Prayer And The Body

Εὔχονται πολλάκις τινὲς ἀπαλλαγῆναι τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος, ὡς πρὸς τὸ ἁμαρτάνειν τὴν ψυχὴν συνελαύνοντος . Ἐχρῆν δὲ αὐτοὺς μᾶλλον εὔχεσθαι ἀπαλλαγῆναι τοῦ ἑαυτῶν μοχθηροῦ τρόπου, καὶ τῆς ἐμπαθοῦς, καὶ φιλορύπου γνώμης. Ἅγιος Νειλος, Βιβλιον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΤΚΖ' Ἱππονικῳ Σκρινιαριῳ Source: Migne PG 79.201a

It very often happens that not a few pour out their prayers so that they may be freed from their own body, as if it were that the soul is driven to sin by it. Rather they should pray to be delivered from their own vicious habits and sordid minds and confused desires. Saint Nilus of Sinai, Book 1, Letter 327, To Hipponicus The Scrinarius