23 (283). Admonition to a Monk
LETTERS
23. Admonition to a MonP There has come to me a man who says he despises the vanity of this life, the joys of which he has observed to be ephemeral, passing quickly away and merely furnishing material for eternal fire. He wishes' to withdraw from a wretched and lamentable life, to forsake the pleasures of the flesh, and to travel for the future along the road that leads to the mansions of the Lord. Now, if he is really determined in his desire of a truly blessed manner of life, and has in his soul a noble and commendable longing-loving the Lord, our
God, with his whole heart, with his whole strength, and with his whole mind-your Reverence~ should warn him of the difficulties and hardships of the strait and narrow path, and confirm him in the hope of the now unseen blessings which, according to the promise, are reserved for those worthy of the Lord.
I therefore write to urge your incomparable3 Perfection { in Christ to mold him, as far as possible, and to bring about without my assistance his renunciation according to God's pleasure, instructing him in the teachings of the holy Fathers as set forth by them in their writings. I urge you, then, to place before him all the best practices5 of exact ascetic observance,and so to introduce him to that life that, having
1 This letter. wriuen at Caesarea while St. Basil was a presbyter. seems to be an exhortation to his monks to train well a new recruit whom he is sending to them. rather than a personal admonition to anyone monk.
2 Theosebeias-a title of address used by St. Basil. except in this letter. for bishops only.
3 ASllnkriton-a title of distinction lIsed by St.
Ba~il for both clergy and laity.
4 Telei6teta-a title of address applied by St. Basil to clergy and laity.
5 Among the writings on the ascetic life ascribed to St. Basil is the Book of Ascetic Discipline. which is an exhortation to a renunciation of the world and contains specific directions for the monastic life.