The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XV: On Chastity, Part X

The fathers have often been accused of having a negative anthropology; that is, a negative view of the human person and human nature. However, as we read through St. John’s teachings on chastity and purity, we begin to see that their understanding arises from a very high and exalted anthropology. Their understanding of how God has made us, the beauty that is expressed in our very nature is so high that we must respect its preciousness as a gift from God. Furthermore we must also respect the power that lies within us and that it is through this nature that we are able to love and give ourselves in love to others and serve God. 

 

Indeed, it is true that sin has darkened our vision of this truth and our will has often become weak so that we misuse our nature and the appetites associated with it. Yet, God looks upon us with mercy and compassion and gives us every aid for healing. It is the Evil One that becomes our accuser who tries through shame to draw us into despair. 

 

Part of the relentless nature of our struggle with these sins is that we are forever bound by nature to this body of ours. Yet we must remember in the struggle that the body is destined to put on immortality and incorruptibility by God’s grace. We are called all even now to make use of our body through the ascetic life to share in this incorruptibility through purity of heart.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:03:31 Sr Barbara Jean Mihalchick: What step?   00:03:59 FrDavid Abernethy: Page 151 paragraph 76   00:20:36 Anthony: I wonder if "worm" means not the helpful compost bug, but is really the Anglo Saxon "wyrm" or dragon.   00:26:32 melissa kummerow: Reacted to "I wonder if "worm" m..." with 💡   00:27:51 Louise: Disgust and shame are useful emotions when we apply them onto our faults. Otherwise, we justify our faults. Would you say?   00:30:36 LauraLeigh: It seems to me that St Climacas, like other Desert Fathers, ask for a very difficult mental balance between being uber-humble while maintaining a healthy psychology. If you don't have a strong grip on your mental health, this ascetical lifestyle could trip you up or even take you down. Other than recommending a guide, like an elder, any thoughts about how we can cautiously yet profitably practice asceticism?   00:31:20 Anthony: I learned something,  I think from a talk by a Maronite. It can be helpful to pray Jesus Prayer in another language.  Sometimes that prevents thoughts in one's native tongue from arising in the mind.   00:34:39 LauraLeigh: I need to remember that the Fathers are talking to others already in the ascetical life. And then to remember to order everything toward God.   00:35:46 sue and mark: could it be said that simply looking for opportunities to practice self -restraint for the love of God is a good place to start.  especially in the areas of our passions.   00:36:06 angelo: Reacted to "could it be said tha..." with 👍   00:42:13 LauraLeigh: Reacted to "could it be said tha..." with ❤️   00:43:01 LauraLeigh: "The Way of the Ascetics"   00:46:46 carol nypaver: The Little Flower   00:52:15 Anthony: Remember: the demons don't play fair.   00:53:24 Cindy Moran: In the Classics of western spirituality version of the Ladder this verse translation is unclear to me   00:54:11 Cindy Moran: Yes.   00:54:40 Cindy Moran: I'm slow   00:56:14 Cindy Moran: Because the soul tormented by earlier sin is a burden to me I will save it from its enemies Lk 18:5   00:59:15 Cindy Moran: Much clearer to me now   01:05:31 LauraLeigh: Being proud of your sins is a sign of a darkened conscience, I think. And a sensitive and refined conscience is a great help in getting a handle on troubling or persistent sins. This is what I'm particularly working on.   01:06:36 angelo: Reacted to "Being proud of your ..." with 👍   01:08:26 Anthony: I think it also means that you've entrusted yourself to God,  He won't play legal games with that trust and so the evil thoughts are not as awful upon us as the devil wants us to think. Sure the devil is a deceiver and wants us to take full mortal sin culpability for what the demons sows.  But the struggle is evidence God loves you and takes your whole self and situation into account.   01:09:25 LauraLeigh: Reacted to "I think it also mean..." with ❤️   01:10:30 angelo: Reacted to "I think it also mean..." with 👍   01:10:37 Eric Ewanco: I've found it immensely consoling that empirical evidence from exorcisms establish that demons are extremely legalistic. The converse of this is that God is not. This is a great relief to me, as we often tend to see God as legalistic and looking for "gotchas"   01:12:08 John: After you've read Fr. Mateo's "Night Adoration in the Home," it's impossible to think of God as legalistic. He is the complete opposite!   01:12:21 sue and mark: Reacted to "After you've read Fr..." with ❤️   01:12:34 LauraLeigh: Reacted to "After you've read Fr..." with ❤️   01:12:50 LauraLeigh: Replying to "After you've read Fr..."   I have that! Thanks for the reminder!   01:13:05 Susan McShane: Reacted to "I've found it immens..." with ❤️   01:13:05 John: Replying to "After you've read Fr..."   👍   01:13:23 sue and mark: I have that too...   01:14:53 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂   01:14:54 Louise: Thanks, Fr!   01:14:58 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father...excellent session   01:15:02 Jeff O.: Thank you! Blessings