~ Remaining in Church

Blessed Matthew of the Caves resembled the first Holy Evangelist not only in name but also in deeds. This blessed man gave himself over to ascetic toil in the Caves Monastery and received from God the great gift to see the enemies of mankind - the demons - and to know their hidden snares and devices. In revealing them to others, he served for the good and salvation of the brethren.

Once, while standing in his usual place during a church service, Blessed Matthew saw an invisible demon in the image of a a warrior. The demon moved about the church throwing some sort of sticky petals on the brethren. If one of the petals fell on a brother and remained on him, his attention to the divine service immediately weakened and his fervour toward prayer was lost. The brother would find some excuse for himself, quickly leave the church for his cell, and go to his cell where he would lie down to sleep and not return to church. When Blessed Matthew revealed this to the brethren, they became especially watchful and attentive and resisted the temptation to leave the church during a service.

~ Do not despair

So do not despair in any way, ignoring God?s help, for He can do whatever He wishes. On the contrary, place your hope in Him and He will do one of these things: either through trials or temptations, or in some other way which He alone knows, He will bring about your restoration; or He will accept your patient endurance and humility in the place of works; or because of your hope He will act lovingly towards you in some other way of which you are not aware, and so will save your shackled soul. Only do not abandon your Physician, for otherwise you will suffer senselessly the twofold death because you do not know the hidden ways of God.