Philokalia Ministries

Where are we in the spiritual battle? Do we understand the virtues that are generally most necessary in the pursuit of virtue? So often in our day, we approach the spiritual life in a piecemeal fashion, gleaning from the writing of saints things that speak to our own particular sensibilities. But are any of these things going to help us address the dominant passions that we struggle with?  We cannot be lazy in the labors of the spiritual life. We are blessed to be able to sit at the feet of the great elders and those who speak from experience. And yet, as with so many things in our day, we would have things come in our own time and in the way that we desire. Christianity overturns our perception of reality. What it means to love, what is truth, all comes into view only through the person of Christ. The shape of the Christian life is cruciform – always involving a dying to self and sin, and rising to new life in Christ. We must cast off the old man in order to put on the mind of Christ. Lacking discernment we may find ourselves being guided by the demons and settling into mediocrity or the embrace of selfishness and sin that merely is an aping of virtue. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:14:14 David Swiderski: Father do you know any good books on vigils? 00:15:56 Sharon Fisher: Would it be instructions for a home vigil service?   00:17:50 Anthony: For the bibliography, cookbooks are important such as "From a Monastery Kitchen" by Bro. Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourrette.   00:19:52 Eric Ewanco: With Great Lent on our heels, do you have suggestions for overcoming gluttony and sustaining our fasts?   00:29:26 Andrew Adams: How does one practice the life of obedience as a layperson?   00:30:23 Suzanne: Isaac the Syrian is great on not putting the cart of contemplation before the horse of purification.   00:32:54 Maureen Cunningham: The  Monks on Mt Athose are very healthy a Doctor did a study.   00:35:24 Suzanne: Greek food ain't no penace for me! 😄   00:35:38 Vanessa: Reacted to "Greek food ain't no ..." with 😂   00:39:16 Anthony: Our hypochondria is driven by our societal messaging; our avarice is driven by our capitalist presuppositions wealth, usury, over-emphasis on private property.   00:42:54 Maureen Cunningham: I was told that Christ suffers in the broken .   00:43:30 Anthony: And it's hard to go against presuppositions because it feels like you're doing something wrong.   00:47:02 Suzanne: I quit a part time job because of the filthy language and sick behavior of my fellow employees. I did it to protect my soul.   00:54:04 Jeff O.: I’m reminded of a quote from a Benedictine book - “Personal Prayer” - “Our hope is at its greatest when we have absolutely no other means to provide for ourselves than to beg God for help.” When our hope is rooted deeply in our full understanding of our poverty it’s at its strongest/fullest   00:54:20 David Swiderski: I have found hardship to be helpful in gaining detachment from many things and faults. A saint used to say-gold is purifiied in the crucible of life.   00:54:21 Lee Graham: What does “recklessly despised their torture”?   00:55:27 Eric Ewanco: My translation @Lee Graham has "It was this marvelous grace that enabled the souls of the martyrs to rise superior to their torments."   00:56:29 Vanessa: St. Teresa of Calcutta always said we have to see Christ himself in the poor, broken, and suffering.  Re-aligns our focus to see the humanity in them.   01:07:40 sprou: is that the language of silence?   01:09:26 Eric Ewanco: Is ignoring the demons an option open to everyone, or does this indicate that one is in a better spiritual position so to speak if one can do this?   01:11:19 Adam Paige: One of the tools of good works in the rule of Saint Benedict is “To dash at once against Christ the evil thoughts which rise in one’s heart.”   01:11:26 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂   01:11:30 Louise: Thanks, Fr. Abernethey!   01:11:42 Suzanne: God bless you all!   01:11:46 Lorraine Green: God bless, thank you   01:12:19 Barbara: Blessed Great Fast!!   01:12:22 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:12:23 Jeff O.: Thank you!   01:12:24 Sharon Fisher: And with your spirit!   01:12:36 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father  

We turn now in the Evergetinos to consider the “avoidance of idleness”. With this, of course, we are compelled to consider the nature of work, and its connection to the spiritual life and our sanctification.  Avoiding idleness is not simply keeping busy - much less busyness. It is something that allows us to prevent the mind and the heart from wandering from He who is the source of life, God. We are not angels.  We are called to provide for ourselves and also to provide for the poor. And so it is by the labor of our hands that we not only keep ourselves from becoming distracted - but enable ourselves not to become a burden to others and also to offer charity to those in need.  Furthermore, keeping oneself from idleness also allows for the formation of virtues; obedience, self-control, ordering of the appetites, humility, etc. What is being presented to us, then, is connected to the overall portrait of what it is to be a human being; one whose life is directed completely toward God. The love that we have received and bear within us transforms everything about what it is to be a human being; to suffer, to love, and to work. It is our identity as Christians that must shape our perception of reality. Text of chat during the group: 00:29:31 Michael Hinckley: Anthony's comment, or rebuke, hits the vainglory   00:35:03 Andrew Adams: What was the name of that commentary on St. Mark again?   00:38:32 Adam Paige: Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word, the four-volume “Meditations on the Gospel According to St. Matthew” by Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis.   00:38:34 FrDavid Abernethy: Erasmo Merikakis   00:45:57 Michael Hinckley: can't over busyness, lack of focus be acedia   01:05:34 Rebecca Thérèse: The devil makes work for idle hands   01:14:51 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂   01:15:26 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You   01:15:53 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:16:06 Rachel: Thank you!!  

Extraordinary and beautiful! We are currently reading Step 26 from The Ladder on discernment. As St. John begins to unpack things for us, that is, what discernment allows us to perceive about our intentions, our dispositions, how virtue and vice often get mixed together, why prayers sometimes go unanswered, and why demons often will cease their attack for a period of time - - St John also shows us the beauty and the mystery of the human person in relationship to God and as created by God.  God‘s loving care for us, when seen with the clarity of the fathers’ wisdom and experience is enough to make one weep for joy. And this joy fosters a desire for God that, if inflamed, can not only purify us of the passions but transform us in such a fashion that we are drawn into the life of the very Holy Trinity. May God grant us this desire! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:09:49 Carol Roper: St. Anne's?   00:31:05 Cindy Moran: I remember a few times the night before a huge exam I slept w the school book under my pillow LOL   00:43:18 maureencunningham: What is the time frame , if one thinks of this as a long journey or one could be discourage   00:48:24 Kate : There are some spiritual writings that take the form of a colloquy…Fr. Gaston Courtois, for example.  How does this fit with the dark knowing of faith, that you mentioned?  The writers seem to have such a tangible intimacy with Our Lord.   00:56:29 Susanna Joy: When the Lord Speaks to Your Heart: Daily Devotions (English and French Edition) https://a.co/d/4ZRzjVi   00:56:46 Vanessa: Replying to "When the Lord Speaks..."   Thank you:)   00:57:02 Susanna Joy: Divine Intimacy https://a.co/d/2WqoJ5e   00:57:43 Susanna Joy: The links are Amazon links to the books mentioned   01:00:46 Cindy Moran: Are the other 4 kinds of dispassion in this chapter?   01:01:18 Jacqulyn: An excerpt from Pauline Books... https://paulinestore.com/media/productattach/1/7/172412-compressed.pdf   01:02:05 Susanna Joy: Reacted to An excerpt from Paul... with "👍"   01:04:51 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "An excerpt from Paul..." with 🥰   01:06:09 Rachel: yes   01:09:24 Michael Hinckley: Leave Christ for Christ... is the Filippo Neri?   01:09:35 Michael Hinckley: that ...   01:10:04 Adam Paige: Reacted to "that ..." with 👍   01:11:58 Rachel: Our Lord was did not have passions   01:14:18 David Swiderski: I have been reviewing some courses for work on Emotional Intelligence and it is interesting some of the information on nueroplastisity. I keep thinking how this research could learn so much from the desert fathers. In nueroplasticity they often talk about the trigger leading to emotion leading to and action and reptitivity creating behavior.   01:14:50 Adam Paige: Reacted to "I have been reviewin..." with ❤️   01:20:22 Suzanne: Thank you!   01:21:57 Art: Reacted to "I have been reviewin..." with 👍   01:22:37 Suzanne: To Rachel, passions in the Roman Church are not disordered in themselves, but part of human nature. Our Lord had no disorder in His Body and Soul. But He had human nature.   01:23:06 Lorraine Green: God bless you, thank you Father   01:23:24 maureencunningham: Thank You Father Dave , My husband said thank you too.   01:23:44 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:23:45 Louise: Thanks, Fr.  Abernethy!   01:23:47 Cindy Moran: Excellent session... thank you Father   01:23:52 Jeff O.: Thank you!!   01:23:53 Rachel: Thank you   01:24:01 David Swiderski: Thank you father!   01:24:08 Rachel: LOL thank you   01:24:09 Kevin Burke: Thanks you!  

After listening to a multitude of stories from the Evergetinos about responding to insults from others, the only response that one seems to be able to offer is a sigh; not a sigh expressing disbelief but rather wonder. This is the love and the grace that God offers to us at every single moment of our life. A synergy exists between our will (as simple as uttering a “yes” within our hearts to God), and the outpouring of His grace and compassion. Suddenly the unthinkable comes into view through our faith. We see, through experience, the Godly love that is not only offered to us but within us.  One of the things that we often say to ourselves when we sin or when we respond to another who is wounded us is: “I’m only human!”  However, these are not just fanciful stories in the Evergetinos but rather signs of what God is capable of doing within the human heart and what he has made us by his grace. Through humbling ourselves, acknowledging the poverty of our sin, we are lifted up to love and show compassion to others as we have received from the Lord.  The Desert Fathers are living icons of the gospel. They reveal to us this love, not primarily through their writings but rather through their lives. We in turn come to understand this not through reading but rather through experience. May God in his mercy draw us into his love and allow us to see him face-to-face!   ---   Text of chat during the group:   00:10:43 FrDavid Abernethy: page 37 number 4   00:44:10 Nypaver Clan: Screwtape Letters   00:44:49 Lee Graham: Sounds like CS Lewis’s “Screw Tape Letters”   00:54:03 Louise: How about psychopaths, praying for those damaging psychopaths? They seem pseudo-humans, that is, humans only in form but not in soul. They seem to be a window of the devils. I cannot pray for them. Am I wrong?   00:57:06 Rachel: When we sin, are we even being ehat it truly menas to be human? Even the "small" sins?   00:57:55 Sharon Fisher: So we pray that the Holy Spirit reaches them? That may be all I can muster in some cases. Is it enough?   00:58:31 Rachel: That is a beautiful prayer.   00:59:28 Lee Graham: Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.   01:00:05 Lori Hatala: Reacted to "Let there be peace o..." with ❤️   01:00:39 Vanessa: Reacted to "Let there be peace o..." with ❤️   01:01:57 Rachel: Imagine a masterpiece that has been defaced. Yet, by grace, God can restore His image in the sinner.   01:02:30 Sharon Fisher: Reacted to "Let there be peace o..." with ❤️   01:03:38 Tracey Fredman: Jesus asks people in the gospels - he asked Solomon in a dream - and I believe he asks us, "What do you want me to do for you?" We can ask for grace to be able to pray for those who difficult for us to pray for.   01:04:19 Sharon Fisher: Reacted to "Jesus asks people in..." with ❤️   01:04:24 Vanessa: Reacted to "Jesus asks people in..." with ❤️   01:06:56 Adam Paige: Reacted to "Let there be peace o…" with ❤️   01:07:20 Adam Paige: Reacted to "Imagine a masterpiec…" with ☦️   01:07:31 Rachel: Wow.  How beautiful.   01:08:50 Amale Obeid: How do you overcome the fear of needing to work for money to survive when you’re otherwise completely ready to sell everything and follow God and devote your life day in and day out to Him? To honoring him, praising him, praying, reading about him, etc… It has become hard to live in both worlds.   01:15:24 Rachel: I wish I could go! God bless you all   01:15:37 Steve Yu: Replying to "I wish I could go! G…" Same here!   01:16:23 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:16:24 Louise: Thanks, Fr. Abernethy!   01:16:27 Lorraine Green: Thank you very much!   01:16:28 Sharon Fisher: And with your spirit!   01:16:29 Suzanne: God bless everyone!   01:16:30 Adam Paige: Thank you Father !   01:16:38 Lee Graham: Brilliant, thank you!!  

When reading The Ladder of Divine Ascent, we begin to see that discernment is quite different from what we imagine. It is not simply the use of our reason and judgment to look at the realities around us, to dissect them, and so understand them. Discernment, as described by the fathers, is rooted in the virtue of humility. It is only when we live in He who is Truth that we come to understand the truth about ourselves, the world, and the kingdom.  St. John in particular gives us a multiple examples of how discernment reveals to us the specific qualities of vices, how they manifest themselves and how they are to be remedied. It is curious that we often use our intellectual abilities to avoid reality or to create a certain perception of reality in our minds. It is only humility that allows us to be vulnerable; to expose the deepest part of ourselves to the light of truth. It is this vulnerability and our trust in God and his love that allows us not only to see the truth but to experience the light of it as a healing balm. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:07:17 Sr. Simeon: I hate camera!   00:07:35 Eric Ewanco: Reacted to "I hate camera!" with 😂   00:08:23 Adam Paige: Reacted to "I hate camera!" with 📷   00:15:31 Adam Paige: Paragraph 43 - How should one admonish a brother given to talkativeness ?   00:21:25 Barbara: Gabriel Bunge?   00:21:32 Jeff O.: Reacted to "Gabriel Bunge?" with 👍   00:24:36 Adam Paige: Reacted to "Gabriel Bunge?" with 👍   00:24:47 Adam Paige: Gabriel Bunge? Yup ! https://a.co/d/8t9PLU5   00:26:48 Barbara: This translations says "malice" in place of guile.   00:32:55 Anthony: I believe this humility is a reason the Sunday after publican and Pharisee is fast free....so as not to be proud in fasting.   00:43:46 Suzanne: My dilemma has to do with fiducia supplicans.   00:48:53 Suzanne: Much to consider. Thank you!   00:51:26 Barbara: Replying to "I believe this humil..."   Actually, in the Eastern Christian tradition, the week after the Gospel of the Publican and Pharisee is a week without fasting so we cannot be proud about our fasting.   00:52:02 Louise: In a psychology experiment, participants had to do nothing for 15 minutes. However, they could prick themselves to create pain if they wanted. One-third of women pricked themselves versus two-thirds of men. These people preferred physical pain to the pain induced by silence.   00:59:58 Celine Fournier: How does one take on an affliction.   01:00:34 Anthony: Perhaps we attribute afflictions to sin as a way of justifying why we will never have afflictions....I'm not a sinner, etc.   01:00:57 Celine Fournier: Yes   01:04:43 Adam Paige: Replying to "In a psychology expe..."   In a psychology experiment, participants had to do nothing for 15 minutes. However, they could prick themselves to create pain if they wanted. One-third of women pricked themselves versus two-thirds of men. These people preferred physical pain to the pain induced by silence. https://dtg.sites.fas.harvard.edu/WILSON%20ET%20AL%202014.pdf   01:05:56 Louise: When I gave courses to professionals across the US, I told participants that there are two main taboos in psychotherapy: love and suffering. Participants remained silent as though they knew that they DO avoid experiencing love or suffering while providing psychotherapy. Amazing and sad!   01:08:09 Kate : There’s a growing area of health and medicine that focuses on longevity and slowing the aging process.  While this may seem good on the surface, I wonder if this is not good for the soul.   01:11:53 Suzanne: Thank you!   01:12:14 Lorraine Green: God bless you, thank you   01:12:19 Sharon Fisher: Thank you all!   01:12:24 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father!   01:12:25 Louise: Thanks, Fr.!   01:12:25 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:12:31 Jeff O.: Amen! Thank you!   01:12:32 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂  

Humility and selfless-love often bears no resemblance to what we hold in our minds as their meaning. It is only seeing these things through the grace that God gives us and what has been revealed to us in Christ that we begin to understand that Christ took upon himself all that is human and its burden. He is Humility. He entered into the depths of our hell and the hell of our sin not only the free us from death, but that we might not experience these things in isolation. In the darkest things of this world there is always the presence of He who is light. When this world offers us no consolation, it is Christ who embraces us.  Humility, then, becomes our willingness to let go of the self and the self-image that we have created in our own minds and that has been distorted by our sin. It means to live in the truth of Christ who is self-emptying love. This will forever be a stumbling block in this world and to the human mind. Only faith can allow us to see the presence of Christ in our midst. Furthermore, it is only this selfless love of Christ within us the can bring healing and hope to others. When faith is reduced to an ideology or philosophy it becomes impotent. We must be willing to go, as it were, where angels fear to tread. We must be willing to enter into the depths of the sorrow of the world. Yet . . . we cannot do this so long as we cling to some worldly image of ourselves or perfection. We must die to self and sin and live fully to Christ. The cure for the human condition is and ever shall be crucified and humble love. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:32:47 Michael Hinckley: to your earlier point, my guess is that saints the see being like Christ as an easy equation (1+1) , we see it as algorithms   00:46:03 TFredman: Personal experience with a Trappist monk who was very discerning - and helped to heal many souls, through simply sharing God's love repeatedly, consistently for many years - until the persons began to really believe the honesty in the gift of being loved - life-changing -   00:47:14 TFredman: Tracey   00:50:58 Susanna Joy: Being the presence of Christ's love over time by itself has the power to heal...yes...well said   00:52:56 Susanna Joy: Where 2 or 3 are gathered...there am I in your midst.  Christ's presence itself...   00:53:27 Sharon Fisher: This discussion reminds me off a woman who was taken hostage by a gunman — she retrieved her bible and spoke to him. (Baptist, I think, but still . . . ) If folks are interested, here’s the story:  https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/hostage-reads-purpose-driven-life-to-alleged-atlanta-killer/   00:54:07 Anthony: Replying to "This discussion remi..."     I believe I heard th...   00:55:26 Michael Hinckley: Didn't Francis say preach the gospel, use words if you have to   00:55:33 Anthony: That's a Spanish and Neapolitan type of image   01:05:23 Anthony: The multiplicity of my thoughts are showing me the necessity of praying - simple, like Jesus prayer - so as not to be exposed so much and dwell so much on thoughts.   01:06:04 Michael Hinckley: Reacted to "The multiplicity of ..." with 👍   01:06:32 Vanessa: Reacted to "The multiplicity of ..." with 👍   01:08:25 Sharon Fisher: Is there a difference between when God confronts us with situations intended to humble us vs. situations when others exhibit their own free will, and we are unlucky recipients/bystanders?   01:13:28 Rebecca Thérèse: Jesus said that it is necessary that stumbling blocks come but woe to those from whom they come.   01:13:30 Susanna Joy: Thank you so much for leading this class, Father...your comments have been very helpful.   01:14:22 Lorraine Green: God bless you, thank you   01:14:26 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You I am always Blessed from all your teachings   01:14:32 Sharon Fisher: 😃   01:16:02 Sharon Fisher: Reacted to "Jesus said that it i..." with ❤️   01:16:21 Michael Hinckley: what's your wife's name soI can pray for her?   01:16:25 TFredman: God bless you, Steve, and your wife.   01:16:46 Steve Yu: Replying to "what's your wife's n…" Hi Michael, her name is Ivette Valenzuela-Yu 01:17:14 Michael Hinckley: Replying to "what's your wife's n..."   santa pace for her   01:17:30 Steve Yu: Reacted to "santa pace for her" with ❤️   01:17:46 Michael Hinckley: Reacted to "santa pace for her" with ❤️   01:18:03 Kevin Burke: Thank you Father..   01:18:05 Andrew Adams: Thanks Father and thanks everyone for sharing!   01:18:09 mflory: Thank you, Father!   01:18:15 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂  

Sometimes we are unaware of the treasure that we possess in and through the gift of faith; and also in the living witness and writing of the Saints. As St. John speaks of discernment this treasure is magnified for us and we begin to see how precious their teachings are and the life that God has called us to embrace. Our ability to see the preciousness of these gifts allows us to enter into the life with heartfelt perception. We cannot live with one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom. Our minds and our hearts must belong to God and we must seek Him above all things. In great detail, St. John begins to speak to us about the gift of discernment. It is especially important and valuable for  those who have the care of souls. To be a skilled physician one must have the experience necessary to apply the appropriate medicine and that which will be healing. It is also for this reason that monastic life has been so important for the life of the church. “Angels are a light for monks, and the monastic life is a light for all men.”  They show us how important it is to learn divine truth by toil and sweat. We must give our hearts over to the ascetic life and not squander the treasure.  How quickly one begins to see that we would be wandering blindly without the guidance of the spiritual fathers. Let show our gratitude by our imitation of their zeal. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:14:31 FrDavid Abernethy: page 194 number 23   00:33:20 David Swiderski: The devil speaks with a scratching, loud and gnarling voice and calls you by your sin. God calls you by name and his voice like a whisper on the wind. Only with peace and quite can we hear the whisper. - Not who wrote this but heard this from a priest in Spain on a retreat in the Pyrennes.   00:43:43 Sharon Fisher: Fr, please repeat the title of the second book you ref’d? I have the Eastern Monasticism and Future of the Church, but couldn’t write fast enough to get the next one. Thank you!   00:44:30 Anthony: That prejudice for the active life goes back to the "reformation" - I think as a way to justify the reformation.   It saw a revival in "josephism" of the 1700s and 1800s   01:05:38 David Swiderski: Where would resentment be placed I have seen despondency and also pride in being a victim.   01:06:58 Sharon Fisher: Just fyi to participants: The level of detail we get w/ Fr. David in discussions about the Fathers’ writings is not found in very many places. I’ll put a plug in for a guided book study on You Tube: St Silouan the Athonite Guided Book Study with Isaac Lampart, written by Archimandrite Sophrony.  The videos are hosted by Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Lancaster, PA. It’s very good; but it’s hard to find the actual book. It took me a few months of monitoring used book sites to get a copy.   01:07:01 mhinckley: that;s virtue signaling, no. Just the other side of the vaingflory coin, no?   01:08:04 mhinckley: despondency and also pride in being a victim. 01:10:16 Sean: Replying to "Just fyi to particip..."   I really long for this sort of content now but it's non existent AFIK😢   01:12:40 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You many Blessing   01:12:44 Jeff O.: thank you!   01:13:16 Lorraine Green: Thank you, wonderful retreat!   01:13:23 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:13:27 Rachel: Thank you.   01:13:27 mflory: Thank you, Father!   01:13:29 Louise: Ha ve good retreat, Fr. !   01:13:33 David Swiderski: Thank you father! Have a great retreat!   01:13:35 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father...we'll be praying for you   01:13:35 Art: Thank you safe travels   01:13:38 Sharon Fisher: And with your spirit!! Thank you!   01:13:38 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂   01:13:41 sue and mark: yjank you God bless good retreat   01:13:42 Kevin Burke: Thanks  

Discover the essence of true freedom through humility and self-reflection. Learn how to gracefully handle praise and insults while embodying Christ's love. Explore the transformative power of daily meditation and the critical balance between spiritual values and worldly desires. Dive into the importance of correction in community and the inner harmony achieved through a purified heart. Uncover how centering your identity in Christ leads to authentic peace and empowers you to respond to others with compassion, transcending ego and pride.

A glimmer of light begins to shine through the writing of St. John in regards to the perfection of virtue. John starts by putting before us list of those things that we should focus upon as beginners in the spiritual life or those who have reached an intermediate level. He also puts before us the resolution of those who are advanced; that is, the virtues that one possesses at this level and that they must protect. John is trying to paint with broad strokes the image of life in Christ. As one begins to share in that reality more deeply Christ image begins to manifest itself and we become imitators of Him. As John unpacks for us the nature of discernment he shows us the things that it allows us to perceive. One of the valuable teachings he offers us is our responsiveness to the grace of God in times of illness. In our infirmity the demons will seek to afflict us on spiritual level.  Yet John also shows us that our minds and hearts can be purified at such times and that Christ can cleanse “clay by clay”. In the severity of our illness we can be delivered from certain passions. These last steps of the Ladder of Divine Ascent must be read closely and slowly. It is solid food upon which we are being fed and a deep wisdom that is being set before us. Glory to God! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:07:41 FrDavid Abernethy: page 192 para 17   00:09:03 Rachel: :(   00:26:12 Anthony Rago: Sounds familiar   00:32:19 Sam: Need for fasting particularly during the many periods of discernment has helped many saints and Christians not only tame their passions but clear their minds from any attachments and thus take the path God wants of them. Could it be due to the humble stripping of self from earthly things and abandonment to God's grace, wisdom and mercy? Yes   00:38:12 Michael Hinckley: didn't Augustine say "you pray the most when you say the least and pray the least when you say the most."   00:43:13 Rory: Let, God's grace shine upon my silent faith within my temple of the Holy Spirit revealing your  Divine Providence   00:43:31 Vanessa: Reacted to "Let, God's grace shi..." with ❤️   00:57:35 Maureen Cunningham: Sound like addiction the first part   00:57:59 Anthony Rago: I think it's important for a weakened person to discern what is his weakness versus what is actually a sin or wrong.  The devil wears disguises and blames you for it.   01:09:08 Sean: I assume clay is man, but what is the clay that cleanses him?   01:11:49 Fr Marty, ND, 480-292-3381: A personal "testimony": a half dozen years ago, I was too sick to get out of bed for several weeks. The consolations and spiritual awareness at this time was so profound for me that I thought I was arriving at a  level of illumination that I would never leave. A couple of weeks after recovery, however, I found myself struggling with the same sin. I had not advanced as I thought. But I'm grateful for the consolation.   01:14:28 Rebecca Thérèse: Is it because illness brings us closer to death that we may experience a greater closeness to the eternal?   01:15:45 Lorraine Green: Thank you Father   01:16:09 Fr Marty, ND, 480-292-3381: Reacted to "Is it because illnes..." with ❤️   01:16:30 sue and mark: thank you.   01:16:39 Andrew Adams: Thank you Father!   01:16:40 mflory: Thank you, Father!   01:16:41 Rachel: Thank you   01:16:44 David Swiderski: Thank you father!   01:16:44 Jeff O.: Thank you!   01:16:47 kevin: Thanks   01:16:48 Louise: Thanks, Father!   01:16:50 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂   01:16:56 Sr Barbara Jean Mihalchick: Blessed Feast   01:17:02 Kevin Burke: Thanks you Father!  

The discussion opens with the transformative power of humility, emphasizing its role in both personal growth and spiritual fulfillment. Historical figures like Abba Moses highlight how embracing one’s flaws leads to true identity in Christ. The podcast also contrasts secular self-help with spiritual teachings, advocating for a Christ-centered approach. Additionally, it explores the challenges of seminary formation while promoting community support as essential for navigating spiritual struggles. Overall, it's a deep dive into faith, identity, and the pursuit of genuine humility.