Philokalia Ministries

Synopsis of Tonight’s Group on The Evergetinos Volume II Hypothesis XXXIV Sections A6-F Conclusion: When we come across the high standards of the desert fathers, especially if they are jarring to our own sensibilities, we can tend to not just to read their writings critically but to dismiss them as hyperbolic or extreme.  Yet it is precisely the internal dis-ease that their writings create within us that brings us back to the heart of the gospel and what it means to be a Christian.  What does it mean to put on the mind of Christ and have our conscience formed and shaped by the grace of God and the gospel? How does it shape the way that we understand what it means to be a human being or the things that we take for granted such as laughter or familiarity in relationships? Upon closer examination, we see that there are many displays of humor that are rooted in a lack of sobriety and sense of reverence for our own dignity and the dignity of others. We rarely think about how our words and actions, our bearing or form of dress, affect those who are around us.  Are we seeking to protect the dignity and spiritual well-being of those around us? Do we hold their identity as sons and daughters of God as something precious and to be revered?  The simplest realities of day-to-day life and interactions need to be attended to the most; for they are often the means through which we are tempted. The evil one can make use of what is good and pleasing about our lives as a means to draw us into excess.  In the end, it is Christ and the gospel that must be the lens through which we view our lives and behavior. We see Christ, who, although perfectly innocent and filled with love was stripped of dignity, mocked and pinned to the cross. We hear Him say to us “take up your cross daily and follow me” - calling us to a sober sense of what our life in this world will be like as his disciples. In the beatitudes, we hear Him say “blessed her those who mourn” reminding us not only of our share in his cross but the necessity of morning for our own sins.  Christ has everything to do with what affects or afflicts us. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:06:25 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 267 number 6 00:16:24 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 267 # 6 00:32:33 Catherine Opie: Fr. what are your thoughts on the use of humour to break through things when one sinks into self pity or depression, or when doing arduous tasks or events in life to lighten the situation? Should we simply be contemplating the suffering and be joyful that we are suffering in this life instead of the next? 00:36:02 wayne: When humor tuns to sarcasm, then it can become hurtful. 00:36:13 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "When humor tuns to s..." with 👍🏻 00:36:57 Bob Čihák, AZ: I laugh at myself, A LOT! 00:37:58 Anthony: Replying to "When humor tuns to s..."   Yes. I like silly, even buffoonish (like a mime, for example) comical humor since it can be done without hurting anyone. 00:41:12 Ambrose Little: A merry heart does good like a medicine. (Prov 17:22). “For rejoicing in the Lord is our strength!” (Neh 8:10) St. Thomas Aquinas wrote this great prayer “for ordering a life wisely,” and at one part he says,  “O Lord my God, make me           submissive without protest,           poor without discouragement,           chaste without regret,           patient without complaint,           humble without posturing,           cheerful without frivolity,           mature without gloom,           and quick-witted without flippancy.” “Cheerful w/o frivolity” has always struck me as a good way of putting it. Earlier in the prayer he says:  “May I not rejoice in anything           unless it leads me to You;      may I not be saddened by anything           unless it turns me from You.” Maintaining the fundamental orientation towards God is key. 00:41:36 Anthony: Thanks for clarifying Father. I was hoping you'd comment on what is good and bad buffoonery, for my benefit. 00:42:51 Catherine Opie: Replying to "A merry heart does g..." Yes there is a diffence between cherr and frivolity. What a beautiful prayer 00:43:42 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "Thanks for clarifyin..." with 🤣 00:46:58 Anthony: Ephrem reminds me,  in John Damascene's philosophy chapters of the Fount of Knowledge, the definition of man is (or includes) one who laughs. 01:08:47 Catherine Opie: I think Father simply by being modest and being amongst others. When I first came to Catholicism I was horrifyingly immodest, but simply by being around the trad community I am learning about modesty and slowly changing through immersion. No one has berated me but I'm certain they prayed for me. And I see new converts coming in and slowly changing over time. Nothing changes others more than simple example of reverence. 01:12:12 Kate : Dr. Alice von Hildebrand has written beautifully on the topic of modesty and reverence as a reflection of the dignity of the human person. 01:12:28 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "Dr. Alice von Hildeb..." with 🙏🏻 01:16:50 Andrew Zakhari: "Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account."--Heb. 4:12. 01:16:58 Erick Chastain: Reacted to "I think Father simpl..." with 👍 01:19:43 Catherine Opie: As always incredibly thought provoking many thanks for your insight and guidance. God bless. 01:19:44 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:19:51 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You  Father Blessing to all 01:20:01 Jeff Ulrich: Thank you Father 01:20:03 Andrew Zakhari: Thank you! Blessings upon you. 01:20:09 Alan Tarantino: Thank you Father 01:20:34 cameron: Thank you 01:20:37 Andrew Adams: Thank you, Father!

In the writings of Saint Isaac the Syrian, we see so beautifully the desert fathers emphasis on praxis; that is, how we concretely live out our faith in our day-to-day life and relationships. They knew that Christ can be lost to the mind and the heart not only through sin but also simply in the warp and wolf of day-to-day life. We surround ourselves with things that provide us with a sense of security and identity. This goes beyond material goods and includes our being driven by busyness and the pursuit of the world‘s respect of our accomplishments. We can lose time through idle chatter, laziness, and sloth. With anxious hearts, we direct our energy toward pursuing the things that we have come to love within the world; education, art, athletics, and entertainment. We are zealous for what we love and willing to invest ourselves without counting the cost to pursue it.  However, Saint Isaac reminds us of the meaning and the weight of those small moments and affairs in our day-to-day life. Do we hold in mind the brevity of our life and that it has been entrusted to us in such a way that we will have to give an account before God for how we have used the gift? Do we see the “other” and Christ within the poor or those who are suffering and alone? More often than not our minds and hearts are abstracted by the things that titillate the senses and emotions.  Thus, Saint Isaac tells us acquire freedom in your manner of life; in particular freedom from turmoil. Do not find your freedom by what simply gives pleasure and so become a slave of slaves. Surrounded by abundance and conveniences we often have the sense that we are dependent upon them. Yet we do not realize that they will never help us to acquire humble thoughts or a pure minds. St. Isaac, therefore, describes renunciation as weaning ourselves from our attachment to the things of this world as well as from our own ego. Our dignity and destiny is found in Christ Who is our hope, our salvation, and our Love! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:05:37 susan: been away  what page are we on? 00:11:58 Myles Davidson: Page 143 “Love chastity…..” 00:13:11 Una: Trouble with my sound 00:13:11 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 143 paragraph 11 00:13:20 Una: Whose feet are those? 00:14:19 Adam Paige: Technical difficulties, please stand by ! ☺️ 00:14:37 Jamie Hickman: jealous! 00:29:05 Maureen Cunningham: How do you know you are killing the ego . How would you be different 00:31:33 Julie: Should I feel bad for liking  or surrounding myself with nice things 00:32:41 Eleana: I agree, the tentation when he have a spiritual life is to feel "good" and dressing to be seen or perceive as humble; it can also be false humility that I believe to be the worst pride. 00:33:07 Una: That false self can manifest in busy busy busy 00:34:15 Thomas: I’ve always thought that remembrance of death was about remembering our sins and that we will be judged and so forth, but Isaac says rejoicing, is this just a different aspect 00:34:44 Rebecca: “I live now. Not I.  But Christ live in me”  St Paul the Apostle 00:41:59 Jamie Hickman: The Mother Teresa story reminds me of paragraph 14: "Conduct yourself with knowledge..." -- this knowledge is intimacy, experience as you've called it, Father. She conducted herself with the love of her Love, He Who Thirsts. She really saw him thirsty there on the sidewalk, and she attempted to satiate him. 00:43:08 Joanna Martinez: There is a beutifuly done documentary film on Amazon Prime called "Sacred Alaska" about the life of small Orthodox community and their saints. The film is not free, costs $4.25, but highly recommended by way of illustrating exactly what St. Isaac speaks abot, living in the hands of God, with freedom to not have control over anything, but living by the grace of God 00:44:08 Nicholas B. Besachio: How does one stay humble when they hold a high position that comes with a lot of priviledge, nice things, and command over others. How does one direct those things toward the good. 00:48:32 Ryan Ngeve: Father what would be the proper approach about people who use busy-ness as an escape from sloth and sinful passions 00:48:51 Ryan Ngeve: To people * 00:49:36 Anthony: Replying to "How does one stay hu..."   Privilege and honor and authority includes responsibilities including in a way responsibility for souls under us. 00:51:04 Una: Interesting question, Ryan 01:02:14 Rebecca: Father, do you have any suggestions on how to ‘order the sense? 01:02:53 Jamie Hickman: Speaking of senses, I'd go to hearing. Music is more accessible, perhaps, than in ages past due to recording devices and proliferation of devices that play music. We know that faith comes from hearing, and so when much of our music is contrary to the Gospel, it is perhaps unsurprising that contemporary man struggles to believe. 01:07:30 Myles Davidson: St Paisios had only a tin can and a teaspoon as his only cooking and eating utensils 01:07:59 Julie: Silence can be scary with your own thoughts 01:08:07 Anthony: Reacted to Silence can be scary... with "👍" 01:08:27 Anthony: Replying to "Silence can be scary..."   Yes. That's a reason I constantly listen to something 01:09:35 Alan Tarantino: My wife started using an app called Dumb Phone to reduce screen time. 01:09:54 Jamie Hickman: Reacted to "My wife started us..." with 👍 01:11:06 Erick Chastain: This is st junipero serra's cell 01:12:21 Anthony: Reacted to pic-4977f22d-6b5b-42ed-be9d-c2aac9403110.jpg with "👍" 01:12:28 Jamie Hickman: Reacted to "IMG_8737.jpg" with 😂 01:12:38 Jacqulyn: Reacted to "IMG_8737.jpg" with 😂 01:12:46 Ben: Reacted to "IMG_8737.jpg" with 😂 01:12:58 Ryan Ngeve: Reacted to "Interesting question…" with 👍 01:13:07 Ryan Ngeve: Reacted to "IMG_8737.jpg" with 😂 01:13:39 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "pic-4977f22d-6b5b-42ed-be9d-c2aac9403110.jpg" with 🙏 01:14:16 Andrew Adams: Reacted to "IMG_8737.jpg" with 😂 01:18:04 Jamie Hickman: ad multos annos 01:18:53 Rebecca: Thank so much for this session.  Wonderful teaching and help. 01:20:09 Gwen’s iPhone: Thank you. Grateful. 01:21:02 Andrew Adams: Thanks be to God! Thank you, Father! 01:21:03 David: Thank you Father may God bless you and your mother! 01:21:03 Joanna Martinez: Thank You. 01:21:07 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:21:15 Jeffrey Ott: Thank you Father! 01:21:16 Jacqulyn: Thank you! 01:21:23 Jeffrey Ott: Are you going to continue substack? 01:22:27 Alan Tarantino: Thank you Father 01:22:34 cameron: Thank you Fr 01:22:40 Diana Cleveland: Thank you!

The desert fathers were incredibly sensitive to the simple things in life that we often take for granted; the ways that we speak with others and treat them. In this sense, they were psychologically astute; realizing that in the warp and woof of day-to-day life, it is often the small things that affect relationships the most and so also a place where we are provoked to sin. We often describe these aspects of our life as normal or natural; that is, being human. Yet, even that which is good must be perfected by the grace of God for it can be corrupted if the heart is impure or lacking in charity. Thus, without hesitation, the fathers can say “there is no passion, more terrible than familiarity, for it gives rise to all the other passions.“ At first this might seem to be hyperbole. Familiarity seems to be an essential part of relationships and intimacy. What the fathers discovered, however, is that it can break down the reverence, dignity and meekness with which we engage others. The more that we are around a person we begin to think that we can take liberties and dispense with courteousness and tenderness in speech. We can use our intimate knowledge of others to tear them down or to gain a position of emotional power within the relationship. What has been entrusted to us as precious can be used in ways that inflict emotional wounds. Similarly laughter is seen as a natural part and perhaps one of the best parts of our lives. Humor often is the means through which we are able to cope with a harshness of life. It seems to lighten the spirit. However, it can often devolve into buffoonery; nothing is taken serious at all, and humor is used to mock the others. Such laughter then makes us lose sight of the dignity of the other and more importantly makes us lose sight of their dignity as sons and daughters of God. We feel that we are liberty to make fun of them or to laugh at their misfortune.  Our consideration of these things shows us how important it is for us to have the mind of Christ. We are to live in Him and it is His grace that must shape all of our actions. There is only one appropriate way for us to relate to another person and that is to love them! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:03:56 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 266 00:06:34 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Hypothesis XXXIV 00:15:52 Adam Paige: I found the groups via a friend who shared a Sensus Fidelium YouTube repost of a podcast 00:16:59 Myles Davidson: Pg 266 Hypothesis XXXIV 00:17:18 Catherine Opie: That's why its important to make sure people who find you on Social Media are funnelled to your website and you get their email addresses so you can contact them direct. Via a download of a free pdf of something like that. 00:23:52 Forrest Cavalier: Wikipedia has a page with the root word in Greek. The Wikipedia page defines it as parrhesia (Greek: παρρησία) is candid speech, speaking freely.[1] It implies not only freedom of speech, but the obligation to speak the truth for the common good, even at personal risk.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrhesia 00:24:43 Rev. Andrew: Often times in troubled marriages the spouses lose that kind of respect and mindfulness that was there when they were dating. 00:25:12 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "Often times in troub..." with 👍🏼 00:29:35 Una: Yeah, this kind of familiarity can lead to abuse, especially verbal/psychological abuse 00:30:36 Anthony: This reminds me of Rocky, the painful scene where Paulie verbally disrespects his sister Adrian at their home during the holidays. 00:32:02 Rick Visser: In familiarity we are no longer able to see the face of Christ in their face. The entire sacred dimension of life is drained of its life. 00:33:29 Una: Is there a good side to familiarity? 00:33:45 Julie: Do you think it is a danger getting too close to others. Is there a limit with what you share or guard.? 00:35:25 Una: Difference between fraternity and familiarity? 00:35:28 Una: Difference between fraternity and familiarity? 00:39:14 Anthony: This self exposure is the culture of evangelicalism.  It was at my alma mater, Liberty University. 00:40:45 Bob Čihák, AZ: I'm finding my most fruitful way to know Christ seems to be seeing and finding Christ in other people, usually male friends. How does or should this sense of respect and comfort with others differ from familiarity? 00:40:51 Rev. Andrew: Reacted to "This self exposure i…" with 👍 00:42:02 Una: Can this familiarity dynamic be different in a male/female relationship or friendship? How to guard against this 00:43:44 Catherine Opie: Psycho drama 00:47:17 Rick Visser: Serve tea to all without familiarity. Some small degree of ceremoniousness in all our interactions. 00:48:33 Una: Special pitfalls in male/female dynamics? 00:48:43 Una: Beyond the obvious (sexual temptation) 00:51:39 Rick Visser: Humility 00:55:23 Una: Reacted to "Serve tea to all w..." with 👍 00:57:12 Forrest Cavalier: One of our children wrote an essay on the use of the Latin words for LAUGH (ridere) in St. Augustine’s confessions for an upper level Latin course in college. In short, there are very few legitimate occasions to laugh that are rightly ordered spiritually. Almost always there is a pride and superiority at root, at the expense of someone. 00:57:38 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "One of our children ..." with 👍🏻 01:00:47 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "One of our children ..." with 👍🏼 01:02:11 Rev. Andrew: In the spiritual life this applies to. We are so familiar with God we miss times of prayer, attendance of worship, etc. 01:02:32 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "In the spiritual lif..." with ❤️ 01:02:57 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "In the spiritual lif..." with 😢 01:04:05 Anthony: I'm one of those people who tries way too hard in things.  Can I adopt an attitude of kind simplicity and be ok in the spiritual life? 01:06:01 Rick Visser: Late night TV -- who is the most clever in laughing at others. 01:06:19 Lee Graham: Reacted to "In the spiritual lif…" with ❤️ 01:08:45 Myles Davidson: Germans have a word for delight in the downfall of others… schadenfreude 01:10:36 Una: Like this couple that got caught on the camera. We should be praying for their conversaion. Severe mercy that they were caught 01:13:18 Rick Visser: Reverence, dignity, and meekness - Confucius knew how this is tied to ceremoniousness. 01:13:52 Nypaver Clan: Where is the place for fraternal correction? 01:14:24 Forrest Cavalier: The second to last verb in #5 in greek is HUBRIS. ὑβρίζῃ 01:14:40 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "The second to last v..." with 👍🏼 01:17:14 Forrest Cavalier: This was a fascinating hour1 01:17:22 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "This was a fascinati..." with 👍 01:17:42 David Fraley: This gave me a lot to think about. Thank you, Father! 01:18:00 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You Blessing 01:18:02 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:18:11 Janine: Thank you Father! 01:18:12 Catherine Opie: Thank you God Bless 01:18:22 Una: Thank you. Great class 01:18:31 Rick Visser: Thank you Father! 01:19:10 Nypaver Clan: You’ll get over it….. 01:19:33 Catherine Opie: If those people really value the material they will look for you 01:19:45 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "If those people real..." with 👍 01:19:53 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "If those people real..." with 👍🏼 01:20:11 Una: Missing those dopamine hits 01:20:27 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "Missing those dopami..." with 😂 01:20:27 Maureen Cunningham: Bless REN 01:20:28 Una: It's real and it's touch 01:20:36 Una: tough 01:21:25 Catherine Opie: Time wasting 01:22:05 Catherine Opie: Great move Fr.

Renunciation: The word has certain connotations that are often tied to deprivation or unhappiness. What we find in the writings of the great ascetics, St. Isaac especially, is something quite different; the weaning of ourselves from the things that we are attached to in the world in order to become more attached to God, to what endures and fills the soul with consolation and strength.  For example, we are called to embrace the practice of vigils, to rise during the night to pray and thereby humbling the mind and the body. Yet Isaac does not see this as costly but rather as restorative and promising consolation in times of trial and affliction. It is in silence, often deepest during the night and free of distraction, that we are able to listen to God and receive what he desires to give us.  Likewise, we are to persevere in spiritual reading while we dwell in stillness. We let go of the hectic pace of society and the busyness into which we often thrust ourselves in order to taste the sweetness of the wisdom of the scriptures and the fathers. Perhaps more challenging, we are told that we are to love poverty. We are to willingly let go of material goods and radically simplify our lives. In doing so, Isaac tells us, the mind remains collected and is secured from wandering. We often become anxious about our worldly security and protecting what ilwe have come to possess. We become driven to spend more time focused on the things of this world than we are pursuing the life of virtue and prayer. In a similar vein, Isaac tells us to detest superfluity so that our thoughts might remain untroubled. Again, filling our lives with things, activities, work or social engagements steals from us solitude and the silence that is born from it. Surrounded constantly by the noise and the affairs of the world we begin to experience intense anxiety and depression seeing only the presence of chaos and violence that makes one question reality and the value and purpose of life.  Part of the beauty of reading the desert fathers is that they reveal to us the beauty and the dignity of the human person made in the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the blood of Christ.  Their lives and their writings fill the heart with hope in a dark world and set the soul on fire to to embrace what has been promised us by our Lord. To God be the glory unto ages of ages. Amen. --- Text of chat during the group:  00:04:19 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 143, first short paragraph, 6 00:12:49 cameron: The names again please 00:14:56 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 143, first short paragraph, 6 00:14:59 cameron: Monk and monastery 00:15:13 cameron: Thank you. 00:20:52 Myles Davidson: Replying to "P. 143, first short ..." “Honor the work of vigil…” 00:21:55 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 143, first short paragraph, 6 00:32:20 James Hickman: For years I’ve found myself waking up against my will, then over the years (more recently, and not always!) seeing it as a gift. But when I have an icon on my wall, I find it a grace when I lay there awake in bed and make simple prayer of the heart, simple acts. This seems valuable. I’ll be ok to hear if there’s more expected than this. Objectivity is desired here. Work in progress here. 00:33:05 David: I have a prayer book that has a Greek orthodox evening prayer and in the ending it says "we sing to you in the night- Holy, holy holy are you oh God, through the prayers of the Theotokos have mercy on me". Is this a practice when one begins a vigil? When I do wake I always try to say it but was not sure if it is something formal in vigils? 00:35:59 Jessica Imanaka: Several Trappist monks I know have said they don't need as much as sleep as medical science dictates. The deceased abbot used to say that prayer reduces the physical need for sleep. Whenever I go on retreat, praying the full office, I just can't sleep as much. My body doesn't want to. 00:36:13 Anthony: On waking up at night....some people say 3am is the devil's hour, so it's advisable to pray then.  I think that gives way too much focus on the devil's? Or is this real Christian tradition? 00:40:58 Myles Davidson: The noonday devil was a desert father thing 00:41:11 Nicholas B. Besachio: What does St. Issac say about demonic attacks on Faith. 00:41:26 Rebecca Thérèse: Christ died on the cross at 3pm so Satanists say a black mass at 3am, that's why some people refer to it as the devil's hour 00:42:30 Bob Čihák, AZ: Catholic apologist Jimmy Akin did a Mysterious World session # 98 on “Sleep” which I found helpful. Cf. http://jimmyakin.com/ . 00:43:45 Thomas: I have heard priests say not to pretend to be monks what do they mean by this, because we should imitate them 00:46:06 Una: Reacted to "Catholic apologist..." with 👍 00:47:24 Ryan Ngeve: Father why is it the case that there is so much negligence or ignorance on guarding the heart/mind. Especially in today’s world 00:49:44 Jessica Imanaka: A Russian Orthodox monk advised me about a year ago to view my family life as my monastery. 00:51:01 James Hickman: The renewal of the domestic church in the west, particularly after Vatican II, seems to be the closest thing the Latins wish to recover a monastic (single focus) mindset. The family home should be a place of daily prayer of Scripture, rituals, etc that lead to putting on the mind of Christ. We still hear: don’t be a monk, but the lay vocations are being given a good challenge to strive for holiness. Might be centuries to really recover 00:53:46 James Hickman: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/parents/tools-for-building-a-domestic-church#:~:text=Find%20a%20time%20that%20works,home%2C%20and%20in%20every%20bedroom. 00:56:08 Jeffrey Ott: Where can we find that prologue from St. Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain? 00:56:34 Erick Chastain: There is a wonderful new book by a Benedictine monk that describes custody of the heart and interior silence among other things (From Silence to Silence by Fr Francis Bethel): https://tanbooks.com/products/books/from-silence-to-silence-a-benedictine-pilgrimage-to-god-s-sanctuary/ 00:57:35 James Hickman: Replying to "There is a wonderful…" Clear Creek is a refuge! 00:57:50 Erick Chastain: Reacted to "Clear Creek is a ref..." with 👍 00:58:39 Erick Chastain: Replying to "There is a wonderful..." Yes, Fr Bethel is at Clear Creek 01:02:56 Jeffrey Ott: Replying to "Where can we find th..." Thanks! 01:03:05 Anthony: I think I got the Rule of St Basil from 8th Day 01:03:39 Erick Chastain: oklahoma 01:06:10 James Hickman: Replying to "There is a wonderful…" Thomas 01:06:18 Anthony: Fr Thomas Dubay? 01:07:45 Myles Davidson: Happy are You Poor: The Simple Life and Spiritual Freedom by Fr Thomas Dubay https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0898709210?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_nz 01:09:27 Ryan Ngeve: Father do you think the absence of monastic bishops in the western church could have something to do with the spirituality crisis? Bishop Erik Varden (Trappist) seems to be a breath of fresh air 01:12:53 Myles Davidson: Replying to "Happy are You Poor: ..." 👆Australian Amazon  👇US Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Are-You-Poor-Spiritual-ebook/dp/B002HE1K8S/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hsMFxzX8IlA-ylEJ2L4PwA._WS7Go4mNqegxcy1NTQDBJiyC5RAmFcgPvoW9t8QpMg&qid=1753316681&sr=8-1 01:15:34 Rod Castillo: Yes, as Director of Religious Education in my parish, I attend endless meetings.  They are mind numbing! 01:16:55 David: The biggest change in my parish was a small adoration chapel which now needs to be expanded as it is always full and open 24/7. A small group started it but it has drawn a large amount of Gen Z people to our parish. It really has been astounding to me. Years ago daily mass was just old people now 50 to 100 people attend including families. 01:17:33 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "The biggest change i..." with 🙏 01:17:33 Lilly: No such thing as too many monastic books 🙂 01:17:49 Nypaver Clan: Replying to "The biggest change i..." Where do you live? Where is this chapel? 01:18:40 Anthony: The chaos of Covid & scandal showed us all that we want something more & deep. I see this in my diocese. 01:19:02 James Hickman: Reacted to "No such thing as too…" with ❤️ 01:19:38 Catherine Opie: Our priest asked us to organise a pilgrimage here in NZ and it consumed our entire lives for a whole year. However what an opportunity to develop charity through working with others. 🤣 01:20:53 David: If the devil can't make you bad he will make you busy- Fr. Josh Johnson 01:21:09 Ben: Reacted to "If the devil can't m..." with 😆 01:21:23 Lilly: On Feast of Saint Elias, we had 2 priests provide confessions left and right side of the Iconostasis. I've never seen it before ❤️ 01:23:40 Anthony: In Naples, multiple confessionals were all over the Gesu Nuovo, and a few were populated by priests. In Reggio Calabria cathedral, the priest was sitting out in the open, ready to receive penitents. 01:25:07 Jacqulyn: Thank you! 01:25:40 Catherine Opie: Thank you Fr. God bless. ❤️ 01:25:41 cameron: Thank you Father! 01:25:42 Diana Cleveland: Thank you! 01:25:43 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:25:46 Jeffrey Ott: Thank you! 01:25:51 David: Thank you father god bless you and your mother!

As we completed hypothesis 32 and considering the fathers’ teaching on contrition being a source of spiritual labor and protection, we made a segway into the most beautiful and compelling of stories found in the Evergetinos. The story captures why we must maintain a spirit of humility and contrition to the very end of our lives. Regardless of the depth of our love and mercy or our gratitude toward God and others for their care, the evil one through his relentless provocation can throw us back on our heels to such an extent that we don’t know whether we are going or coming. Thus, from our perspective, we may have sought to be loving, to go the extra mile in the service of others and God and that we have been grateful for the gifts that we have received. However, the oppression of the evil one’s temptations and our own vulnerability and instability of mind and heart can bring us to a point of turning away from God and others in a spirit of hostility. One of the most powerful aspects of the story in hypothesis 34 about Evlogios and the cripple is that it does not allow us to distance ourselves from the trial that they experience. We are not outside observers but we can see ourselves in both characters - sharing each of their vulnerabilities. After 15 years of living in mutual love and charity and in a spirit of gratitude, the relationship between these two men is torn to pieces. Confusion, resentment, hatred, and rejection rise up in a way that is not only unexpected but does not seem to be rooted in any reality that can be fixed or addressed. It is only the presence and the words of the holy man Saint Anthony the Great that shine a light upon what is happening. His words are like a scalpel and he quickly moves to cut out the disease that threatens them both with spiritual death. The devil‘s actions are fierce and so St.  Anthony’s words must be direct and severe. He rebukes Evlogios for considering casting out a child of God whom God loves and warns him that God will raise someone up with greater love to care for the cripple. With equal severity, Saint Anthony turns to the cripple, warning him that he is unworthy of heaven and of earth given the fact that it is Christ himself who has been caring for him and it is Christ that he, the cripple, has been abusing verbally.  Without being given an opportunity to respond, they are both ordered to return to their home and not to depart from one another for if they do so they will lose the crown that God has prepared for them. We come to see that the love that we are called to is that of the kingdom. It is not going to be rational. In fact in so many ways, it may push us to what seems to be absurdity; to the other worldly love of the Cross itself. Our ascent to Christ, our hope in his promises and our willingness to allow him to draw us along the path he desires must be absolute. To the world this will seem to be foolishness, but to those who have faith it is the shining light of God‘s glory and wisdom. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:07:16 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: August 9th at 7pm 00:11:21 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 258, # 30 00:11:50 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 258 number 30 00:34:00 Anthony: The difficult thing is to discern the thought & source, briefly, and quickly let it fly away (or chase it away!) 00:37:01 Myles Davidson: Nepsis 00:37:31 Adam Paige: Archimandrite Zacharou’s book Flying Over the Abyss is out of stock.. probably because of Fr Charbel ! The monastery says it’ll be reprinted in August 00:38:58 Julie: Do you think the evil one uses family, to distract us, that this is more important, to make you feel guilty 00:42:00 Andrew Zakhari: I think about the calls Jesus extends in his teaching and parables. "Let the dead bury the dead..." and the parable of the Great Banquet where people are too busy to accept the invitation. 00:43:24 Forrest Cavalier: The priest's homily at mass yesterday made the point that anger opposes meekness and mildness. I think this paragraph points out that even righteous anger can be enlarged which will eliminate the state of contrition. 00:43:45 Una: How about internal chatter than breaks the silence? 00:44:08 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "How about internal c..." with 👍 00:49:18 Julie: Reacted to "How about internal c…" with 👍 00:56:07 Anthony: Sometimes, the internal chatter turns very dark, as it did for me in the days of the sex scandal news, and make a wall of defilement between the soul and God, where reaching for God also brings up the defiling newd 00:56:20 Anthony: News 00:57:56 Una: "The Throne before the phone." Turn to God first 00:58:06 Maureen Cunningham: Internet makes it worst because it always demanding. You do not have time to make schedules .It seems to be a constant nag all mail that's unwanted 00:59:12 Erick Chastain: "Prayerbook not Facebook" 00:59:29 Una: Reacted to ""Prayerbook not Fa..." with ❤️ 01:11:38 Anthony: This is sounding like Alzheimer's or dementia 01:11:52 Forrest Cavalier: Reacted to "This is sounding lik..." with 👍 01:19:24 Anthony: Perhaps Evlogious in his delivery betrayed uncalled for indignation or self-righteousness or vanity? 01:20:47 Jonathan Grobler: Zero sugar coating, straight to the point... 01:28:39 Maureen Cunningham: Much  like Job God allowed  the suffering 01:29:49 Catherine Opie: Profound! 01:29:55 Andrew Zakhari: Thank you! Excellent study today! 01:30:09 Maureen Cunningham: Blessing 01:30:51 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:30:54 Catherine Opie: God Bless Fr. have a blessed week. 01:30:55 Bob Čihák, AZ: Thank you & God bless you. 01:31:04 Rick Visser: thank you 01:31:05 Nino: Thank you Father..goog to be back

Saint Isaac the Syrian begins this homily with the words: “The soul that loves God finds rest only in God.“ This thought permeates all that is to follow. Our weaning ourselves from our attachment to the things of the world and our own self-esteem and judgment opens our eyes to the love and freedom that is ours in Christ. To see this, Saint Isaac tells us, one must engage in the ascetic life; that is, we must discipline the body through vigils, prayer fasting and the like; cultivating the heart in such a way that not only desires God above all things, but is willing to suffer every hardship for his sake. Indeed it is suffering and humiliation that frees us from the yoke of the self to such an extent that we can embrace such hardship with joy. In fact, the one who flees the futile glory of this world already has come to see something of the hope of the age to come. St. Isaac wants us to understand that our freedom from attachment to the things of the world does not merely mean our possession of riches, but rather also the acquisition of anything to which our will clings. Until this takes place, we are scattering with one hand what we have gathered with the other. All that we hold onto prevents us from rising above a worldly understanding of justice and prevents us from experiencing true freedom in our actions. We cannot show mercy to others except through what has been gained through our own labor and hardship. To sow from another man’s seed is to make our actions ingenuine and hypocritical. It’s a reflection of our desire to isolate ourselves from the suffering of our fellow man. What Isaac is preparing us to see is that we are not simply called to be merciful at the highest level of natural virtue or even what we would see as virtue elevated by the grace of God. Rather, we are called to be merciful as our Heavenly Father is merciful, to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. This means giving to everyone who ask of us and not expecting our goods to return to us; not merely to suffer injustice or to have our possessions taken from us, but also to be willing to lay down our life for our brother. Our mercy must be such and our love for our brother so great that even if we were to be treated shamelessly and abusively, our desire would be not to grieve our brother‘s heart.  Guided by intellect and reason alone we have already reached the level of absurdity. In the months to come, we will be shown that the mercy and love of God stretches far beyond the measures of man’s mind. The love of God has the very dimensions of God Himself. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:18:47 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 141, start of Homily 4, first paragraph 00:34:05 Myles Davidson: On the subject of suffering for Christ, “contempt and humiliation with good will”… I’m reading an extraordinary book called The Autobiography Of A Hunted Priest by John Gerard S.J. written by an English Jesuit priest who survived the Elizabethan anti-Catholic police-state known as the penal times. These young English Catholic men would travel to the continent to attend seminary, knowing when they returned they would be constantly hunted and faced a high chance of imprisonment, torture and martyrdom via being hung, drawn and quartered. While the author lived to tell the tale, he did suffer horrendous conditions in prison and painful torture. What is striking about the story, is the joy and peace he often experienced under these conditions and the often profound effect he had on his jailers. A very real example of “suffering contempt and humiliation with good will”. The book is a real faith booster! 00:35:10 Ryan Ngeve: Father what makes the trope of the fool-for-Christ different from those who actively seek humiliation or other forms of false piety 00:40:18 David: The movie "The Island" has a good example of a fool for Christ who is ideal as a follower of Christ and showing humility and humor. 00:40:25 Anthony: St Gabriel of Georgia should be patron of political philosophers but he was a fool for Christ. 00:40:34 Ben: Replying to "The movie "The Islan..." 👍 00:40:49 Julie: Reacted to "The movie "The Islan…" with ❤️ 00:42:05 Myles Davidson: Replying to "The movie "The Islan..." Is that the Russian film? 00:42:06 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 141, paragraph 3 00:42:35 Ben: Replying to "The movie "The Islan..." @Myles Davidson That's right. 00:42:58 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "@Myles Davidson That..." with 🙏 00:45:25 Fr. C Mase: It reminds me of that overtaking desire that sometimes comes when we see something we really want and it turns out not to be all that great. Like a new phone or something like that. 00:47:54 Rod Castillo: LOL, I have neither PC nor Laptop.  I do everything on my phone. 00:50:46 James Hickman: Detachment from things so they don’t control us — not avoidance of potentially useful tools. We must posses them. The impoverished can be attached to his simplicity in a spiritually unhealthy way…pastor was preaching John of the Cross today because of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Ultimate detachment even from spiritual things, but this detachment might be aided by a prayer rope, Rosary, or other material thing in our hands. 00:52:58 Maureen Cunningham: Prayer Of  Saint Patrick Christ Before  Me 00:55:25 Bob Čihák, AZ: "Words" do not break into the heart. I think a sense of shared EXPERIENCE is what we hope words can bring to others. 00:55:56 Anthony: The manipulation of stories & images already is part of life, getting people to assent to wars, etc. 00:58:24 Catherine Opie: AI is also terrible for the environment, it uses an incredible amount of power and water. Unbelivable. It has been designed by people whose aim in life is to become gods and live forever by downloading their consciousness into machines. Delusional. I think its anti God and anti life. 01:00:13 Eleana Urrego: Reacted to "AI is also terrible …" with 😱 01:03:28 Myles Davidson: There is a phenomena where people think they have led “their AI” to consciousness and are going down a very dangerous spiritual path with it 01:04:27 Thomas: One of my friends asked me why there has been a decline in ascetics, and I kinda guessed at a few things, but a lot of what I read is about awareness, do you think that part of the reason could be because phones and stuff like that just distract us, so nobody can be aware of anything and therefore they don’t even consider the level of repentance of a monk 01:04:28 Nypaver Clan: Replying to "AI is also terrible ..." 😲 01:04:46 Elizabeth Richards: There's an app called "Be Present" that I found helpful to help break the dopamine cycle 01:15:53 Anthony: Should we as Christians be more open about praying for the souls of enemies.....Hitler & Nazis or people who burn monasteries, etc ?  Or would that bring scandal? 01:22:34 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "There is a phenomena..." with 🤣 01:27:13 Naina: Thank you Father 🙏✝️❤️ 01:27:33 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You   Father 01:27:38 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:27:39 David: Thank you Father. God bless you and your Mother! 01:27:47 Catherine Opie: Thank you Fr. apologies for being on call.  

The Desert Fathers make it very clear that in every element of our faith life we are being drawn into the mystery of God and the kingdom. Therefore, we must become comfortable with living in mystery; of being immersed in a reality that is beyond intellect and reason and comprehended solely through the gift of faith and the light that God bestow upon us.  We often move very quickly to dissect what has been revealed to us by God, both for ourselves and others. Discussing matters of faith and reading books about dogma, however, can cause a man’s compunction to wither and disappear. We often cling to the notional and the abstract rather than focusing upon our relationship with God and seeking purity of heart. The Fathes tell us it is the lives in the sayings of the elders that enlighten the soul and fill it with spiritual tears. Our lives then must be shaped by the Gospel and as one elder tells us we must seek to draw Christ into every part of our life. We love and follow a humble and crucified Lord; One who has been afflicted for our sin and who seeks our healing. Thus, our lives should mirror the simplicity of our Lord. We must not pamper the body in such a way that we weaken the spirit of contrition within our hearts. Neither must we fear affliction, but rather embrace it when it comes into our lives; knowing that God and his Providence allows it and through it perfects our virtue.  To a certain extent, we must be willing separate ourselves from the world and surround ourselves with those who seek and desire the same thing. How else can we maintain the spirit of contrition? The world itself and our culture has become antithetical to the gospel. The cross has been and always will be a stumbling block to those without faith. The more those in the world become focused upon material goods and comforts and a manner of life that is contrary to the teachings of the gospel, we must strive to genuinely and heroically to conform our lives to Christ regardless of the costs. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:09:31 Maureen Cunningham: I think it like a rally good restaurant it always word of mouth 00:10:56 Maureen Cunningham: What is sub stack and how is it different 00:11:10 Maureen Cunningham: You tube is also a big 00:11:38 Bob Čihák, AZ: substack.com in short. 00:11:50 iPad (2): Yes Father I agree with you 100% 00:11:56 Bob Čihák, AZ: Look & see. 00:15:53 Andrew Adams: I vote website, but I don’t do social media anyway. I found you effectively by word of mouth. 00:16:23 Kevin Burke: I agree with Myles.. YouTube channel is the best.. 00:16:51 Mark South: I agree youtube is great 00:16:58 Maureen Cunningham: Yes  I agree 00:17:15 Bob Čihák, AZ: Please do let us know when you DO need support! 00:17:21 cameron: Suggest you think of making efforts to avoid being cancelled. 00:17:45 Maureen Cunningham: We love to support you 00:19:35 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 256, # 24 00:24:27 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 256, # 25 00:32:03 Forrest Cavalier: This footnote is on this page: https://archive.org/details/Evergetinos/Euergetinos%20II/page/423/mode/2up?view=theater 00:39:44 Anthony: R. C. Sproul of Ligonier Ministries commented on Martin Luther's long confessions, saying what did he confess? To coveting another's potato salad?   Little did Sproul know what monks face. 00:41:01 Andrew Zakhari: I am currently reading the Minor Prophets, and as messengers of God they seem to get angry at God's people for falling away.  How do you understand this prophetic anger? 00:42:05 Myles Davidson: Replying to "R. C. Sproul of Ligo..." Calvinists 😁 00:44:34 Anthony: Reacted to Calvinists 😁 with "😂" 00:54:21 Julie: Beautiful 00:55:30 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "Beautiful" with 👍 01:08:17 Maureen Cunningham: That Paul said that I may Know in in 01:08:40 Maureen Cunningham: His  suffering 01:15:49 Catherine Opie: On a smaller scale Fr. I'm struggling with the ethics of using social media to advertise my business now I'm Catholic as I had already surmised its an evil thing that addicts people to it like cocaine. And is designed like a pokie machine 01:16:38 Maureen Cunningham: Mull Monastery is very good he good 01:16:41 Anthony: Monasteries and friaries are not really well distributed in USA (or the Anglosphere!).  Neither are the third orders or oblates. We need to develop some kind of more localized groups that are not completely self-directed. 01:18:39 Bob Čihák, AZ: One priest I know has ministries in coffee shops and bars. 01:21:02 Catherine Opie: Post short chunks of content online but direct people to your website for full video. Get them off social media! 01:21:03 Maureen Cunningham: I think it is wonderful to give to the ministry. Bless all 01:21:22 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:21:29 Andrew Adams: Thanks be to God! Thank you father! 01:21:33 Bob Čihák, AZ: Thank you father! 01:21:55 Catherine Opie: Thank you Fr. God bless ❤️ 01:21:56 Maureen Cunningham: Blessing Thank You 01:21:59 Niño: Thank you Father Charbel...it's been a while 😊🙏

Links provided to the group:  Outline: https://mcusercontent.com/c38acab568d650f7ef65f39df/files/250d23a5-4286-ca11-aa97-511cb2db99e7/Phronema_Outline_2025.pdf Phronema in the Teachings of Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou: https://mcusercontent.com/c38acab568d650f7ef65f39df/files/bcb1bdd1-e77a-1f58-b90d-8070e0f7f9d5/Phronema_in_Teachings_of_Zacharias_Zacharou.pdf Quotes: https://mcusercontent.com/c38acab568d650f7ef65f39df/files/e2d2937f-cb54-e3d1-e164-4fffc0d409da/Collection_of_Quotes_on_Phronema_2025.pdf  

Perhaps there has been no greater or more beautiful exhortation written than Saint Isaac the Syrian’s homily on temptation. This may seem to be a rather bold statement, but Isaac’s words draw us into the very heart of a reality that even many men and women of faith do not see; that is, we are engaged in a spiritual warfare against the Evil One. Evil is not an abstraction or a story meant to instill fear as a means of control. Isaac speaks of it from the perspective of experience and like the other desert fathers, he stands before us as a living and breathing icon, encouraging us to run the course with courage and fidelity. In the spiritual battle, there is no Sabbath day rest; in other words, we must be ever vigilant in regards to temptation that comes to us in many forms. The only one that we must be concerned about is the temptation to which we freely give ourselves over through neglect or laziness or our attachment to particular sins. Rather, we are to take heart from and acquire zeal in our soul against the devil through the example and the histories of those who proved “allies of the divine laws and commandments of the Spirit in fearful places, and amid most grievous tribulation.”  The one in essential thing that this requires of us is that we have in our mind God‘s providence, and always to remember that he is ever faithful, and will not abandon those who trust him. This is our hope - that God is ever present to us in the spiritual battle, strengthening us, and surrounding us with a host of angels and Saints. We have a God who is set upon our salvation and who provides everything that is needed in order that we might be raised even above the ranks of angels. Our Lord has humbled himself, taken our poor humanity and its poverty, embraced it in all of its fullness and weakness in order to raise us up to share in the fullness of the life of God.  Deification is the fruit of the spiritual battle and the promise of our loving Lord! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:03:18 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 138 paragraph number 33 00:12:58 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 138, first full paragraph 00:14:35 Janine: Happy birthday Fr. Charbel…60 is nothing…just wait til 70! You are still very young! 00:15:18 Bob Čihák, AZ: ..or 84... 00:19:24 Catherine Opie: Happy Birthday Fr. May your next circle around the sun be full of Gods graces and blessings🎂 00:21:17 Rebecca Thérèse: Happy birthday it's the 10th already in the UK as well🎂☺️ 00:22:22 Gwen’s iPhone: Smile you could be turning 79 00:32:42 Erick Chastain: It is interesting that he emphasizes the role of the guardian angel in defending against the temptations. My oblate master says one should pray to the guardian angel to prevent sins. \ 00:36:12 Ryan Ngeve: Father it is easy for us who live in the world to tend to forget of spiritual realities in our daily life. How does one change this  ? 00:36:27 David: St. Moses the Black/Strong episode of 'Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints' is streaming now on Fox Nation. I believe this is also on youtube but likely violating copyright. 00:42:15 Anthony: To become prayer is like the lesson on computation on Monday. 00:43:38 paul g.: Reacted to " St. Moses the Black…" with ✔️ 00:59:15 Anthony: I think it's important to note they recognized perils, even perils of devils, but did not seek to indulge curiosity about the demons.  The focus was God, without craven feeling toward devils or to God. They shone like simple, confident icons. 00:59:37 Ryan Ngeve: Father, could the very realization of one’s own wretchedness/ poverty/ powerlessness or need for some external mercy lead to tears or even despair? 01:02:11 Elizabeth Richards: Yes! 01:17:13 Catherine Opie: ❤️ 01:19:03 David: I heard an interesting podcast with Fr. Josh Johnson who said if the Devil can't make you bad he will make you busy. Apparently a parishioner doubted the devil existed he told her to set a time to sit in adoration or prayer and you will see tons of things will come up to interfere and often not bad things. 2 weeks later she came back and said- ok I believe in the devil. This also has been my experience. 01:21:44 Eleana: And temptations. I usually tell my patients you are often desperate for a "fix" and miserable but when you are trying to be sober and clean, you encounter friends that will invite you and even FIND everywhere what you avoid the most. 01:26:11 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You Father Blessing 01:26:49 Elizabeth Richards: 🥳 Happy Birthday! 🎉   Looking forward to Saturday! 01:26:53 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:26:53 Bob Čihák, AZ: Thank you and Bless you, Father. 01:26:54 Art: Have a happy birthday!! 01:26:59 Jeffrey Ott: Thank you! Happy Birthday! 01:27:10 David: Thank you father and may you have a joyful Birthday. I turn 60 next year tell me how it goes

This engaging discussion centers on the relational aspect of contrition, intertwining heartfelt sorrow with a deeper connection to God. Personal narratives reveal the struggle between managing spiritual life and allowing divine guidance. The importance of humility in prayer and the role of persistent prayer in encountering mercy are explored. Compunction emerges as a pivotal experience for spiritual growth, emphasizing the need for vulnerability. Ultimately, the conversation champions a reflective approach to recapturing spiritual insight through prayer.