Philokalia Ministries

Tonight we began Hypothesis 15 in The Evergetinos. I think it is safe to say that on the surface it is perhaps one of the most difficult to listen to so deeply is it tied to the monastic commitment and detachment from the world. The fathers speak to us about the abandonment of the world and not communicating even with one’s relatives.  However, upon closer reading we see that this Hypothesis is about much more than than this. The exile the fathers speak of really has to do with what goes on deep within the heart; our willingness to detach ourselves from our own ego and from the things of this world in order to respond fully to God‘s will in our life. In subtle ways we rationalize and we place impediments to our responding fully to God’s call to love. One does not have to be a monk or live in the desert to see this go on within the human heart. If we could see all the moments that we let pass in a given day to refer back all that we do to God and seek always to act in obedience to his will we would weep inconsolably. What the fathers invite us to consider is whether or not we are living for the kingdom or the world; do we seek to do the will of God or to obey our own will.  Christ’s embrace of our humanity elevates our dignity as human beings and what we are capable of doing by the grace of God. We should be willing to sacrifice all to protect that dignity. God has made us one with Him in His Son. Let us rejoice! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:02:27 Eric Williams: Fr Miron, thank you for raising a good son. I very much appreciate having him as my parish priest. 🙂   00:04:32 Miron Kerul Kmec: thank you   00:27:25 Anthony: This is really hard.  Since the Enlightenment, the general tendency of intellectual development and education is to "institutionalize" our wills; spiritual/intellectual/material/career avarice has become ingrained in our consciousness as a virtue.   00:39:12 Rachel: God is the one Who is capable! 🙏🏼   00:41:04 Rachel: I totally understand what George is saying, it can seem close to impossible at times when perspective gets skewed out in the world.   01:05:15 Lyle: Page 118:  Lord Jesus, may I avoid worldly contacts that are “unprofitable”.   01:12:56 George: the poetry of St John Henry Newman is fantastic   01:13:30 Rachel: your blessing!   01:14:14 Miron Kerul Kmec: Thank you!!!   01:14:17 Rachel: Thank you!!   01:14:40 Rachel: I got mine today!! So happy, what a blessing. Thank you!  

Tonight we continued with Letter 71 to Anastasia on “Coldness in Prayer”.  St. Theophan is very direct with Anastasia about the causes of this coldness. Typically, it is because we are carrying out our prayer rule hurriedly and haphazardly. Therefore, he tells Anastasia that she must never carry out any spiritual activity as if it were perfectly established, especially prayer. She must to go about her prayer as if she is doing it for the first time; with the zeal of someone who has come to see the beauty of what God has given them. In fact, Theophan tells her that nothing offends God more than praying hurriedly. It is His gift of love and intimacy and if she treats it lightly, he tells her, she should scold herself for such carelessness. Prayer always will bear fruit within our lives. However, we cannot approach it in a utilitarian fashion, simply to accomplish a task. It is God’s greatest gift to us and so we must approach any discipline surrounding it with devotion and love. Even if we create a prayer rule for ourselves, we must understand that it is God who calls us to prayer and it is God who gives it shape and perfects the gift through his own Spirit of Love. When we begin to see prayer in this way, we will long for it and eventually we will find our greatest delight in it. --- 00:28:54 Ann Grimak: I am very agree with you Father   00:30:34 Lyle: P. 277:  “Acquire prayer from the beginning again, and ask for it from the Lord yourself.”  [Jhn 14:RSV] 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glori-fied in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.   Entreat our Lord to help us.  He will “do it”, that the Father may be glorified.   00:42:49 Lyle: Thank you, for such valuable COUNSEL.   00:43:06 Anthony: Amen   00:45:45 George: I've noticed that the parishes with the most confession hours have lines for yards on Sunday   00:47:38 Carol Nypaver: That is true.  It encourages parishioners to properly prepare for Holy Communion.   00:50:19 Edward Kleinguetl: A number of the Eastern Fathers see Eucharist being an essential part of repentance. Confession removes the worms from the wounds and Eucharist is the healing ointment.  They also see it as strengthening us for keeping our commitment to avoid the occasions of sin.   00:50:57 Carol Nypaver: So true.   00:51:15 Anthony: Our economics (in our case, Capitalism) begins in materialism with a deist god (invisible hand) and treats us as commodities (human resources) for large national or international entities (GDPs, our corporate bosses).  But this is inhuman.  It goes against our created nature.  We have to be the men and women we were created and "recreated" to be.   00:54:36 Lyle: I am not a Catholic and I have wrestled with what is really "essential" in my life.  Thank you, Deacon Ed.   00:55:42 Rachel Pineda: This can be the whole Christian life. From communion to communion...   00:56:21 Edward Kleinguetl: Spot on, Ren!   00:56:47 Rachel Pineda: LOL   00:56:49 Rachel Pineda: LOL   00:56:52 Edward Kleinguetl: TMI   00:57:19 Rachel Pineda: It's okay Ren, good points btw.   00:59:39 Edward Kleinguetl: We need to desire God above all else.  Doubts are all demons that want to pull us away from God.   01:00:34 Edward Kleinguetl: And there will be times when prayer is a struggle -- we are tested relative our fidelity.   01:00:49 Edward Kleinguetl: *relative to our fidelity   01:00:56 Lyle: Amen, Deacon Ed.   01:06:07 renwitter: We need to install a quiet little bell system in the chapel to facilitate this kind of prayer.   01:07:37 Lyle: “An Instantaneous prayer life is impossible. Prayer does not come about as you expect—by just wishing for it, and, suddenly, there it is. This does not happen.” - St. Theophan the Recluse   01:10:56 Edward Kleinguetl: There will be times where we are distracted, sometimes badly.  The demons want to pull us out of the prayer. The key, at least to me, is to persist and refuse to give in to the temptation to stop praying because it is not going well.  God does not expect perfection in prayer -- St. Paul told us it was impossible. Rather, God wants us to know that we are faithful to him, desiring him above all else.   01:11:33 Edward Kleinguetl: Plus, the Jesus Prayer itself is meant is an aid to create stillness   01:13:16 Rachel Pineda: God bless everyone. Going I to Mass. Happy and Blessed feast!   01:14:11 George: 👍   01:17:26 Lyle: I think I understand.  When I DESIRE Him above all else, everything else should/will "fall nto place".   01:18:51 Anthony: Thanks everyone!   01:19:17 maureencunningham: Blessing  

We began this evening by discussing solitude and silence as a means to coming to the truth. One does not have to leave the world or live in the desert to experience this. The true desert exists within the heart and so the experience of the solitude more often than not means stilling the heart and avoiding the noise of the world to such an extent that we can listen to God. Outside of doing this we have a truncated experience of life itself and we become the deaf to the voice of love and truth.  If God has created us for himself then above all we should want to hear him and to hear his words of love and mercy.  The Fathers’ counsel in this regard is very simple; withdrawing to a remote place begins for most of us simply by closing our mouths; by not adding to the noise of the world but rather allowing ourselves to be drawn into the quiet harbor that prayer offers to us.  In Hypothesis 14 the Fathers seek to show us the link between humility and the fear of God. Each complements the other and feeds the other in such a way that they illuminate the heart. Our experience of the otherness and the holiness of God shows us the path to truth. Our acknowledgement of the fact that we will one day come face-to-face with God leads us to face reality now in the present. --- Text of chat during the group:  00:08:44 Rachel Pineda: Hi Father and everyone!   00:09:15 Gabby: Hello Father and everyone. From Australia   00:09:33 Edward Kleinguetl: G-day   00:10:18 Ashley Kaschl: Hey, Rachel! 😁 and welcome, Gabby! 👋   00:13:04 Rachel Pineda: Well, this is really timely. 😬   00:17:48 Rachel Pineda: Oh that is such good news!!   00:19:11 Edward Kleinguetl: Abba Isidore   00:45:49 Anthony: To "second" Rachel, the nothingness of the Calvinist/Lutheran is different than the nothingness of the Catholic/Orthodox   00:52:40 Anthony: And the Master is eminently lovable/adorable, so fear distorts perception of the Master, and fear is a liar about the Master   00:54:02 Rachel Pineda: I just have to add that the Father I mentioned is a wonderful self sacrificing priest who regularly preaches on the love and mercy of God. I was only speaking of staying in the negative thoughts alone.   01:07:35 Erick Chastain: Luther was not led to what he did by medieval asceticism in the augustinians. Look at how Thomas a Kempis and the other Devotio Moderna people remained in the Augustinian order and flourished. Indeed, Luther had many problems and fetishes, the chief among them being a truly diabolical pride.   01:16:29 Rachel Pineda: Thank you Father! Thank you everyone!  

Tonight we concluded Letter 70 of Saint Theophan to Anastasia. He speaks to her about the kind of books that she can read, both religious and secular. As with everything, she must  be discriminating and cautious about the things to which she exposes herself; acknowledging that not everything is of equal value and some things can be destructive. She is to be discerning and keep her emphasis on the spiritual life.  If she reads other things they should reveal to her the wisdom of God as seen in the world that he has created.  Moving on to Letter 71, St. Theophan begins to address Anastasia‘s experience of coldness in prayer. He knows that in her youthfulness her experience of prayer has been limited and has been driven mostly by positive emotional experience. This has led her unfortunately to be less vigilant and disciplined. One can become careless and pray hurriedly without guarding the thoughts or embracing the wisdom of the Fathers. She must humbly acknowledge this carelessness or negligence and ask God specifically to help her to begin again.  How true this is often for us as well. Like Anastasia we must often humbly acknowledge before God the ways that we have turned away from him and ask him for forgiveness and the grace to start again. --- 00:12:56 renwitter: 😆😆😆 Mark - your picture 😂   00:13:52 Mark Cummings: Arthropods are underrated   00:14:49 Lyle: P. 276:  “When a benevolently-minded person who has read some story recommends it, you may read it.”  Thank you, Ren and Eric, for suggesting/endorsing - Raniero Can-talamessa’s writings.   00:16:10 Anthony: Internet   00:20:31 carolediclaudio: What page? :)   00:37:39 Lyle: Like her, I neglect to guard my thoughts.   00:38:35 Lyle: Great advice from St. Theophan - “Reprimand yourself, if you will, and threaten yourself with Divine Judgement, and you will begin praying properly.”   00:40:17 Fr. Miron Kerul-Kmec Jr.: St. Silouan - , “Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not”   00:41:02 Anthony: This way we fail at prayer is like thinking prayer is just another activity, I guess, like playing baseball or mowing the lawn.  But it's an activity of a completely different nature.   00:47:30 Edward Kleinguetl: St. Theophan says in the anthology, "The Art of Prayer," we should learn to enjoy prayer.   00:56:22 Edward Kleinguetl: "a sinner" was added later.  The Greeks generally use a shorter form.  The key is consistency and the two components.  Who Jesus is (Son God) and who we are (a sinner).   00:57:07 Edward Kleinguetl: I like the full prayer.  Acknowledging who Jesus is and who we are (a sinner) and what we need (mercy)   00:58:08 Lyle: Amen. Edward.   00:59:22 Edward Kleinguetl: Remember the objective of the prayer -- to still the thoughts.  So, consistency is most important   00:59:50 George: thank you. I know this was a basic question and I appreciate everyone's patience    01:01:50 Edward Kleinguetl: Having consistency assists one to interiorize the prayer more deeply and simply become part of our life.   01:02:33 Edward Kleinguetl: I actually wrote the book because of all these questions.  Same questions as the high school youth have.   01:04:16 Edward Kleinguetl: Remembrance of God   01:06:02 Edward Kleinguetl: We recognize the actions of God in our lives and we respond with gratitude.  We become more attuned to his presence.   01:06:12 Edward Kleinguetl: And previously, we may have missed the subtly of how God reveals himself to us in our daily lives.   01:08:08 Edward Kleinguetl: The Jesus Prayer is the foundation of the spiritual life, but removing it from fasting, ascetical practices, etc. is problematic.  It is a way of life.   01:09:23 Edward Kleinguetl: Eastern Christian spirituality is not just the prayer, but a whole rhythm and the prayer cannot be simply isolated if one wants to gain the fruits . 01:10:30 Anthony: Huh.  Good point, Father.  A good pipe or red wine can bring emotional peace.  Exert consumer choice on that, but find some traditional prayer in which to root.   01:11:52 Edward Kleinguetl: And not just fasting and ascetical practices, but also a practice of repentance (daily examination, regular Sacramental Confession, Eucharist, and sobriety--attentiveness to thoughts)   01:12:57 Lyle: Quoted from:  https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/prayingintherain/2021/11/on-discernment/ “I want to be with people who genuinely feel the struggle for holiness, and want to be helped by each other, under a Priest with a similar imagination.”   01:12:57 Edward Kleinguetl: Bingo!  Some see it as an emotional high and not a rigorous practice.   01:15:24 Rachel: No..not at all   01:18:21 Rachel: Yes!! It was the image of God in the other and staying with Him, in this moment.   01:19:19 Rachel: Stop looking for signs, setting up false idols as you said, ideas of what holiness looks like, Saint Paul said he does not even judge himself.   01:20:07 Anthony: Or. St Thomas Aquinas.  At Liberty University, I just knew him as a great philosopher.  Now, I see him as a friar and the man who wrote Pange Lingua.   01:21:20 Rachel: Yes! Reading the Fathers can be like signposts along the way and you know it when you get there. Oh that is what that sign meant. But not until you get there.   01:22:28 Lyle: Amen, Father.  What a revelation when I was first introduced to "The Fathers".   01:23:02 Edward Kleinguetl: It is not harsh.  It is true.  American is predominantly rooted in the Protestant tradition.   01:24:08 Edward Kleinguetl: It is worth reading John Tracy Ellis's book, "American Catholicism."  Catholics were originally outlawed in the colonies and then went through four major persecutions in US history.   01:25:42 Edward Kleinguetl: "Do not let your hearts be troubled."   01:30:01 Lyle: Never too late!  Foreign?  Perhaps, but beautiful!   01:31:28 Edward Kleinguetl: Vlachos, "Orthodox Psychotherapy"   01:31:50 Fr. Miron Kerul-Kmec Jr.: Great Book!   01:36:12 Rachel: So sorry, I did not mean to imply there is not a place for psychology.🙏🏼   01:37:11 Rachel: LOL I am going to tell my priests Fr, Abernathy said to lower my expectations.   01:37:18 Rachel: Thank you everyone and Father!   01:37:42 carolediclaudio: lol   01:37:43 Cathy: Another wonderful Wednesday! Thank you Father!!!   01:37:50 Mark Cummings: Thank you!   01:38:15 Rachel: I heard Ren makes prayer ropes!? Last meeting.  

Tonight we continued with Hypothesis 13 -  considering once again living a remote life; removing oneself from the things of this world and anything that could arouse the passions. So often we find ourselves walking along the edge of a pit, giving no attention to the nature of our thoughts and where they are leading us. It is only by developing that awareness and drawing closer to God through stillness and simplicity of thought that we become further removed from danger.  Once again we are given stories of those who choose different paths in their lives. What comes through clearly in these stories is that all that is done without clarity about what is within one’s own heart and one’s need for God, all that is done outside of the grace of God is fruitless. We are impotent to change the world much less to change ourselves outside of this relationship. We are all called to enter into the desert.  We are all called to allow the stormy waters to be stilled by Christ in order that we might see not only the truth about our sin but also see the depths of God’s love and mercy. All is Grace and in this alone do we find true comfort and peace. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:20:27 carolnypaver: Page??   00:20:39 carolnypaver: Thank you!   00:22:13 Daniel Allen: What page are we on.   00:22:21 carolnypaver: 112   00:22:29 Daniel Allen: Thank you   00:32:09 Anthony: In the Rule of St. Basil, Basil seems to say "we monks have chosen the easier path to single mindedness, but except to marriage, all of us are called to the same standard of going out of the world"  And he specifically names going out from apostates.   00:39:39 Lyle: What a blessing to hear that.   00:39:49 Anthony: Is sitting before an icon truly like or equivalent to sitting before the Blessed Sacrament?   00:53:02 Justin Massengill : If everyone wouldn't mind, there is a young girl in my neighborhood who was just diagnosed with leukemia. In your charity please pray for her and her family. Her name is Ila.    00:54:08 Lyle: Will add her to my prayer list.  Thanks for sharing.   01:05:21 Justin Massengill : Do the Eastern Fathers and later Byzantine writers ever touch on the phenomena of scrupulosity?   01:11:30 Rachel Pineda: I think Bishop Sheen talks about how one can become very holy, even and perhaps especially, in occupations like a janitor.   01:21:10 Rachel Pineda: Wow!! St. John Climacus, pray for us!   01:23:13 Daniel Allen: “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”  

How I cherish these opportunities to read St. Theophan and to share in the rich of the discussion and joy of the members of the group.  St. Theophan clearly loves his directee, Anastasia, and this transmits  to her and all of us what it is to be in love with Christ and to subordinate all things to Him. Theophan is a true elder if there ever was one! Synopsis: Tonight we concluded Letter 69 with St. Theophan‘s discussion of an evangelical preacher that Anastasia had encountered. Again, he warns her to be discriminating in giving this individual any attention. Despite his stressing the importance of the Holy Spirit, which is indeed true, everything else this man says reveals that he knows absolutely nothing about the Spirit or how the Spirit is received. He lacks a sense of the importance of the experience of God, especially in and through the sacramental life. It is through the holy mysteries that God draws us into his life and enlivens us with his Spirit. To lack these realities, failing to participate in them, is to lack that which is essential.   In letter 70, Theophan continues to discuss with Anastasia the importance of discrimination in regards to reading spiritual books and secular books. He begins with two examples - Saint Anthony the Great and  Saint Seraphim of Sarov. Neither man was well educated in worldly terms but each had a deep experiential knowledge of God. Pursuing only worldly knowledge, Theophan warns Anastasia, can be detrimental. If it pushes out the life of faith and the primacy of the spiritual life, then it is to be removed for it as a threat to our very salvation. If we are “backwards” in the ways of the world what does that matter to us so long as we have Christ?  If we lack many things in this world, including worldly knowledge, but have Christ - we lack nothing! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:09:25 Ashley Kaschl: I have to go 😭 please let me in if I can come back 😂🙏   00:09:34 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: will do!   00:11:10 Anthony: You could make an Old Believer oil lamp.   00:45:07 Anthony: Be backwards.  This is like the great satisfaction craftsmen feel, like in my Blacksmith Guild.  There is something both backwards and deeply fulfilling in the tradition.   00:46:22 renwitter: You can find the first installment in the series here: https://youtu.be/17NVp4h_aJs   00:47:42 Lilly (Canada): Thank you @Ren :)   00:53:41 Anthony: Seeing no sense in religious life was part of the heresy of "Josephism" in the 1700s/1800s. and I think in Jansenism.   00:55:50 Rachel Pineda: That's a much kinder take on .. "but what do you do?' than I had..lol   01:01:36 Anthony: St Francis Xavier   01:04:07 renwitter: Thats just the tuition for a year, not room and board   01:04:31 Fr. Miron Kerul-Kmec Jr.: 😱   01:11:11 Anthony: Talk show host Michael Savage embodied this struggle with Cynicism, and reality.   01:11:38 Eric Williams: An ironic quote from an atheist:  “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” Friedrich Nietzsche   01:19:33 Eric Williams: Church as NGO. Ugh.   01:20:28 George: God bless. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.✌️   01:20:37 Lilly (Canada): Thank you Father   01:20:43 Rachel Pineda: lol   01:20:58 Rachel Pineda: Thank you Father and everyone!   01:21:08 Rachel Pineda: God bless and Happy Thanksgiving.   01:21:09 Ann Grimak: Thank you 🙏 Father   01:21:13 Eric Williams: We're all gluttons! Get thee to confession! ;)   01:22:21 Anthony: Thank you!   01:23:01 sue and mark: God bless you Father.  Will pray for all  

Tonight we continued our discussion of hypothesis 13. The fundamental focus is a turning away from the things of this world; not because they are evil in and of themselves but rather because of our capacity to make them ends in themselves. We can be seduced, as it were, by our own desires or by the evil one into seeking our identity in the things of this world. This can be obvious or ever so subtle, but it has the same effect; we get caught up in what is false and delusional.  To combat this we must avoid certain comforts and avoid the softness to which we tend. The habits that we fall into are only overcome by asceticism - by striving to exercise our faith in such away that it orders our desires and keeps us away from diversions. Asceticism is not simply about self-restraint. It is about removing every impediment to loving God and giving ourselves in love. Thus, Christ himself becomes the standard for us - from his struggle in the desert with the devil to his embrace of the Cross on Mount Calvary.  We must cling to our identity in Christ. We must set aside the false self and live for God who alone satisfies the deepest desires of the human heart. --- Text of chat during the group:  00:01:34 D Fraley: Hello everyone.   00:01:49 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: Navy Dave!   00:17:15 Lilly (Canada): What page are we on?   00:17:38 Fr. Miron Kerul-Kmec Jr.: 110   00:27:46 Anthony: How hard it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?   00:29:39 Justin Massengill : Iv'e heard St Francis described as a western fool-for-Christ.   00:36:26 Anthony: Then it seems to me that a mortal sin happens when the will is fully drawn after errant senses.   00:45:24 Anthony: False truth, false goodness, false beauty   00:46:41 Anthony: Erick, E. Michael Jones has a decent overview of how modern science was partly driven by the drive to pursue magic   01:04:43 Eric Williams: Some monasteries sell coffee beans. ;)   01:05:05 Erick Chastain: Mount athos offers coffee to guests   01:05:28 Eric Williams: There is no field! 😛   01:06:05 Justin Massengill : I heard they don't bathe on Mt Athos    01:13:27 Rachel: Yay! St Gregory!   01:14:21 D Fraley: Thank you Father!   01:14:31 Rachel: Thanks everyone. Good questions and comments!  

Wow!  What a wonderful and spirited discussion tonight!  We certainly approached some topics - both personal and cultural - that were weighty and deserving of extra time and attention.  Thank you all for you great questions and comments as always! Synopsis: Tonight we continued with Letter 69 on depression and fear.  Theophan‘s focus, however, shifts to speaking about things that could possibly draw Anastasia away from the fullness of the faith, make her question her practice of the faith, or the path that she has been set upon.  An old friendship had been broken off. Yet Theophan would not have her try to preserve the relationship at the cost of something greater. Certain relationships falter over time or become toxic. Anastasia should simply be at peace and act charitably towards this past friend, but not seek to immerse herself once again in a relationship that could not bear good fruit.  Likewise, Theophan then began to express his concerns about someone who saw himself as an apostle; one who was evangelical in spirit and who had inserted himself into the Russian culture proclaiming a gospel and a faith of his own; creating something that was disconnected from the lived reality of the Church. For similar reasons, then, Theophan would have her avoid this man at all costs. She had the fullness of the faith as well as the participation in the Holy Mysteries. She should not substitute this for the particular charisms of a single man. Throughout the centuries the church has been attacked by various heresies and she must see her personal spiritual struggle in light of that broader context. --- 00:07:29 FrDavid Abernethy, CO: Starting on page 270 with “That you broke off”   00:11:29 Lyle: Hope everyone had a good week.  I'll be right back.  A stray dog showed up.   00:54:28 Eric Williams: Regarding Christians of separated and deficient sects, perhaps these lines from St John’s gospel apply: “And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.”   01:03:13 Ann Grimak: I am very agree Father   01:15:24 Wayne Mackenzie: gotta go   01:17:46 Ann Grimak: Love is not emotional,love is very deep   01:20:20 renwitter: Also, just want to put out there, for anyone who has not heard of him or read him: If there is interest in reading something that witnesses to, as Father says, a great integration of life in the spirit, as understood in recent times, and faithfulness to the Church, check out Raniero Cantalamessa. He is quite extraordinary, and has been the Preacher to the Papal Household chosen personally by Saint John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. My favorites of his are St. Francis and the Cross, Virginity (not really about virginity, per se, but rather the celibate vocations), and, most relevant to this discussion, Sober Intoxication of the Spirit.   01:21:50 Lyle: Thanks, Ren.   01:23:06 Rachel: Wonderful class! Thank you, God bless everyone. 🙏   01:23:11 Eric Williams: I’ll second that recommendation. I haven’t read those particular books, but the ones I have read have been superb - and short!   01:24:43 Anthony: Msgr. Knox has a good criticism on Enthusiastic movements.  The podcast "Paleocrat Diaries" recently conducted a survey of the book.   01:27:13 renwitter: The full text of the verse:   Though with a scornful wonder  Men see her sore oppressed,  By schisms rent asunder,  By heresies distressed,  Yet saints their watch are keeping;  Their cry goes up, "How long?"  And soon the night of weeping  Shall be the morn of song.   01:28:10 Anthony: Protestantism by nature lacks the standpoint to determine with authority what is heresy; by nature, then, it must, to be consistent, tolerate heresy among itself.   01:44:39 George: a lot of the problems of sectarianism, charismatics, etc which have been discussed tonight could be easily resolved with a greater exercise of the incensive power. far too many profane thoughts, preliminary judgements, ecstatic emotions. it's like a shipwrecked body being dragged down a craggy ravine. the notion of the incensive power is one of the Eastern Church's greatest gifts.   01:45:49 Anthony: St. Theophan's concern regarding the English sectarian reminds me of the great damage to persons' faith done by "Family Radio" for years. That kind of potential damage must be cut off.   01:45:55 Andreea and Anthony: The book from which I read the quotes of the Second Vatican Council, Blessed Pope Paul VI, Pope St. John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI is “Lord Renew Your Wonders: Spiritual Gifts for Today” by Damian Stayne, the founder of the Catholic community Cor et Lumen Christi recognized by the Vatican.   01:46:38 Ann Grimak: Thank you 🙏 Father  

Tonight‘s discussion drew the group into what was more and  more beautiful. Hypothesis 13 is focused upon remoteness; but not simply a physical remoteness - the removing of ourselves from our external realities and circumstances. Rather, it is removing ourselves from our attachment to the things of this world. The Scriptures tell us that he who loves the world is at enmity  with God. As we strive to draw close to God we are led to let go of our attachment not only to the things of this world but to the internal identity that has often been shaped by them. More and more we are to put on the mind of Christ and this means not only dying to sin but to self. Throughout the course of our life we often fashion a false identity. We succumb to the illusion, even in the most subtle of ways, that our lives can be understood outside of the context of our relationship with God as our Creator and Redeemer. The more that we embrace that illusion the more isolated we become from God and one another. We lose a true sense of who we are and our inherent value.  However, God does not abandon us in the state of spiritual sadness but rather enters into it and by His grace draws us to Himself in the most beautiful way. He reveals Himself in our deepest weakness and vulnerability and it is there that we see the depths of His love. Suddenly all that is dark and ugly, all that seems most empty within our hearts, becomes filled with His light and the hope that He alone offers. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:04:53 Rachel Pineda: Hello to the group...cant hear anything as I put it on mute because my Mom showed up for a bit. God bless to all.   00:09:19 Rachel Pineda: Some of my kids want to say hello to the group...we have been listening to the podcasts in the car   00:09:50 D Fraley: I was told there would be snacks.   00:10:13 Rachel Pineda: lol   00:10:58 D Fraley: I have stale pretzels but not enough for everyone.   00:11:11 Rachel Pineda: Prayers!   00:18:19 Anthony: Dante: I found myself in the midday of my life, alone in the dark woods....   00:19:22 Ashley Kaschl: Would this demon of sadness be the noonday devil (Acedia)?   00:20:42 Anthony: Ashley, acedia the closest I can think of to this "feeling," but it sounds a bit different?   00:23:58 Mark J. Kelly: Yes. Acedie is the Noon Day Demon   00:28:17 Anthony: huh.  And on the natural level, don't drink when you are sad.   00:33:23 Mark J. Kelly: Excellent book on Acedia or Spiritual Depression: The Noonday Devil: Acedia, the Unnamed Evil of Our Times. https://www.amazon.com/Noonday-Devil-Acedia-Unnamed-Times/dp/158617939X/   00:43:40 Anthony: If we had Dom Lorenzo Scupoli's attitude, that God is a fire (of love?) and we submit our own fires of atraction and of sin to that fire "of" God, to be taken over by God, we can pass through and from this life more easily.   00:55:23 Ashley Kaschl: Reminds me of a quote by Michael D O’Brien "...This silence before God and man is the presence of being. Such silence speaks! Then when one's spoken words flow, they come from the true heart of one's unique identity. An identity that only the Father in Heaven knows, for it is hidden even from our own eyes." (Island of the World)   00:59:44 Lilly (Toronto, CA): Great books written by JPII about that topic “Man and Woman He Created Them” and “Love and Responsibility” :)   01:01:05 Carol Nypaver: Both are excellent books, Lilly!   01:10:50 Justin Massengill : Gotta go early, see you all on Wednesday, God bless!   01:15:06 Lilly (Toronto, CA): Great question @Rachel and excellent response @Fr David !!   01:21:04 Wayne Mackenzie: gota go   01:24:48 Carol Nypaver: Blessings to you, Father.   01:25:43 Rachel: The group and readings are a blessing. Thank you. Prayers!   01:25:46 D Fraley: Thank you, Father David!  

Tonight we began by reading the last few paragraphs of Letter 68 to Anastasia. Here Saint Theophan tells her that she is to avoid secretiveness in the spiritual life. While privacy is certainly to be valued, in the spiritual life the revelation of one’s thoughts to one’s Confessor or Spiritual Director becomes essential. The evil one through illusory qualities leads us into deception and confuses our affairs. He watches and examines all that we think and do and, at times, even seeks to use suggestions that are good to disguise his provocations. Theophan tells Anastasia that reason alone will ultimately fail her and the evil one will seek to insert his own advice to muddy the waters and to lead her down a path that is not from God. Mistakes, he tells her, will surely come; but they will also show her how to act correctly the next time.  Moving forward to Letter 69, we find Theophan addressing a ubiquitous reality for us as human beings; the struggle with depression and fear. Surprised that Anastasia is experiencing such things, Theophan asks her to examine her life. Is she living close to God, is she seeking to please him in every way?  It is in doing so that she will root herself in enduring peace.  He goes on to discuss some of the causes of depression. Amusements, while they may be a gift from God and innocent can be destructive if they are not embraced in moderation. Furthermore, if they are too pleasant they will be unable to content the heart or we will be tempted to seek fulfillment within them. We must be very clear about the goal of life that we have chosen for ourselves and that it always remains in force. God is asking for our hearts and the heart desires God. We are made for Him and can only find true peace by living within Him. Without God our hearts are never satisfied; they are always bored and so we must examine ourselves from this aspect. When we do so, perhaps then we will find the door to peace. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:17:17 Rachel: 😬   00:31:55 Anthony: "Let us entrust ourselves and one another and our whole lives to Christ our God." "To You O Lord." ~Liturgy of St John Chrysostom   00:37:45 Rachel: I love how he doesn't seem to spell it out for her...he proposes a question, for her to ponder.   00:49:17 Ashley Kaschl: This is especially why we shouldn’t flirt to convert 😂   00:50:20 renwitter: Is that advice from experience, Ashley? 😉😂   00:51:38 Ashley Kaschl: Second hand 😂 I ain’t got time for that   00:53:47 Lilly (Toronto, CA): Lol Ashley. Same girl, same. God totally fills that void. :)   00:57:09 renwitter: The flirting void? 🧐 Hey! He’s never flirted with me 😉. Or are you flirting with Him? Batting your eyelashes at Him in Adoration, eh?   00:57:34 Lilly (Toronto, CA): Lol Ren.   00:58:40 Wayne Mackenzie: no sense of sacrice   01:00:29 Joseph Muir: A lot of younger people come from such broken family backgrounds that they don’t know what a healthy relationship is or what it should look like, and thus don’t know how to pursue or maintain a healthy relationship.   I’m not making excuses, per se, as some of it does stem from narcissism and/or bankrupt worldviews; but, many are truly aching for love in an authentic sense, yet haven’t a clue as to how seek it out   01:00:39 Lilly (Toronto, CA): Totes jealous of all that time you spend with Him at Adoration ;)   01:04:36 Anthony: I've studies the Stoics and am studying their predecessors, the Cynics.  The Fathers, in their humility, in their cosmology, are definitely not either; they do incorporate some sense of virtue and of being the fool, but they purify those themes.   01:05:13 Lilly (Toronto, CA): 100% agree with you Joseph. Next generation is even more broken, being taught such sad ideas of what love is   01:06:54 Lilly (Toronto, CA): Thankful for Everyone’s prayers, by the way. Blessed to be back. :)   01:08:20 Wayne Mackenzie: Well their sense of love is not grounded in anything.   01:11:44 Wayne Mackenzie: Further to Joseph's comments...want the pleasure without responsibility   01:17:01 Lilly (Toronto, CA): Wayne…exactly :(   01:18:33 iPhone: ideally, we would have the log removed from our eye before we enter marriage.   01:19:10 Joseph Muir: While I don’t entirely disagree, in regards to being empathetic, with divorce rates being firmly north of 50%, with many people being divorced multiple times, how can children from these parents learn or know what an authentic, healthy relationship is?   Again, I don’t say any of this to excuse things that are outright wrong, and there certainly are promiscuous people who “want the pleasure without responsibility” (I was once one of these people)   01:20:31 iPhone: truly understanding it as a blessed sacrament and living that way is beautiful but the sacramental truth has been lost on most.   01:20:41 Amber Hackiewicz: Glory to God for All Things is a wonderful akathist written by a priest when in a prison camp. It is a wonderful meditation to do and a wonderful thing to pray to put ourselves back into perspective to where we fit in the world. It brings humility back to the soul in a prideful world.   http://www.saintjonah.org/services/thanksgiving.htm   01:21:57 renwitter: “Bless you prison, bless you for being in my life. For there, lying upon the rotting prison straw, I came to realize that the object of life is not prosperity as we are made to believe, but the maturity of the human soul.”   01:22:07 renwitter: - Solzhenitsyn   01:22:58 iPhone: beautiful - thank you   01:23:38 Lyle: Thanks to the Canadians (at least 30,000) who volunteered to serve in the American armed forces during the Vietnam war. At least 134 Canadians died or were reported missing in Vietnam.     Don’t forget to “Hug” a Marine today – their 246st Birthday.   01:23:40 Ann Grimak: Thank you so much Father   01:23:49 Amber Hackiewicz: Thank you Father!   01:24:27 Lilly (Toronto, CA): Thanks Lyle. Happy Remembrance Day!   01:25:03 Anthony: An Italo-Greek!   01:25:06 Rachel: I don't really want to talk about depression and anxiety though... 😄   01:25:18 Rachel: Thank you!! God bless :)   01:25:43 Eric Williams: Now we just need Fr David to make the Pittsburgh Oratory bi-ritual .:)   01:26:22 Amber Hackiewicz: As an (almost) Greek Catholic, this makes me happy (:   01:26:29 Rachel: Our Greek Melkite priest here is from Italo Greek heritage.. such an intense and wonderful personality.   01:26:58 Rachel: My kids are scandalized by the group wondering why I didn't get my turn if you all are still talking lol   01:27:01 George: Thanks Father.