Philokalia Ministries

Thank you to all who attended the group on the Ladder of Divine Ascent. It was wonderful to see so many with the desire to sit at the feet of the great Saint and teacher John Climacus.   Synopsis: Tonight was our inaugural group reading the Ladder of Divine Ascent by Saint John Climacus. We allowed ourselves to jump immediately into the text with step number one “On Renunciation.” We will unpack things as we move forward; including the anthropology and the psychology of the fathers, the language used by Climacus and historical details from his life.  In the first three paragraphs Climacus begins his writing with God, who he describes as the source of life and salvation for all, believers and unbelievers, just and unjust, pious and impious, educated and illiterate, healthy and sick, young and old. He then goes on to define the Christian and the monk and how their identity determines the way they live their lives. Freedom is set out as imperative. God has created all free beings and offers salvation to all. This is the essential frame in which we are to read the rest of the book and understand the ascetical life. We freely seek to give ourselves and our love to God and to embrace the love and grace that He has given to us. Our asceticism is not simply an act of endurance but rather an act of freedom and love. Outside of this the ascetical life loses any sense of purpose and meaning. Likewise we look to the elders, to the fathers in their virtue and purity of heart for their guidance in word and deed. They in turn engage us not as impartial observers or analysts but rather as those who are fellow strugglers in the pursuit of God and of the kingdom. It is the love and desire for the salvation of those in their charge that guides and directs their care of others. --- 19:27:40 From FrDavid Abernethy, CO : https://www.thepittsburghoratory.org/_files/ugd/5299f8_4fb9f89659424fcb997865abbdef4d24.pdf   19:29:16 From siobhan from pittsburgh : Hi Im Sandra   19:29:32 From Michele : Dave and Michele Berthelsen are here.   19:29:52 From siobhan from pittsburgh : not Siobhan   19:29:56 From Rachel : 🙏🏼   19:30:25 From kevinferrick : Hello everyone,   newbie here from Boston.   Hope I navigate the zoom alright   19:30:45 From Sr Mary of our Divine Savior solt : Hi, God bless, Sr. Mary of our Divine Savior   19:31:09 From Amil : Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, we are all pretty tiny.   19:31:23 From siobhan from pittsburgh : I love it!!   19:32:24 From Ambrose Little : https://pghco.org/climacus   19:33:24 From Carole DiClaudio : Hi Kevin!   19:33:46 From Carole DiClaudio : Hi Sr. Mary!   19:40:39 From Joseph Caro : If there is a handout, can the link be posted here? thanks!   19:40:58 From Sean McCune : https://www.thepittsburghoratory.org/_files/ugd/5299f8_4fb9f89659424fcb997865abbdef4d24.pdf   19:41:55 From Miika : Good Morning everyone! First time live! Miika from Finland   19:42:30 From Carol Nypaver : Very cool!  Welcome, Miika!   19:42:37 From Carole DiClaudio : Hello Miika!!!   19:42:53 From Rachel : 2-3 years! I  hope I have that many ( blessed) years.   19:43:35 From Carole DiClaudio : :)   19:47:38 From Erick Chastain : Sorry, I ended up breaking into this zoom room by pure luck I guessed the link. I didn't sign up   19:48:01 From Ashley Kaschl : 😂   19:48:31 From Debra : I always fumble around to find the link   19:48:31 From Erick Chastain : If Fr wants me to leave since I didn't sign up, he or Ren can notify me   19:48:47 From Debra : BTW...thank you Ambrose for the link!   19:49:03 From Ambrose Little : Write it on your heart and on your mind.   19:49:15 From Debra : It's a weird URL   19:52:27 From Ren : No worries Erick :-) All are welcome. Even the hackers ;-)   19:52:55 From Carol Nypaver : 🤣   19:52:55 From Fr. Miron Jr. : 🤣   19:54:02 From Anthony : Wow, this is different than - as in other teachings - "elect" and "reprobate"   19:55:42 From Ren : WOW. Beautiful.   19:56:20 From Jim Milholland : How poetic   20:02:48 From Anthony : "These Noetic creatures" as Father said.  That reminds me of this phrase used by St. Gregory of Narek: "Rational Flock."   20:02:59 From Fr. Miron Jr. : https://www.amazon.com/Orthodox-Psychotherapy-Esther-Cunningham-Williams/dp/9607070275/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3954VB8PGOFPM&keywords=orthodox+psychotherapy&qid=1646874171&sprefix=ortodog+psychoterapy%2Caps%2C61&sr=8-2   20:05:07 From Rachel : Yes!!   20:06:45 From Fr. Miron Jr. : same seminary experince duing my years...   20:10:26 From Lilly : I didn’t know him until last year   20:10:58 From Gilmar Siqueira : Translated into Spanish by Friar Luis de Granada :)   20:12:34 From victoriaschweitzer : Good point, amil !   20:13:40 From Carole DiClaudio : I thought the same thing, Amil!   20:19:36 From Amil : 🕊️   20:22:37 From Rachel : Bingo   20:27:51 From St. Stanislaus Kostka Religious Education : We simply have to keep ourselves focused on God. No matter what our 'poverty' limitations....not looking at each other's abilities or place in the world...just keep focused on God and ask for God's help.   20:34:03 From maureencunningham : Thank you   20:34:07 From Miika : Sadly theological education in the Nordic countries is also very one-sidedly rationality centered. (At least amongst us "protestants" -not that I protest anything personally...as far as I know)   20:34:22 From Rachel : lol Carol   20:35:12 From iPhone : thank you   20:35:18 From Rachel : Thank you Father and everyone. God bless!   20:35:23 From Bob and Tara Bartz : Thank you!   20:35:24 From Ben David : good night good fight   20:35:30 From Mitchell Hunt : Thank you Father   20:35:31 From Michele : Thank you!  

Tonight we continued with Hypothesis 18 which examines the importance of seeking the guidance of elders; those who have a deep desire for God and have come to know His ways through experience. We can have no conceit of knowledge when it comes to the spiritual life. Natural gifts, talents, and abilities are good in and of themselves but they do not necessarily give us insight into the ways of God or knowledge of divine things. At times we seem to almost have an infinite capacity for self-delusion. The more one progresses along the spiritual path the greater in fact the danger becomes. If we do not guard our hearts, if we do not seek out the counsel of others, we can quickly fall into the pit of self-judgment. The fall then can be great and the damage done terrible. Therefore the Fathers with one voice call us to constantly seek out the wisdom of others, to listen to God at the depths ofour being with a spirit of humility. No matter how wise we become what we understand is infinitesimal in comparison to the wisdom of God and the Spirit that searches the depths of our hearts. In this we can allow ourselves no illusions. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:06:31 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: beginning page 139   00:25:23 Rachel: lol ?? unfortunately yes   00:25:28 Anthony: Or when you leave Mass / Divine Liturgy after profuse incense.   00:26:06 Rachel: Okay...I love the incense. Dont mind that one bit.   00:42:54 Forrest Cavalier: Instead of criticizing priests and deacons we need to dialog with them. It's a two-way commitment, though.   00:57:37 Daniel Allen: The Centurian was a pagan and Jesus said He had found no greater faith than the faith of this centurion in all of Israel. And I believe Scripture even says Jesus “marveled”.   00:58:09 Forrest Cavalier: The Greek original in this Evergetinos says "holy men". Discernment is important when we seek advice.   01:07:57 Bridget McGinley: The centurian is the man I study the most.... I want that Faith! Can you imagine "marveling" Christ? Thanks Daniel!   01:10:43 Forrest Cavalier: 1 Cor 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing  

It is a bitter sweet thing to come to the end of such a long journey - a long and sometimes arduous journey but one that has brought such joy and hope. Tonight we finished the final two letters of Saint Theophan to Anastasia.  They are perhaps the two finest letters of the collection. Saint Theophan speaks with a great directness and honesty about the anxieties that Anastasia experiences and how she has to deal with him. He sees how clearly they can be temptations from the Evil One to pull her away from God, from trusting Him, and from the practice of prayer. It was with great gentleness and tenderness that he guided her through this in order that Anastasia might understand that if she but makes an irrevocable gift of herself to God she will be ever under His protection. She need have fear of nothing and no one.  In the final letter (80) he speaks to her about the extraordinary grace she has received through having endured the storm. Satan sought to sift her like wheat. Yet God used all of this to perfect her faith and to teach her. The Enemy through his tricks sought to create hurry and to alarm her and confuse matters. Yet Anastasia has learned that Godly things are peaceful and quiet. She must only wait. Everything comes in its own time.  In the years to come, Theophan tells her, she must gravitate towards solitude; not necessarily the solitude of the desert but of her heart. There she must wait for God and allow herself to be nourished upon His love. Indeed, there is nothing more beautiful. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:15:51 Andreea Gallagher: Where are we?   00:16:21 Carol Nypaver: 302   00:17:02 Andreea and Anthony: Thanks!   00:17:15 Carol Nypaver: 😇   00:40:31 Barb Heyrman: Considering how related religious experience is to psychological experience it is interesting that at one time they were separated by design   00:53:16 Barb Heyrman: Also points to the problem of comparing ourselves & our circumstances with the situations of another — maybe the ‘recipie’ God is using w/ us & the oven temp & baking time is different   01:00:26 Barb Heyrman: I hear this all the time…the identity as the syndrome … anxiety/ADHD / ‘this is just who I am’   01:12:31 Ren: To join the email group for the Ladder, go to www.pghco.org/climacus-email   01:14:59 Wayne: if we are on the email list do we need to register again?   01:16:23 Wayne: gotta go goodnight   01:16:37 Ren: This particular email list is for you to receive the weekly email with the Zoom link, or information specifically about the group (cancellations, etc…). If you are subscribed to Philokalia Ministries then, yes, you will want to subscribe to this list as well.   01:17:45 Art: Gotta go too.  Good night,   01:19:15 Ren: Bumpkins   01:19:19 Ren: :-D   01:24:39 Rafael Patrignani: thank you! i have yo leave   01:26:18 Anne Barbosa: Thank you!   01:27:04 Eric Williams: There are 30 steps on the ladder, right? We might finish the book in about as many months. ;)   01:27:17 Mitchell Hunt: Thank you been a great study of Theophan   01:27:57 Carol Nypaver: Thank you!   01:28:35 Mitchell Hunt: Great sounds good  

Tonight we continued our reading of hypothesis 18 which focuses upon the importance of seeking the counsel of those who have an experiential knowledge of the spiritual life. We do not live out our Christian life as individuals. Even the monk living in the greatest solitude understands the radical solidarity that he has with others in the life of the Church.  The stories that we are presented with here this evening show us that the desire of monks to seek out the counsel of elders; and not only the desire but the necessity of doing so. To try to walk along the spiritual path, to try and engage in the spiritual battle alone is foolhardy. Inevitably, we will fall to one of the passions or we will find ourselves in the grip of the Evil One.  Humility is key. Our lives have to be radically focused upon the truth and most of all the poverty and the weakness that sin has brought into our lives. We must acknowledge that it is by God alone that we are saved ; and that it is by his grace that we are able to engage in the ascetical life. We must avoid self-styled asceticism that lacks discretion. No matter how wise we might be we must believe that we are in need of learning and counsel. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:55:48 Forrest Cavalier: My summary of this discussion to Anthony's questions: We know by fruits: Wicked self-doubt leads towards despair, quietism (on one side) or self-reliant Pelagianism (on the other.) Proper self-doubt: recognize our poverty, leading to grace, trust, unity to body of Christ.   01:00:04 John Clark: Pre V2 you were required to fast after Midnight the night before attending mass and not eat anything if receiving the Holy Host…   01:00:47 Carol Nypaver: Yep….not even water.   01:08:43 Eric Williams: If disciplines become perfunctory, the Church should inform consciences and instruct the ignorant, not discard the disciplines. 🙁   01:09:36 Erick: agreed Eric   01:13:15 Erick: some people are trying to revive the ancient lenten fasting practice.... See here for details: https://www.beautysoancient.com/lentpledge/   01:14:18 Eric Williams: I hope they revive St Martin’s (Nativity) Fast, too ;)   01:14:30 Rachel: Thank you! God bless everyone!   01:15:41 David Fraley: Thank you and good night, Father.   01:16:14 Rachel: Thank you Ren.   01:16:30 Eric Williams: Thanks for the reminder about that, Ren! 🙂  

Tonight we had the opportunity to discuss asceticism as a preparation for the holy season of Lent. We find in the spiritual  tradition a clear call to enter into a struggle to live the life of faith to its fullest. We are to strive to enter by the narrow gate.  When we look to the Scriptures and the writings of the Saints we see very clearly that they took no passive approach to the embrace of the faith. They knew that it must be lived and that their life must undergo a revolution. To live in accord with the beatitudes or the sermon on the mount means that one will not fit into the norms of this world. Just the opposite. In so far as we experience ease within this world, or experience success and the favors of this world we may be living a life at enmity with God.  Our life should be about seeking to love God above all things and seeking to please him. Our exercise of the faith, our asceticism, means nothing if it is merely an exercise of endurance. It must be rooted in our desire for God and the things of God. It must be rooted in love.  Seen in this light, Lent should not be simply a 40 day period that comes and goes; but rather a springboard into a more committed life in Christ.  Lent is about repentance; turning toward God and away from self and sin. May we take this truth to heart and so know the healing of God‘s grace in all of its fullness. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:03:14 Jean-Paul: in a vow of digital simplicity no camera and no mic   00:20:12 Jean-Paul: Could you please re-state the name of that journal   00:47:16 Andrew musano: “Do that which is good, and no evil shall touch you. Prayer is good with fasting and alms and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with unrighteousness. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold: For alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin. Those that exercise alms and righteousness shall be filled with life: But they that sin are enemies to their own life.”   + St. Raphael the Archangel, Tobit 12:7-10   00:50:41 Anthony: Contendire in Latin.  Contend. Not just "you signed an intellectual contract to get to Heaven."   00:51:30 Jean-Paul: The Great Fast begins with the Exultation of the Cross Sept.14   00:53:00 Louise A: My dear Father always practiced Ember day fasting....if I remember they were originally associated with the great feasts Christmas,Easter, Pentecost.   00:56:30 Andrew musano: Listed below is dates for Fasting in the East. I hope this helps.   https://secureservercdn.net/166.62.112.219/1a3.c9d.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/the-fasts-of-the-orthodox-church.pdf   01:04:13 Jean-Paul: Carthusian guidance on fasting  http://www.quies.org/quies_fasting.php   01:05:30 Jean-Paul: Carthusian fasting for the Fathers is usually on Fridays and consists of eating solely bread and water   01:10:47 Andrew musano: Let all involuntary suffering teach you to remember God, and you will not lack occasion for repentance.   + St. Mark the Ascetic, “On the Spiritual Law: Two Hundred Texts” No. 57, The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1)   01:18:56 Andrew musano: Ash Wednesday Is a beautiful tradition. 01:28:21 Andrew musano: A foretaste of Heaven on Earth   01:36:09 Ren: The adults are the real annoyance. Lets get rid of all of them :-D ;-)   01:48:59 Jean-Paul: Can anyone tell how long tonights gather will be   01:50:56 Jean-Paul: We are on page 4 will we complete the PDF tonight?   01:52:26 Andrew musano: “It is necessary for a Christian to fast, in order to clear his mind, to rouse and develop his feelings, and to stimulate his will to useful activity. These three human capabilities we darken and stifle above all by ‘surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life’ (Lk. 21:34).”   — St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ   02:10:22 Jean-Paul: More than 40% of the women over 75 live alone -- perhaps there are more hermits and monks than one knows.   02:11:11 Bonnie: This has given me an entirely new way to prepare for Lent.  Much deeper, more meaningful, and hopefully long lasting.  Thank you Father!   02:11:17 Miron Kerul Kmec: thank you   02:11:24 ellice: Thank you! This was beautiful   02:11:28 Jean-Paul: Peace and all good   02:11:29 Andrew musano: Thank you Fr.   02:11:40 Anthony: Thank you :)   02:11:50 Larisa Cowell: Thank you Father I loved it.   02:12:04 Louise A: many thanks Father  

Tonight we concluded letter 77 and went on to read letter 78. As we have seen in past weeks, Theophan is much more direct with Anastasia now that she has made her decision to enter into the religious life. In multiple ways, she has been tempted either by those who have no faith, by her fear of injustice and false accusation, or her desire to express and pursue her own freedom. Theophan warns her against all these things and the kind of false freedom especially that we cling to that offers no hope. In fact, Theophan refers to it as an “evil impulse that is evil”. We are called to walk the path of the cross; to die to self and to self-will and to live for Christ. We have not been promised the love of the world. Rather, we have been promised just the opposite - its hatred. Why would she want to flee her parents house when in reality it is a protective environment for her? It is there that she can learn the life of a obedience at the hand of those who love her the most. What greater opportunity is there to be formed for the religious life than this? Don’t chase false freedoms, he warns her. The impulse to freedom is like chasing rainbows or desiring to catch shadows. When we look at the world we see unhappy people desperately seeking to assert themselves -  often at the cost of others. She must learn to look at her life in the light of Christ and her freedom in light of the communion of love in which she exists with God. Anything else is an illusion. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:06:03 Art: Posting a follow up to Eric C’s question from last week.  While he was asking I was reminded of one possible answer to the dilemma whether to obey the Church 10 years ago or the Church one month ago.  Rather than butcher the response, I’ve included the actual source.  It begins around 15:28 and ends around 20:50   Two points I found helpful were the comments that in a crisis there is an objectively right thing to do. “You hold on to what was always believed everywhere by everybody.”  “What has the Church always believed?  That is what I must continue to believe.”  And    “The faith does not change.  What was once true is still true. Either it was false then, in which case it is false now.  Or else it was true then and it’s true now.”  The speaker is Fr. David Sherry SSPX.    Hopefully you find it helpful.   http://sspxpodcast.com/2021/12/crisis-series-49-father-what-can-i-do-about-the-crisis-in-the-church/   00:32:13 Anthony: I've wondered if this applies to legal processes such as the cases for freedom to act according to a well formed conscience.  OK, suppose you lose the case....would that change your acting according to a well formed conscience?  We are called to accept persecutions.   00:35:35 Anthony: Would the truth of the cross apply to suffering under the English "Reformation," the French Revolution and the Vendee, the American Revolution....and current events like in Eastern Europe?   00:40:30 John Clark: I once had to confront an office bully…It was a good outcome   00:43:00 Lyle: Today, some of us were meditating on the Office of Readings regarding St. Polycarp's martyrdom.  His last words brought tears to my eyes.  “I praise you for all things, I bless you, I glorify you through the eternal priest of heaven, Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. Through him be glory to you, together with him and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen”.   00:43:21 Lyle: Surrounded by the fire, his body was like bread that is baked, or gold and silver white-hot in a furnace, not like flesh that has been burnt. So sweet a fragrance came to us that it was like that of burning incense or some other costly and sweet-smelling gum.   00:44:18 Carol Nypaver: Amen!  St. Polycarp, pray for us!   00:46:48 Erick Chastain: you get an academic department at a major public university   00:47:22 Erick Chastain: 😅   00:59:53 Eric Williams: I was bullied every year of my public education. Hardly a desirable kind of socialization.   01:05:21 Ren: Booooooo ;-)   01:05:29 Cathy: I am offended   01:05:49 Carol Nypaver: 🤣   01:06:22 Ren: Suffragette #1 over here :-D   01:06:36 Ashley Kaschl: 😂😂😂   01:09:59 Lyle: Too many times MY exercise of freedom led me FROM the LIGHT (My Lord) to DARKNESS (Rebellion and sin.)   01:13:06 Eric Williams: seen on a bumper sticker: “Teenagers, quick, leave home while you still know everything!”   01:18:49 Edward Kleinguetl: His book, Tattoos on the Heart, is amazing!   01:19:26 Marylouise Lambert: Homeboy Industries   01:20:49 Anthony: We (the Church) were helped along in our deplenishment by Josephism, Jansenism, Americanism.   01:21:53 Anthony: Febronianism....all worked to diminish our unified spiritual/social role   01:22:46 Erick Chastain: actually... I think it was 1 year ago   01:22:54 Miron Kerul Kmec: Thank you!   01:23:03 Cathy: Good for you Eric!!   01:23:13 Mitchell Hunt: Thank you Father David   01:23:16 Erick Chastain: It was this podcast that told me about grace   01:23:22 Anne Barbosa: Thank you!   01:23:26 Cathy: Thank you Father!   01:23:43 Cathy: Bring snacks!  

Tonight we continued with Hypothesis 18 on the importance of seeking the company of virtuous people and questioning so as to learn about the spiritual life. What we find in the writings and the lives of the desert fathers is a stress on the importance of seeking counsel. One never walks spiritual life in isolation. We should foster a zeal within us to talk about the spiritual life with those who have experiential knowledge that is rooted in many years of striving to live the gospel in its fullness. We are given one example after another of individuals seeking out the counsel of elders, being swept up in the desire for their wisdom, and being willing to travel great distances to learn from them. May God instill within our hearts that same yearning and urgent longing for God and for the truth. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:06:57 Mark: Which version of “The Ladder” are you going to use?   00:07:39 Rachel: good to know   00:08:18 Eric Williams: I shared some quotes from the Evergetinos with my Saturday morning men's group   00:08:37 Anthony: Nice   00:12:27 carolnypaver: Page?   00:13:12 Fr. Miron Jr.: 135   00:16:07 Anthony: They had a visit, it was time to go, and the went outside to leave but kept talking for hours?  Maybe they were Italian. ;)   00:17:40 sue and mark: they must have been!   00:23:45 Anthony: Does this maybe come as a result of the "frentic energy" which Father David warns against? A kind of energy that just wants to be dissipated but not focused?   00:34:22 John Clark: Personally praying the rosary silently keeps me in constant contact with the Lord and Holy Spirit   00:46:28 Rachel: It is mostly our own vice   00:50:17 Anthony: Heresy of Americanism, too   00:51:44 Eric Williams: Catholics have forgotten how to be in the world but not of it.   00:53:30 Erick Chastain: Bp athanasius schneider   01:00:02 Eric Williams: Is this a stone age tool? ;)   01:01:03 Rachel: " Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord.."..   01:04:10 Eric Williams: Unfortunately, big books/sets are hard sells these days, even to those who seem engaged in their faith. Attention spans are short, people are busy, and we're conditioned to pay attention to sound bites and memes.   01:07:42 Eric Williams: I still have your notes from the Climacus group you led years ago (20?). :)   01:10:07 Rachel: WOW!!   01:13:01 Erick Chastain: can confirm about cmu   01:13:38 Rachel: I feel like that everytime I talk lol   01:13:57 Wayne: gotta go   01:14:41 Eric Williams: I've always appreciated how succinct and to the point your homilies are. The anxiety was worthwhile!   01:16:19 Ambrose Little: Unless you just don’t like apples. 😄   01:17:15 Fr. Miron Jr.: and also in slovakia   01:17:31 Rachel: haha   01:17:53 Lyle: May hungering and thirsting for God drive us to a passionate, relentless pursuit of Him.   01:20:04 Rachel: Thank you Father  

Tonight we began with Letter 76 where Theophan again takes up the temptations that are coming to Anastasia from unbelievers. They have begun to call into question the reality of God and the dignity of the human person; making absurd arguments and trying to twist her up within them. With clarity, he tells Anastasia simply to stay focused upon the dignity of the human person. No matter how diminished we are physically, emotionally, or spiritually, we always bear within us the grace of God who created us in His image and likeness. Even if that reality seems to be lost altogether and personhood is called into question, each individual has an inherent value and dignity in Christ. Within the Divine Economy God is always working through the circumstances of our lives in order to bring about our salvation. Life in this world may seem unreasonable or harsh but none of it prevents God from manifesting himself in our lives and bringing us to a share in His Eternal Life.  In Letter 77, Theophan focuses upon another temptation rooted in domestic unpleasantness. Anastasia is frustrated by having to live in obedience to her parents and postponing her entrance into the monastery. This is the Evil One’s doing, Theophan tells her, and he has muddled her brain, confusing her mind with uncertainty. It is all deception, Theophan warns her and she must cross herself and drive out the temptation. It is tantamount to making mountains out of mole hills. We tend to do that with so many things in our life. Rather than fighting the good fight of faith against the evil one we will direct our frustration outward on to other people and circumstances. We must embrace those circumstances in a spirit of humility and obedience, always seeking to conform ourselves to Christ and to see our lives in light of the mystery of the Cross. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:04:47 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: No Whining. St. Theophan   00:16:14 Eric Williams: If I'm not mistaken, "idiot" formerly had a clinical definition before entering the vernacular.   00:17:48 Anthony: Like Dostoevsky's book "The Idiot," which referred to an epileptic.   00:19:43 Anthony: Herman the Lame was a hymnist and scholar and had terrible afflictions.   00:20:45 Eric Williams: https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/idiot   00:27:44 Anthony: Sometimes stark contrast helps us understand the point better; sometimes it gets in the way.   00:28:58 Rachel: When I was a child, there was a girl my same age who our family knew that was mentally retarded. My Dad told us children, that people that are born this way go straight to Heaven. That they cannot speak or they would tell all of the secrets of Heaven. Every once in a while we were all supposed to volunteer to take Stephanie out and keep her company and give her care givers a break. One Sunday, I jumped on the opportunity to be with her. I already did like to be with her but now that I thought she knew the secrets of Heaven I could not wait for my turn. She never said anything but she just grabbed my face and smile when I asked her. As I child I felt happy but jealous of her being able to go straight to Heaven.   00:37:22 Edward Kleinguetl: 21   00:38:01 Anthony: He was not even Coptic, but, i think, Ghanian   00:38:43 Rachel: Oh my goodness. They are martyrs!   00:38:46 Luiz Eduardo Lawall: This is very frustrating   00:45:56 carolediclaudio: Hahahaha love it   00:51:35 Erick Chastain: sorry my dog unmuted the mic   00:52:01 Eric Williams: Did he eat your homework, too? ;)   00:52:04 carolediclaudio: :)   00:57:16 Rafael Patrignani: very interesting! thank you. I have to leave,   00:57:31 Anthony: Evil one said "I will not sevre"   00:57:50 carolediclaudio: Bye Rafael!   00:59:18 Rachel: Wow   00:59:41 Anthony: Dom Scupoli was another who obeyed and apparently was vindicated later.   01:00:11 Rachel: Please give me the name of the other holy brother?   01:00:52 Anthony: Savonarola in Florence; Dom Scupoli was the other   01:00:56 Ben Miralles Jr.: Girolamo Savonarola   01:01:22 Rachel: Thank you   01:04:39 Rachel: lol   01:13:18 Anthony: We have been formed mentally to be like a scholastic....but without the mysticism the scholastics (like St. Thomas!) should have had. (and St. Thomas did have)   01:16:41 Jk: so true anthony   01:22:37 Eric Williams: "Everyone argues too much!" "No we don't!" ;)   01:22:59 carolediclaudio: :):)   01:30:31 Erick Chastain: Paisios also says that this age has a rampant spirit of impudence   01:30:51 Erick Chastain: Too many rebels everywhere.   01:32:04 Kmec: Thank you   01:32:17 Eric Williams: Rebels without a clue!  

Tonight we concluded letter 75. This letter and those that follow all focus on particular temptations that Anastasia is facing as she approaches her decision to enter into the religious life. Theophan in Letter 75 focuses on the tricks of the enemy to dissuade her or throw her into despair because of the weaknesses, sins, and poverty that she sees within herself. His counsel to her is to allow these things to humble her but not to throw her into despair. Her endurance of the struggle is for the sake of crowns, he tells her; that is, the growth and perfection of the virtues.  In letter 76, Theophan begins to focus on the temptations that come from unbelievers. These are much more subtle, he warns her, and those who engage her will seek to cram a lot of worthless garbage into her head. They might be wise and clever in the ways of the world but underneath their words can be a malicious spirit that poses a threat to her faith. She must be willing to let what they say go in one ear and out the other and not purposely expose herself to the narrow mindedness and hard heartedness of those opposed to the faith. She must examine her own bewilderment and leave no trace of it within her mind and heart. Faith is a gift of God instilled within us by our very creation. It is older and greater than education and society. These things pass on knowledge to a new generation.  However, we must understand that religious belief is part of every race because it is also the part of every man. In fact, “man is not man”, Theophan says, without it. To cast away our faith, to undermine it through neglect, is to distort and mutilate ourselves. He who does not have faith departs from the fundamental reality of who we are as human beings and in the process can make himself freakish on both a moral and psychological level. The perception and experience of reality is undermined by cutting oneself off from He who is Reality itself. Our response to this must be to embrace our faith fully and to allow it to transform us without any opposition; to allow the grace of God to inflame and purify our hearts. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:05:42 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: bottom of page 289   00:14:16 Rachel: 😐   00:18:36 Anthony: comfort -> cum forte -> with strength   00:22:31 Anthony: I learned that at least in the time of the last Tzar and Rasputin, the Russian nobility were drawn to theosophy and other dangerous curiosities.   00:29:34 Eric Williams: And by being sucked into these unproductive battles, we risk behaving as the pharisee, rather than the publican.   00:29:57 Rachel: This is so good   00:30:23 Anthony: See HIllaire Belloc, "The Free Press"   00:33:05 Rafael Patrignani: Kierkegaard' s book: 'mortal sickness' talks about that process that leads to desperation   00:33:45 Anthony: Some "Science" is just philosophy or the occult in disguise.   00:34:51 Rachel: You're not alone for sure.   00:35:28 Philip’s iPhone: I’m working in a catholic high school and I can even relate !   00:35:30 Anne Barbosa: I also avoid having lunch with my coworkers   00:35:35 Eric Williams: Alas, too often science is distorted and contorted into scientism.   00:36:15 Erick Chastain: Eric W, my catholic scientist friends call it "teh science"   00:40:01 Eric Williams: “Tolerance is an attitude of reasoned patience toward evil … a forbearance that restrains us from showing anger or inflicting punishment. Tolerance applies only to persons … never to truth. Tolerance applies to the erring, intolerance to the error" - Fulton Sheen   00:42:32 Rachel: Wow.   00:43:59 Rachel: This is so timely and helpful. When we see ans sense a lack of the spirit of generosity in the other to engage in Truth, to seek Truth, we have more of an obligation to disengage. Quickly.   00:48:17 Rafael Patrignani: objectivity is an act of love and death to ourselves   00:50:11 Philip’s iPhone: Please remind me which number letter we are discussing?   00:50:27 Philip’s iPhone: Thank you !!   00:50:51 sue and mark: 76   00:58:57 Rafael Patrignani: nowadays I think culture is in a state worse than secularised.. it's increasingly against Christianity..   00:59:31 Anthony: Pierce v Society of Sisters   01:00:08 Anthony: the state tried to destroy Catholic schools precisely due to formation   01:02:24 Erick Chastain: sadly jack Kerouac grew up catholic   01:03:06 Erick Chastain: but ironically he led me to the faith (indirectly)   01:08:36 Eric Williams: Transhumanism is a mess   01:08:48 Rachel: "Face it, you're a moral freak!" okay..yeah I could see how that could be problematic.   01:09:38 Rachel: Because it gets filtered through the perspective of a mutilated sense of self that is not* rooted in Christ.   01:09:53 Eric Williams: Great. Now I'm hearing "moral freak" being sung by Rick James in my head. ;)   01:12:31 Rachel: Oh my goodness that is already happening.   01:13:33 Carol Nypaver: Frightening….   01:13:37 Rafael Patrignani: it's old like mankind but apostasy makes it worse   01:14:28 Rafael Patrignani: the lack of the spiritual anchor puts in danger the boat   01:14:51 Anthony: Khalil Gibran, "The Wise King" poem is about societal delusion   01:23:24 St. Stanislaus Kostka Religious Education: I am most turned off by the turn of some religious people pointing at others rather than asking for God’s grace that we ourselves become fire.  As I think of the saints of renewal they seem to be more about the fire of the spirit rather than blame of others   01:24:39 Mitchell Hunt: Thanks Father David   01:25:26 Mitchell Hunt: Still uploading to YouTube afterwards?   01:26:10 Eric Williams: Easier to keep trolls and spammers out via Zoom, too   01:28:18 Rachel: Thank you!   01:28:23 Mitchell Hunt: Awesome appreciate the pod bean archive 👍  

This evening we began Hypothesis 18 on the importance of seeking the company of virtuous people and the benefits of questioning them with zeal and desiring to learn from them. In many ways this is an important hypothesis for the modern mind; to understand the need to be docile, that is, teachable. We must learn to be humble in our approach to the mystery of God‘s revelation of himself to us and his son. We will always be in the position of learners. Likewise, we will never be beyond needing instruction in the life of faith from those who have an experiential knowledge of striving to enter by the narrow path.  In fact, we have the distinct responsibility, the fathers tell us, to either learn with sincerity what we do not know or to teach with clarity whatever we have learned. There is no static position in the life of faith. If we believe so, we fall into a kind of madness that ends with apostasy. Part of our desire for instruction is our desire for God and our yearning for him. We should always be thirsty to understand the ways of the Lord.  It has been said that a starving man has no sense of taste. We see this in our own generation. The failure to teach the faith and the pass on an understanding of the spiritual life has led to a void so deep that men and women have begun to search far and wide for something to nourish them; despite the fact that they have what is most precious already in their possession. Even if we seem to understand nothing or we see no immediate change within us - as if we ignored the teaching of the elders - we should be confident that the seed they planted will eventually bear fruit. Furthermore, simply being in the presence of those who are holy engraves on the soul the immutable archetype of virtue. Simply being in the presence of one who loves God can instill that same love and devotion within our hearts. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:10:06 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: page 134 Hypothesis XVIII   00:24:00 Forrest Cavalier: Mt 13:12 To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.   00:31:44 Ashley Kaschl: Gotta run 👋   00:37:01 Erick: that liturgical culture is still there at your local FSSP Latin mass parish   00:38:10 Erick: even rogation days don't make sense in the present day liturgical calendar   00:38:34 Erick: it did make sense in the 1962 calendar.... we have lost the syntax   00:38:53 Carol Nypaver: Or Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest Latin Mass. 😇   00:39:07 Erick: indeed carol!   00:39:40 Eric Williams: I’m worried that Traditionis Custodes will make it harder for Westerners to rediscover traditions like rogation days or more “rigorous” fasting. (I don’t bring TC up to be controversial. I’m really quite sad for the future of venerable traditions in the West.)   00:39:57 Forrest Cavalier: I attend FSSP, Ordinary Form, and Byzantine. No one is safe from new deceits of Satan, at any parish.   00:41:05 Erick: it's funny because TC is making it easier to access rogation days etc in the short run. but in the long run agreed.   00:41:37 Erick: (because TLM attendance has gone up since TC came out)   01:09:57 Rachel: That is the exact thing that stuck with me as well! I went to a Mass many years before my conversion and everyone was kneeling and focused on Our Lord. I had no. idea. what was happening before me. Bit it stuck with me.   01:11:46 Forrest Cavalier: She might be Byzantine. They stand for that part of Liturgy!   01:13:17 Rachel: lol   01:15:33 Ambrose Little: Well, I’m gonna be the odd man out here.. I too have gone to TLM masses for years, and I like it and appreciate it, but…    One doesn’t need rogation days, particular ways of celebrating the mass, or the old calendar to imbue one’s daily life with the Faith. We have a current Church calendar. It is packed with memorials and feasts for saints, Our Lady, and the life of Christ. We have Lent. We have Advent. We have Eastertide. We have Christmastide. We have the Divine Office—you can fill your day with prayer, seven times a day if you wish—and more. The Holy Mass is remarkably available for most of us—even I here in the boonies have two reasonably close daily masses. There are many third orders, institutes, associations, and more (e.g., programs like This Man is You, King’s Men, etc.) that offer ways of more fully practicing the faith with the help of others.   If we can’t imbue our lives with the Faith with all these available to us, then the problem isn’t with the Church, it is with us.   01:17:01 Vicki Nichols: I agree with you Ambrose   01:17:55 Erick: we are human ambrose LOL. The Church should make it easier, not harder   01:20:16 Rachel: The Liturgy affects the way you pray and what a person believes and how understands and relates to God and the world around them. It all starts there and ends there, from Communion to Communion.   01:20:34 Erick: and the Church, when she takes things away or alters them to be less helpful, actually hurts our process of becoming imbued with the faith. as st Thomas says, we learn through the senses   01:22:14 Rachel: Yes!   01:22:22 Ambrose Little: Everything I listed is there to help, and more. There are oodles of helps. Many people live vibrant, faith-filled lives happily without missing the older forms/devotions. Have to be careful about projecting personal preferences out as if they are objectively superior.   01:23:22 Rachel: Thank you all and Father!