730 (SPIRITUAL FATHER/ FIRST VOICE OF CONSCIOUSNESS/ SPIRITUAL LIFE) Every Orthodox Christian, who is a living member of the Church, has tasted the benefit of having a spiritual Father, to whom he may present with love and trust, his sins as well as his spiritual journey in Christ… The presence of our spiritual Father in our lives is the quintessence of the spiritual life… We cannot, of course, have our Spiritual Father every day next to us either for confession or for counselling. So what do we do? Second (virtual) spiritual Father:
We may have in parallel a second (virtual) spiritual father in between our visits to our spiritual father. And this is none other than our conscience, which is another voice of God insight us. As long as we cultivate it and cooperate with it…
(Concerning the conscience and especially the first voice of conscience within us, see our Paternal Advice no. 728). Talk with your conscience every day (especially at night).
It will advise you, during the evening Account of the day, what you should have done in this or that situation that happened to you, how to act, what to avoid, what to strive for, what to watch out for… You may even write down the advice given to you, thus maintaining a code of practice in your daily life… This will be your second (virtual) spiritual father, who, of course, does not replace your spiritual Father, but helps you in his absence… You will see in practice that when you listen to this second (virtual) spiritual father, you will succeed… On the contrary, when you disobey him, you will find yourself in trouble… Know that God will always enlighten it to tell you the good and beneficial matters of your soul… You may boast for him (this second spiritual father of yours) (2 Cor. 12:5), for he is sanctified! But do not boast for yourself, for you are full of passions and sins… So, carry on making use of this second (virtual) spiritual father, getting along well with him…
Listening to him, as we said, is like listening to God and to your spiritual Father, and you will do well and will progress in your spiritual life… I am praying for this to happen!