As enticing as is the temptation of a sinful life, it ultimately leads to the disgust of sin, and then we seek the true path which we find in faith.
Sinful Civilization
However, Saint Anthony the Great said that there will come a time when people will go crazy and, if they see someone who has not gone crazy, they will attack him and say to him “You are crazy, you are not like us.”
The Temptation of the Sinful Life
So, even though you don’t have to trust your righteousness, don’t be afraid of the past. Control your mouth and stomach to avoid bodily sins in order to have light in your body.
In order to have light in your mind, you must be obedient to your spiritual father. You must not see evil in any man. Do good to those who harm you, and endure without disturbance what is happening to you.
However, take care of your courage, because man decays if he does not continually aspire to the higher and dissolves his personality in the temptation of sinful life to become a persoNULLity.
The Virtue
Finally, let us not forget that no act of virtue is true if it is of no use to others. So, it doesn’t matter how much or how hard you fast or sleep on the floor or eat ash or even cry continuously. If you do no good to others, you do nothing great.
Based on Saint Anthony the Great, Saint John Jacob of Hozeva, Saint John Chrysostom, Ioan Ianolide, Alexandru Mironescu
A monk waiting in prayer. Vatopedi monastery, Mount Athos.
— Source: asceticexperience.com