Tonight we concluded letter 26. St. Theophan continues to drive home for Anastasia the importance of actively embracing the grace of God. The more independent she becomes from the pious setting in which she was raised, Anastasia must be ever more cognizant of the need to embrace the grace of God fully.

Our tendency is to live with one foot in the world and one foot in the spiritual life; that is, to be neither pagan and Christian. Our desire for God and for the grace that He gives us can grow cool as we give ourselves over and become sympathetic to what is worldly and secular. In the face of this, St. Theophan warns Anastasia that she is capable of becoming as vain and passionate as anyone who has no faith. What has been given by God must be guarded and protected as the most precious thing of all and our life and work must be subordinated to it.

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Text of chat during group

00:40:27 Eric Ash: Sometimes when I talk to people who have left the church it is often because of the "witness" of those lukewarm habitual Christians who follow the rituals but don't seem to Love Christ or find freedom in God but just see a task master. This is such a good reminder to be aware of our drift towards the world and our own witness.

00:53:17 Mark Cummings: My grandmother had the same "washing machine"

00:53:34 carolnypaver: I wonder if the advent of the washing machine coincided with Soap Operas on TV.

00:55:08 Edward Kleinguetl: "Soap" referred to the washing detergent

00:55:40 carolnypaver: Wow!

00:56:40 Edward Kleinguetl: Washing detergent was advertised during soap operas and, as you can imagine, why. Housewives would be washing ...

00:57:00 carolnypaver: Very interesting…..

00:58:32 Edward Kleinguetl: "Individualism is the greatest weakness in American culture" (Archbishop Charles J. Chaput).

01:04:03 Wayne Mackenzie: We have identity politics in Noth America in part due to individualism and break down of the family.

01:08:21 Eric Williams: Fascinating essay: "Saint Benedict and family life: An original reading of the Rule of St Benedict" by Don Massimo Lapponi OSB (translated by Liam Kelly) A PDF is available for free online.

01:09:36 Scott: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/thedigs/2013/03/18/eucharistic-rally-at-pitt-stadium-attracts-90000/

Photos of the adoration he mentioned.

01:09:57 Scott: And yes, that's Rocco. The Mercedarians do that in Cleveland still.

01:11:05 Sheila Applegate: The processions of Saints is something I love when I visit other countries. I have vivid memories from Nicaragua and Brazil in particular.

01:12:05 Eric Ash: My mother in law lived near an eastern orthodox church which has holy days that the entire congregation leaves the church and processes around it outside during parts of the liturgy. Easter 2019 she participated in an Easter divine liturgy. It was amazing to see her as she connected that this thing she watched the congregation do as an outsider and never dreamed she would be a part, became something she actually participated in.

01:13:02 Edward Kleinguetl: I believe Resurrection Matins and Easter Sunday Divine Liturgy is the most beautiful of all celebrations.

01:13:17 Edward Kleinguetl: Easter Vigil comes the closest in the Roman Church.

01:13:20 Wayne Mackenzie: The Christian message has to compete with many voices

01:18:01 Michael Liccione: St. Peter's in Steubenville is regularly packed to the point where people are turned away every Sunday. That happened to me last Sunday.

01:19:03 carolnypaver: The pastor there told me NO one would be turned away???

01:19:29 Mark Cummings: Saint John Cantius in Chicago had to add masses

01:23:35 Edward Kleinguetl: Which is exactly why the great spiritual fathers say to NEVER trust one's own thoughts.

01:24:15 Eric Williams: The Quakers started out as a Christian sect, but because they have no creed and no definitive canon of scripture, they've demonstrated very well that if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything. At this point they're barely distinguishable from Unitarian Universalists.

01:25:33 Edward Kleinguetl: Why Cardinal Sarah keeps talking about how we are trying to form God into our own image.

01:25:42 Wayne Mackenzie: Byzantine liturgy is very incarnational

01:27:34 Natalie Morrill: Thank you, Father!

01:27:35 Mark Cummings: Thank you!

Willie Peterson

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