Philokalia Ministries

We come to the end of this journey with St John Climacus knowing that it is also only the beginning. What joy has come through sitting at the feet of St. John for these few years and to be led along the path that brings us to Christ and the freedom to give ourselves in love and receive love.  In these final paragraphs about the qualities and the responsibilities of a spiritual elder, what shines forth most brightly is the absolute and complete love that the elder must have for those in his care. The love of Christ that burns within his heart must embrace and give warmth to all those he guides and be a true source of light for them. There are times where he may have to be strict and forceful yet the love dwells within his heart, like divine love, is curative not punitive. Divine love offers itself completely, lavishly, allowing itself to be broken and poured out for others. Thus, the elder must have ever before him those in his charge; so much so that purity of heart allows him to see their needs and suffering and compels him to come to their aid.  There will be many times when he must carry those in his charge to the Lord through his own example, his hidden sufferings and constant prayer. Like a parent, there will be moments when he must take them by the hand and guide them one step at a time along the narrow path that leads to the kingdom. Despite the fact that the kingdom of heaven dwells within us, the journey is often toilsome.  Left to ourselves, we may never find the narrow gate or enter.  The elder must be long suffering; that when the lack of dispassion in others pierces his heart like a sword his response is like the Divine Judge - restraining himself and looking at others only with compassion. He must be willing to receive and take up upon his shoulders of the burden of his office as Christ took upon himself the burden of the cross and he must not despise the wounds that may come through rejection and betrayal. The elder’s love must run so deep that intuitively he knows the sufferings of those in his care even before they speak of them to him. Without hesitation and quickly, he seeks to apply the healing balm.  And perhaps most powerful and beautiful of all - - in the end, the elder must acknowledge that he must decrease in order that Christ might increase within his children’s hearts. There will come a time when they no longer need human instruction because they have given their hearts to the Lord and are guided by His Spirit. Blessed are those who bring others to Christ and whose guidance passes on from generation to generation. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:12:41 Bob Cihak: P. 260, # 89 00:17:46 Anna Lalonde: It was a complete blessing the four months I was in religious life! Transformed my prayer life. 00:19:12 Joanne Martínez : Joanne Martínez here, just signed on 00:19:55 Bob Cihak: P. 260, # 89 00:20:13 Joanne Martínez : Reacted to "P. 260, # 89" with 👌 00:31:14 Kate : In order to be broken and poured out in love for others, does it necessitate allowing ourselves to be broken first by God, so to speak, and to have received the Love of God poured into us? 00:31:58 Rebecca Thérèse: Nathan 00:32:59 Jeffrey Ott: The daily meditation of Gaston Courtois was on that very thing…profiting first from God’s love so that we may reveal that love to the multitude of other souls 00:33:58 Tracey Fredman: Sometimes willingly pouring ourselves out for others is the way we are broken by God, particularly when we don't feel like doing whatever it is for others whether in ministry or simply serving another. 00:44:53 Joanne Martínez : In reading about the lengths to which the people of Mesoamerica went to receive baptism after the apparition of Guadalupe, I have a new understanding of the gift that sacrament truly is 00:57:21 Maureen Cunningham: There is a short you tube called  The 21 remembering Martyrs who died in February 2015. The faith of  these men  was moving 01:01:58 Anna Lalonde: Fostered about 130 teens. 😂 01:22:16 Sr. Mary Clare: That is certainly a love that is not possessive 01:22:58 Joanne Martínez : Thank you! These last two years journeying with you all has been extraordinary. 01:23:02 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You Father 01:23:55 Zachary Morgan: This was wonderful - thank you Abouna! 01:24:37 Sr. Mary Clare: Beautiful 01:24:40 Janine: Thank you Father Charbel…looking forward to St Isaac 01:24:43 Jeffrey Ott: It’s been a joy. Thank you Father. 01:24:52 Lee Graham: Thank you, this has been wonderful 01:25:42 ANDREW ADAMS: Thanks be to God! Thank you, Father! 01:25:45 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂 01:25:45 David: Thank you Father God Bless you and your Mom! 01:25:58 Art: Thank you for this wonderful journey with John Climacus! 01:26:08 Cindy Moran: Than you Father

The discussion tackles the timeless struggle with lust and the importance of guarding one’s senses against temptation. Insightful teachings from Saint Isaiah and St. John Cassian emphasize the necessity of mental and spiritual vigilance. Listeners learn that true growth requires humility, prayer, and fasting, transforming inner character over mere appearances. The insights delve into the interplay of memory, imagination, and how yielding to temptation affects the soul. Ultimately, a strong connection with God through vigilant prayer is highlighted as central to overcoming life's challenges.

St. John does not hesitate to speak to us about the beauty and the extraordinary responsibility of the spiritual elder. To find oneself with the care of souls one must take up the work without question. One cannot approach the care of the flock as a hireling. As we have received so we must give. If God has given us the particular gifts to guide others in the spiritual life, then gratitude must compel us to offer the same consolation to others.  One cannot stress enough how great the responsibility is that is placed on the shoulders of the elder. He must be especially sensitive to the most vulnerable and the weakest within the community and understand how to offer guidance to multiple individuals at the same time. He must be able to strengthen the resolve of all the men in his community through timely rebukes and humbling the stronger members of the community even though their actions do not warrant such correction. An elder cannot set aside his identity, even while always seeking to be tender and gentle with those in his care. They must respect him and his life must be respectable in regard to his virtue if they are going to follow his counsel and if they are going to remain obedient. Only in this way will his monks have absolute confidence in his guidance.  He must hold their trust by also holding everything they say as private and not to be shared among others. Such trust is hard won and can be lost in an instant if the elder acts indiscriminately. While he is forbearing, he must deal directly with the disobedient. His failure to do so may, in the end, weaken their commitment or cause them to despise him when they are unable to endure. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:09:32 Adam Paige: https://youtu.be/0uBTKGd3L_g?si=1t1YtY9_ACx02Pd7 00:10:54 Suzanne Romano: Thank you, Adam! That's it! 00:11:44 Zachary Morgan: I love your substack!! 00:12:04 Jacqulyn: Reacted to "I love your substack..." with 👍 00:12:20 Adam Paige: Reacted to "Thank you, Adam! Tha…" with 📽 00:12:33 Una: Reacted to "I love your substa..." with 👍 00:13:44 Zachary Morgan: I find that substack is more for other writers/contributors outside the now-prevalent "shorts" we see on other platforms 00:33:49 Anthony: I think this is helpful.  When I'd read something like Desert Fathers and come across confessing thoughts, I thought it was literal. 00:53:50 Zachary Morgan: Speaking of openly wearing clerical garb, one of the biggest arguments that I have experienced among clergy is whether deacons should wear their clerics openly because not being a priest, they shoudn't be seen in "spiritual way" in public or be confused as potentially being a priest by others - almost as if the Deacon cannot be a source of spiritual good outside the service of the altar.  Can I ask what your thoughts are on this?  I think it is much more of a Western struggle. 00:58:25 Margaret: Thank you for your comments on Priests and Sisters wearing their clerical garb in public. I bristle when I see sisters that aren't in "clerical garb". It makes me think they are ashamed to be Brides of Christ 00:59:47 Suzanne Romano: It's not rigidity. It's zeal and lov ae. 01:02:05 Sr. Mary Clare: When I walked into a store with another sister, two Protestants said, "What a breath of fresh air to see Catholic Sisters wearing their long garb. We have seen them running down the street in shorts. We just smiled. 01:02:18 Suzanne Romano: All your comments on wearing the habit are spot on! 01:03:23 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "All your comments on..." with 🥰 01:03:49 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "When I walked into a..." with 👍🏼 01:04:09 Suzanne Romano: Reacted to When I walked into a... with "👍🏼" 01:07:38 Sr. Mary Clare: Why "Fear in our presence?" 01:09:53 Sr. Mary Clare: Thank you for explaining. I was a little confused 01:12:40 Sr. Mary Clare: Absolutely correct! 01:14:00 Suzanne Romano: Love cannot be divided from authority. Love requires authority. 01:20:16 Una: Reacted to "When I walked into..." with 👍🏼 01:20:20 Maureen Cunningham: Thank you Father 01:21:03 ANDREW ADAMS: Thank you, Father! 01:21:05 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂 01:21:15 Margaret: Thank you! 01:21:46 Jeffrey Ott: Thank you! Great to be with you all!

Explore the vital connection between practice and faith, emphasizing that true spiritual life is grounded in experience rather than intellect. Saint Ephraim the Syrian's insights reveal the dangers of temptation and the importance of remaining vigilant against sinful urges. The discussion delves into the emotional struggles of personal sacrifice, urging humility and prayer as defenses against temptation. Additionally, it highlights the urgency of fostering spiritual focus and guiding the younger generation in navigating their faith amidst worldly distractions.

I was struck this evening not only with the wisdom of St. John’s counsel in regard to the care of souls, but also the beauty of the heart of the Shepherd that emerges as we read through the text. Only a heart that has been conformed to Christ and a life that in every way has become prophetic in the sense of bearing witness to the love, humility, and obedience of the kingdom can give itself over to the care of other souls. The role of an elder is not simply to instruct, reprove and guide but above all to love. His affection for those in his care as well as for all people must lead him to console others as he himself has been consoled. He approaches this reality not with a spirit of condescension but rather as one who has been humbled by life and his own poverty and lifted up by the mercy of Christ. It is a spirit of gratitude that leads him to enter into the struggle of others with a spirit of generosity. He feels no revulsion at the sight of sin or weakness. Rather, it draws his attention and draws forth from his heart, compassion and mercy.  One of the most striking things we considered this evening was the nature of obedience. St. John tells us that it is the very definition of obedience to be fearless and to have no anxiety about anything at all. The truly obedient heart of an elder can calmly guide, direct, and comfort others without saying a single word. It is this reality that we are to embody in our lives; whether priest, religious, married or single. The best and the beautiful are meant for all and that which comes to us from the hand of our Lord must be freely extended to others. Thus, to have the care of souls is part of the very nature of Christian life. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:08:38 Bob Cihak: P. 257, # 64 00:15:03 Wayne: The idea of repentance is the major focus of the Eastern practise. 00:21:51 Myles Davidson: "Flee from discussions of dogma as from an unruly lion" St. Isaac the Syrian 00:23:43 Bob Cihak: Reacted to ""Flee from discussio..." with 👍 00:31:34 Daniel Allen: That’s the best definition I’ve ever heard of obedience. Applicable even to mundane things, unafraid of the death of the ego in order to obey on a whim. 00:32:00 David: Obedience is often faith and humbling of the intellect. What one believes can be based on feelings what one knows is very little 00:33:06 Anthony: An acquaintance told me theology is or should be like chemistry: predictable,  according to something like law.   I think it's more like cooking: the artful and beautiful and surprising use of "chemistry" without necessarily "knowing" the "rules" in depth. 00:36:58 Sr Barbara Jean Mihalchick: I often find myself rejoicing as I do physical labor that because of my religious vows/dedicated life, even cleaning offers worship to God! 00:37:39 Suzanne Romano: Reacted to I often find myself ... with "❤️" 00:40:19 David: Reacted to "I often find myself ..." with 👍 00:41:48 Rebecca Thérèse: Reacted to "I often find myself ..." with 👍 00:42:10 Lee Graham: Reacted to "I often find myself …" with ❤️ 00:44:44 Thomas Dilts: For me, Brother Lawrence best demonstrated day to day labors as service to God. 00:50:21 St. Stanislaus Kostka Religious Education: St. Andre Bessette...sickly and poor, orphaned and seemingly of a lower intellect 00:53:21 Adam Paige: All the T’s are pronounced in Bessette 00:53:30 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "All the T’s are pron..." with 👍🏼 00:53:37 Anthony: It maybe would be good to have a "Sons / Daughters of the Covenant" arrangement of single people to live within and among parishes. 00:54:44 Adam Paige: Pronounced like “buh-set”. We call him Saint Brother André locally (I live a 40 minutes walk from his tomb) 00:59:35 Anthony: In the Gospel,  Jesus told a demonic Not to be a "traditional disciple" but sent him on his own mission among his peopl. 01:00:43 David: A convent I used to visit in Tlaxcala Mexico used to put a mirror in every room and waited till anyone that came asked for it to be removed as a sign they were ready to actually leave vanity and focus on Christ.  I was really stuck by something that simple being used with novices. 01:03:39 Bob Cihak: Be careful about mud huts. My father was born in one. My uncle Frank lived in a mud hut when he got his own lad to farm. When he married, he built and outhouse so that his new wife wouldn't have to go to nature to do those natural things. 01:09:52 paul g.: My birthday is Feb 4th too😊. 01:10:13 Suzanne Romano: I was baptized on Feb 4! 01:10:20 Francisco Ingham: We love you Father 01:10:25 Anthony: ❤️ 01:10:28 Francisco Ingham: You are the absolute best 01:11:11 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂 01:11:17 Jeffrey Ott: Thank you! Great to be with you all 01:11:21 David: Bless you father and your Mom! 01:11:21 Mary Clare Wax: thank you 01:11:28 David: Thank you 01:11:29 Art iPhone: Welcome all  

The struggle against impurity and fornication in today's world demands a deep commitment to asceticism and constant prayer. Insights from church fathers reveal how the devil manipulates desires, urging vigilance and self-denial. Listeners are reminded of life’s temporality, as fleeting beauty can lead to destructive passions. The conversation highlights the importance of pursuing spiritual fulfillment through love for God while resisting worldly distractions. Embracing the present with grace and gratitude is vital for fostering spiritual growth.

The counsel and the guidance that St. John offers in this letter is unparalleled. His understanding of the role of the spiritual elder and the nature and manner of engaging those in his responsibility is deep and astute, both psychologically and spiritually. Yet what stands out the most in this letter is the dynamic that must exist between the spiritual elder and those in his care. The Abbot or the elder could never be described as an administrator or a master platoon leader in the military. Simply put, he is to be an embodiment of Christ to those in his care, being willing to lay down his life on their behalf. It is crucified love that saves and redeems us, and it is the same love that must guide the words and actions of one who has been given the responsibility for the care of others. What drives the heart of such an elder is the understanding of the care that he himself has been given, the consolation that God has offered to him. These realities move him to share what he himself has received an abundance. In fact to fail to do so is a reflection of a lack of charity as well as gratitude. By nature, a spiritual elder longs to help those in his care to avoid the pitfalls that the Evil One places before them in the spiritual life. He must be sensitive to the most subtle movements among the members of his community and the spirit that is manifesting itself among them.  Likewise, driven by love he must foster a sense of generosity between the members of the community and those in his care. He cannot allow himself the luxury of treating everyone the same - any more than a parent addresses the needs of their children in a mechanical fashion. St. John tells us “the overseers must heed to the sowing of the seed: to the season, person, quality, and quantity.” The elder must nurture and nourish as need demands. And finally, the one who does this in the fullest measure acts in a hidden fashion so that all glory and gratitude is directed toward God.  May God give us such faithful shepherds! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:10:09 Suzanne Romano: I just this minute received word that Bishop Richard Williamson passed away this evening. Please pray for his immortal soul. 00:10:54 Anna Lalonde: Are you moving there? 00:11:06 Anna Lalonde: In California 00:11:23 Anna Lalonde: Awesome 00:16:20 David: One thing I like about my Dad who keeps a saying from my Grandfather is when someone says thank you. He always says No thank God I am able. A small detail but I have come to appreciate it more with age and now do the same 00:23:04 Zachary Morgan: alhamdulilah! 00:39:34 Anthony: This relationship of shepherd to sheep reminds me of the "royal priesthood" described by St Ephrem in The Cave of Treasures.  Adam and his successor priest-kings on the mount of paradise took the care of all the faithful in their hands....until the numbers of faithful dwelling on the mountain dwindled, going into the plain and mingling with Cain's people.....and then God sent the Flood. 00:40:09 David: When I taught at a catholic school in Spain one of my mentors used to say there two types of teachers: One that seeks control and power and the other is one who learns more than the students about himself and faith. 00:51:50 Joseph Muir: For those who don’t have the book, the two quotes at the end of the last paragraph come from the prophets Jeremiah and Obadiah, respectively 00:54:57 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "For those who don’t ..." with 👍🏼 01:10:47 Anthony: That was the training at my Evangelical university. It's hard to break. 01:10:52 David: It's interesting you look at the early church and people were attracted by love. No where does it say a great Proof or having the best arguement, theology or put people in their place 01:12:11 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You Father Blessing 01:12:46 ANDREW ADAMS: Thank you, Father! 01:12:54 Zachary Morgan: Thank you Abouna! 01:13:02 Jeffrey Ott: Thank you! Great to be with you all. 01:13:19 Francisco Ingham: Thank you father!! I hope I can go visit the monastery some day 🙏 01:13:22 David: Thank you father and blessings to you and your Mom 01:13:27 Art: Thank you Father!

We have continued our discussion of the farhers’ writing on fornication and the effects that it has upon the soul. Purity of heart is the foundation of the spiritual life and the immediate goal. We are called to remove every impediment that prevents us from not only receiving the grace of God but from offering him our hearts and our love fully.  In fact, our hearts can be divided, and this is exactly what the demons seek to accomplish. They know they have a strong bodily appetite and desire that they can stir up through our thoughts and images, words and the actions, and the presence of others. Even memories of conversations and the images of people from the past can be used against us in more vulnerable moments to lead us astray. Holiness and purity is not something that one can judge from external realities. Even the most holy individual who seems to be most endowed with gifts from God can have a heart that is radically divided and even wholly given over to the spirit of fornication. To lack watchfulness in this regard opens one up to the experience of obsession. It does not take more than one instance of infidelity to open the door to taking another step in that direction where obsession can become oppression. Fornication can take hold of the mind and the heart with a fierce grip. Finally oppression can give way to possession where the demon of fornication takes hold of one’s life and darkens their heart completely.  Disconnected from the wisdom of the father’s we find the counsel of our day much akin to self-help.  Such counsel sad leads a person more deeply into the obsession that wounds them. Under the false guise of prudence and wisdom there’s often deep foolishness that leads an individual to put himself and God to the test. The discipline and watchfulness the father‘s put forward would often be dismissed in our day as scrupulosity or unhealthy. Yet the Saints knew and understood what is precious and what must be protected. Unless one loves virtue and has tasted the sweetness that it brings to one’s life one will easily walk away from it. I might hazard to say that very few of our generation know the kind of purity of heart of which the fathers speak and to which we are called. Our culture has become so permeated with disordered sensuality that our love for the virtue of purity has been compromised as well as our capacity to pursue it. Only radical humility and clinging to the grace of God can aid us. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:04:28 Sr. Charista Maria: Fr. what community? 00:05:24 ANDREW ADAMS: Replying to "Fr. what community?" https://www.monksofmttabor.com 00:41:37 Rachel: I think this is very important. fwiw not scrupulous at all 00:42:23 Myles Davidson: Replying to "I think this is very..." I agree 00:44:16 Mary Clare Wax: Very well said! Thank you! 00:44:33 Forrest Cavalier: Attributed to St Alphonsus: “To avoid the sight of dangerous objects, the saints were accustomed to keep their eyes almost continually fixed on the earth, and to abstain even from looking at innocent objects,” says St. Alphonsus de Liguori. 00:45:35 Forrest Cavalier: There are many times I need to do this, in Sheetz. Or Walmart. Or wherever 00:53:34 Una: What exactly does she mean by prudent? Is there another word? 00:55:21 Forrest Cavalier: Greek is σωφροσύνην 00:55:37 Forrest Cavalier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophrosyne 00:58:16 Una: What would the nuns have been leaving the convent for? Shopping? Visiting? 01:00:42 Una: One priest told me that in seminary he was advised to visit his family regularly to protect temptations against chastity 01:00:56 Una: To avoid too much lonliness 01:01:31 Sr. Charista Maria: Father I would like your thoughts if you are familiar with the story of Bishop Nonnis in the book: Harlots of the Desert, by Benedicta Ward? She shares of the beauty of the Harlot Pelagia, and Bishop Nonnis was so struck by her beauty that it led him to pray for her, and she converted. I happened to just read this on the Feast of St. Anthony. 01:03:07 Mary Clare Wax: Reacted to "Father I would like ..." with 👍 01:03:43 Una: I'm reading Harlots of the Desert too! 01:03:52 Una: One potato chip, yeah 01:04:25 Sr. Charista Maria: Reacted to "I'm reading Harlots ..." with 👏 01:05:01 Una: Today's gospel was about not dividing the Kingdom. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand 01:06:19 Mary Clare Wax: The other clergy turned their eyes away from Pelagia, but Bishop Nonnis looked at her with love. 01:07:24 Anna Lalonde: Seeking prayers... Incense is gravely affecting my health after BioLab chemical fire exposure in September. 01:13:09 Sr. Charista Maria: Father I love your sharing on "oh I just want to watch a movie" or the like. It is so important to recognize the weaknesses of the flesh in order to be on guard against them when they surface. 01:14:46 Una: Or going to movies often 01:14:58 Sr. Charista Maria: Agreed regarding not escaping into family visits. It is such a grace to invite Jesus into the loneliness 01:15:43 Mary Clare Wax: Such jewels from the desert Fathers! 01:15:49 santiagobua: Thank you Father!! 01:15:51 ANDREW ADAMS: Thank you, Father! 01:15:52 Rachel: Thank you 01:15:52 Josh: Thanks father 01:16:16 Troy Amaro: Thank You Father

The deeper that we go into this letter, the more we begin to see the necessary qualities of an elder. In our society, we often value what seems to be productive. Yet what St. John emphasizes is the heart of the elder. One cannot offer care to another soul unless they have struggled long and hard with their own passions and are able to look at those who come to them through the lens of compassion, humility, and the love of Christ.  Repeatedly, we are shown the care that the elder must exhibit in his approach to those who come to him. He cannot be easily agitated when anger or hostility are directed toward him. Nor can he show disgust at the past or present behavior of another. He does not condescend, but rather makes himself the servant of one like himself – one who knows the deep wounds of sin; often wounds that are self inflicted.  Therefore, John tells us it is not right for a lion to pasture sheep, and it is not safe for a man who is still subject to the passions to rule over passionate men. One who does not seek to tend to the wounded, but rather to rule - one who does not seek to lead by example, but rather instruct with force - is going to be a gross distortion of the image of Christ. The elder must have the greatest sensitivity to the needs and the struggles of those who come to him, realizing that there is great variety and difference between individuals. Thus, an elder must be the most obedient and humble of souls; that is, he must have a refined ability to hear the truth, to hear the word of God spoken in his heart, and he must possess discernment that is born of humility. An elder can only see in others what he has contemplated in himself.  His awareness of the wounds that others bear only help him to understand that they are his responsibility. He approaches others not in a detached fashion, but as one who shares deeply in their sorrow and desires their healing as he desires his own. In this, St. John tells us Christ is the standard. The elder must receive all that is thrust upon him with the same selfless love that we witness on the cross. It is here that we begin to understand that John is not simply speaking about monks. He speaks to all of us and the necessity of taking Christ at his word; to love others as he has loved us, to be willing to lay down our lives for others, including those who treat us like enemies. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:09:11 Anna Lalonde: Pray because I was just anointed. Been not well since late Sept. 00:10:02 Janine: Yes Anna…I will pray for you! 00:10:09 Bob Cihak, AZ: Replying to "Pray because I was j..." Will do. God bless you. 00:10:50 Rebecca Thérèse: Reacted to "Pray because I was j..." with 🙏 00:11:18 Suzanne Romano: Happy Feast of St  Paul, Proto Hermit!!! 00:12:50 Anna Lalonde: What's your special day Father? 00:13:09 Tracey Fredman: Reacted to "Pray because I was j..." with 🙏 00:13:53 Anna Lalonde: Yes a BioLab Chemical Fire happened Sept 30. That caused me life threatening health issues in my lungs. So thanks for prayers. 00:14:12 Anna Lalonde: Congratulations! 00:15:16 Suzanne Romano: Maybe St. Paul is responsible for your love of the Desert Fathers! 😇 00:15:18 Bob Cihak, AZ: P. 254, # 44 00:16:16 Eric Ewanco: what step are we on, and what's the lede to the paragraph? 00:16:38 Myles Davidson: Replying to "what step are we on,..." P. 254, # 44 00:16:50 Eric Ewanco: Replying to "what step are we on,..." I don't have that book. 00:18:05 Bob Cihak, AZ: Replying to "what step are we on,..." Lede: Let the established order... 00:18:38 Bob Cihak, AZ: Replying to "what step are we on,..." of To the Shepherd 00:32:28 Anthony: Gamal Nasser? 00:32:50 Art: Edi Amin? 00:32:50 Myles Davidson: Mubarak? 00:33:03 Adam Paige: Hosni Mubarak ? 00:34:08 Adam Paige: The Life of Repentance and Purity (Pope Shenouda) pdf http://stphilopateerdallas.org/The%20Life%20of%20Repentance%20and%20Purity%20-%20HH%20Pope%20Shenouda%20III.pdf 00:41:23 David: Without detachment of the world we cannot even glimpse heaven. 00:42:01 David: I can't remember the saint that said that but when I looked for a spiritual director someone told me look for detachments first. 00:58:40 David: I love the saying of Mother Teresa- We are all pencils in the hand of God. 01:05:08 David: I have on my bedroom door a saying Fr. George Maloney had which is really hard to practice every day- In loving one another God in us is made flesh. I try to keep this in mind but as the day goes on I sometimes get lost. 01:06:11 Daniel Allen: Terrifying thought… what if instead of the explanations we give or hear to make the gospel more approachable, what if Christ meant the things He said? That’s the most terrifying thought because who really has embodied that? And yet that’s what we’re called to. 01:09:20 Anna Lalonde: Reacted to Terrifying thought… ... with "❤️" 01:11:24 Eric Ewanco: yes 01:15:00 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you. Have a good retreat🙂🙏 01:15:46 ANDREW ADAMS: Thank you, Father! Have a good time with the monks! 01:15:48 MOME hermits: Excellent!!!! 01:15:52 Suzanne Romano: Thank you! 01:16:14 Anna Lalonde: Yes 01:16:16 David: Thank you very much Father. Isaac is worth the wait 01:16:19 Vanessa: i'm fine with that 01:16:21 Jeff O.: happy to finish this! 01:16:22 Lori Hatala: yes comtinue 01:16:23 MOME hermits: Continue 01:16:26 David: Not in our time but God's Time 01:16:27 Janine: Yes…continue with it.. 01:16:28 Art: I’m fine with that. 01:16:29 ANDREW ADAMS: I’m good with whatever the group prefers. 01:16:33 Kate : Please continue! 01:16:40 Eric Ewanco: I'm fine finishing it FWIW 01:16:41 Bob Cihak, AZ: Preach it, Father. 01:16:42 Adam Paige: It’s worthwhile to take the time to complete Climacus 01:16:43 Jessica Imanaka: Makes sense to complete it. 01:16:43 Anthony: Isaac's waited 1500 years to talk to me, he can wait a bit more :) 01:16:46 Lee Graham: Yes, finish it up 01:16:48 Jeff O.: Thank you! 01:16:50 Leilani Nemeroff: Thank you! 01:16:50 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father!  

The discussion sparks a revolutionary view on how secular culture infiltrates the Church, challenging our understanding of the Gospel. It delves into the dangers of fornication and the call for purity of heart, linking personal integrity to spiritual well-being. The importance of family in shaping moral values is highlighted against today's cultural backdrop. The transformative power of Christ's love is emphasized, urging listeners to align their desires with divine love. Community support and the emotional intensity of spiritual experiences play crucial roles in personal growth.