THE tears that accompany repentance, conversion and inward renewal are linked both in the scriptures and in the later Christian spiritual tradition with the concept of penthos, “mourning” that purifies the soul.  In the Old Testament penthos is especially mourning for the dead expressed in tears and lamentation; but it is also the sorrow and grief that accompanies prophesied disaster.  Similarly, penthos in the New Testament is also mourning with tears; but it is a grief that leads to a determination to act or change (2 Cor .12:21; Rev. 18).

THE Christian doctrine of tears/penthos flowers in the fourth-century deserts of Egypt.  To weep for one’s sins was for many desert fathers the central and all-encompassing act of monastic piety (Sayings, Latin syst. col.  bk. 3). The hermit Evagrius Ponticus (d. 399) recommends that one begin with tearful prayer in order to “calm the wildness within the soul” and obtain forgiveness of sins (on Prayer, 5-6).  Prayer with tears is a gift one should request from God, but tears and penthos are not ends in themselves: they afford humility and lead to pure prayer, eventually to that simplest and purest of all prayer that is contemplation.  If, however, one becomes overly preoccupied with tears, their presence can become a cause of pride and thus of sin: “you have turned the antidote of passion into a passion” (on Prayer, 7-8).

JOHN Climacus (d. 649), whose Ladder of Divine Ascent is read each Lent by every Orthodox monk and nun, compares tears shed in prayer with the sacrament of baptism.  Such tears, he claims, are in one sense greater than baptism itself: namely, that they wash away post-baptismal sin.  Such tears are also a sign that we have received the gift of love, and that our prayers have been accepted by God (Ladder 7).  Symeon the New Theologian (d.1032) extols and describes two kinds of tears: bitter tears of repentance and fear; and sweet tears of joy.  He does not stress this distinction, however; and he describes both mingled sorrow for sin and delight at forgiveness, as well as a progression from sorrow to joy.  He likens prayer with tears to a second baptism, and regards tears as a preparation for contemplation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  But tears are not only a means of preparation, they are for Symeon the sign of the Spirit’s indwelling “in light and fire”: “When a person has the light of the Holy Spirit inside himself . . . he pours forth a ceaseless flood of tears that both refreshes him and arouses the flame of his longing.  These tears of his become even more copious; and having been purified by their flood, he shines forth even more brilliantly” (Theol. Chapters 3.21).

IN the Christian West, too, compunction and prayer with tears are highly regarded.  John Cassian, like his master Evagrius, encourages tears during prayer which he regards as one - but only one - of the signs of genuine compunction.  Compunction, literally the sense of being “inwardly pierced”,  may be manifested in a variety of ways: shouts of joy; profound silence; inarticulate groans; “floods of tears” (Conf. 9, 27).  Cassian describes the many different states tears can express: repentance from sin; longing for heaven; meditation on the last judgment; compassion for the terrible state of hardened sinners.  Like Evagrius, Cassian warns against too much reliance on tears, and stresses that they should never be forced (Conf. 9, 29-30).  Other western spiritual writers who recommend tearful prayer include: Benedict of Nursia (Rule 4.57; 52.4); Peter Damian (d. 1072); Bernard of Clairvaux (d. 1153); Ruysbroeck (d. 1381); and Ignatius of Loyola (d. 1556).

FINALLY , it should be borne in mind that the frequency with which tears accompany prayer or any other spiritual practice may be heavily influenced by social and psychological factors.  In the modern era in non-Mediterranean Europe and North America the public, external expression of most deep emotions is strongly discouraged; and for this reason the gift of tears may be uncommon.  In the relative absence of this traditional sign of compunction, sincerity, and divine grace it may be well to recall Evagrius’ reminder that tears are not a goal but rather a means towards the goal of humble, honest conversation with God.

FOR FURTHER READING:

I. Hausherr, Penthos, the Doctrine of Compunction in the Christian East, (Cistercian publ, 1982)

R. E. Sinkewicz, tr., Evagrius of Pontus, the Greek Ascetic Corpus, “Chapters on Prayer”, (Oxford U. Pr., 2004).

B. Ramsey, tr., John Cassian, The Conferences, “Conference 9”(Paulist, 1997).

C. Luibheid, tr., John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Paulist, 1982).

P. McGuckin, tr. Symeon the New Theologian: The Practical and Theological Chapters, and the Three Theological Discourses, (Cistercian publ. 1982)

This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 2003....x....  ’ “”.