Justice wrote:Can one not accept the Toll Houses and still be fully Orthodox? and if the church wishes to canonize someone, how do we know they passed through all of the Toll houses?
Toll Houses are not a dogma of the faith. They were neither condemned nor mentioned as worthy of belief in the Holy Canons of the Seven Ecumenical Councils.
However, in certain supplicatory prayers, like the ones to the Guardian Angels and to the Theotokos, these "toll houses" are mentioned allegorically. Indirectly, we are told that if we are not repentant, have failed to forgive all who have offended us, and have not lifted up our hearts and minds to the Lord in unceasing prayer, then we could be subject to threats from demons at our death. Even Christ tells us in His teaching on the Lord's Prayer that unless we forgive others, we ourselves will not be forgiven.
At our death, these demons will assault and try us to see if they can successfully take our souls. However, our guardian angel will be there to protect us, but he can only do so if we have been faithful in our prayer life. This is the particular judgment which occurs immediately after our death and is said to last 40 days. This is why we pray for the faithful departed, that they may be saved. It is suggested that we pray the entire psalter (150 psalms) for their intentions.
If one were to pray the Jesus Prayer throughout the day, then this prayer places one in the mercy of Christ God. His protection is felt.
Ever since I have renewed my effort to pray throughout the day, after reading the book, The Way of the Pilgrim, I have noticed that I have not suffered any recent serious falls, neither physical or spiritual. It is as if my Guardian Angel and the Holy Spirit are on my shoulder guiding me. Whenever I forget to pray, then temptations assault me and I can easily fail. When I am outside walking, and my steps are shaky, then I remember to pray again, and my steps become more steady as I trust in the Lord.