a trait ca un cersetor, a dus cuvântul Evangheliei în zone precum Tibet, Punjab si Afganistan (într-o perioada când aceste zone nu avusesera deloc contact cu crestinismul) unde a suferit pentru Hristos. Si asta întreaga lui viata, de la 16 ani pâna la moarte. A trait multi ani ca pustnic în padure, se ruga neîncetat.
Scrierile lui reflecta o mentalitate nascuta din viata de rugaciune neîncetata. Exemple (scuze ca nu am timp sa traduc):
Despre pacat
Many who are immersed in sin are unaware of its load, just as one who dives into the water may have tons of water upon him, but is wholly unaware of its weight until he is choked in death.
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Sin is not an illusion or a thing of the imagination, but in this state of spiritual darkness, by the exercise of the evil will of man, such living seeds of evil have come into existence as will for ever infect his spirit and finally destroy it--just as smallpox in quite a short time will destroy the beauty of a man for all time, turning it to repulsive ugliness.
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The forgiveness of sins does not mean full salvation, for that can only come with perfect freedom from sin.
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Thus, too, the human spirit, ensconced in the body, enjoys for a short time the false and fleeting pleasures of sin gathered in the honeycomb of the brain, without a thought that it is in the midst of this fearsome jungle of the world.
Despre rugaciune
Prayer does not consist in an effort to obtain from God the things which are necessary for this life. Prayer is an effort to lay hold of God Himself, the Author of life, and when we have found Him who is the source of life and have entered into communion with Him, then the whole of life is ours and with Him all that will make life is perfect.
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In the same way as climate produces a change in form, colour, and the habits of growth in plants and flowers, so those who maintain communion with Me undergo a development of their spiritual nature in habit, appearance, and disposition; and putting off the old man they are transformed into My own glorious and incorruptible image.
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