Prayer in a Time of Crisis — War and Peace

At the beginning of July disquieting war reports spread in Moscow: an imperial appeal, the Emperor leaving the army because it is in danger, Smolensk surrendered, Napoleon with a million men, only a miracle to save Russia. No manifesto has come by the eleventh. That Saturday it arrives unprinted. Pierre, at the Rostovs', promises to bring a copy of the manifesto and Rostopchin's appeal to Sunday dinner.

That hot Sunday the Rostovs go as usual to Mass at the Razumovskis' private chapel. Even at ten the air is sultry, hawkers shout, a battalion in white trousers marches to parade, and wealthy families who usually leave town have stayed. Natasha, in lilac silk trimmed with black lace, walks behind a liveried footman. A young man whispers too loudly that she is Rostova, the one who..., thinner but still pretty. She hears, or thinks she hears, Kuragin and Bolkonski. In a crowd she is wretched. She walks with more repose and stateliness the greater the pain. Beauty now torments her. Another Sunday has passed, the same life that is no life. She is pretty and now good, yet her best years slip by unused. She condemns a neighbour who crosses herself cramped, then is horrified that she is judging and being judged, and that her former purity is lost again.

A comely old man conducts the service. Tears she does not understand make her breast heave. She pleads to be taught how to live and grow good forever. When they pray for warriors she thinks of Nicholas and Denisov. When they pray for travellers she remembers Andrew and asks forgiveness for the wrongs she did him. When they pray for those who love us she feels for the first time how wrongly she acted toward her father, mother, and Sonya. When they pray for those who hate us she includes her father's creditors and Anatole, who did her harm though he did not hate her. Only at prayer can she think calmly of Andrew and Anatole as men beside her awe of God. The deacon says they should commit their lives to Christ. She submits her will, wants nothing, and lets her arms hang as if waiting to be taken from regret and sin. The countess sees her shining eyes and prays God to help her.

Unexpectedly the deacon sets out a Trinity stool. The priest kneels, and all follow in surprise. The prayer just received from the Synod asks deliverance of Russia from invasion, victory like Moses over Amalek, Gideon over Midian, David over Goliath, and a clean heart. Natasha shares the prayer for faith, hope, and love, but cannot pray that enemies be trampled when she has just wished for more of them to pray for. She cannot doubt the prayer read on bended knees either. She asks peace for them all and for herself. It seems to her that God has heard her.