Section 35

“When demons come to you at night and try to tell you the future, or say, ‘We are angels,’ do not pay attention to them, because they are lying. Even if they praise your ascetic practice and call you blessed, do not listen to them and have nothing to do with them. Instead, make the sign of the cross over yourselves and over your dwellings, and pray. You will see them disappear.

“They are cowards and are especially terrified by the sign of the Lord’s cross, because through the cross the Savior truly stripped them of their power and made a public example of them.

“If they shamelessly remain, jumping about and continually changing their appearance, do not fear them, shrink back, or treat them as though they were good spirits.

“With God’s help, the presence of good spirits and evil spirits can be distinguished easily. A vision of the holy ones does not bring turmoil. ‘They will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear their voice.’ Such a vision comes so quietly and gently that joy, gladness, and courage immediately arise in the soul. The Lord, who is our joy, is with them, together with the power of God the Father.

“The thoughts of the soul remain undisturbed and untroubled, so that, as though illuminated by rays of light, it can itself contemplate those who appear. Love for divine things and for the things to come takes possession of it, and it would willingly be united completely with them if it could depart together with them.

“If, because they are human, some people are initially afraid when they see a good vision, those who appear immediately take away the fear. Gabriel did this for Zechariah. The angel who appeared to the women at the holy tomb did the same, and so did the one who said to the shepherds in the Gospel, ‘Do not be afraid.’ Their fear did not arise from cowardice but from recognizing the presence of beings greater than themselves.

“This, then, is the character of the visions of the holy ones.