Download - Plough

Conversations and Exhortations of Father Zossima 223a trace of culture, and to this end he meanly despises his old traditionsand is even ashamed of the faith of his fathers. He visitsprinces, though he is only a peasant corrupted. The peasants arerotting in drunkenness and cannot shake off the habit. And whatcruelty to their wives, to their children even! All from drunkenness!In the factories I’ve seen children nine years old, frail,rickety, bent, and already depraved. The stuffy workshop, the dinof machinery, work all day long, the vile language, and the drink,the drink – is that what a little child’s heart needs? He needs sunshine,childish play, good examples all about him, and at least alittle love. There must be no more of this, monks, no more torturingof children – rise up and preach that, make haste, make haste!But God will save Russia, for though the peasants are corruptedand cannot renounce their filthy sin, yet they know it iscursed by God and that they do wrong in sinning. Have faithin God and weep tears of devotion so that our people will stillbelieve in righteousness.It is different with the upper classes. Following science, theywant to base justice on reason alone but not, as before, withChrist, and they have already proclaimed that there is no crime,that there is no sin. And that’s consistent, for if you have no God,what is the meaning of crime? In Europe the people are alreadyrising up against the rich with violence, and the leaders of thepeople are everywhere leading them to bloodshed and teachingthem that their wrath is righteous. But their “wrath is accursed,for it is cruel.” But God will save Russia as he has saved her manytimes. Salvation will come from the people, from their faith andtheir meekness.Fathers and teachers, watch over the people’s faith, and thiswill not be a dream. I’ve been struck all my life by the dignity