An Intellectualist Understanding of the Relationship Between Theology and the Spiritual Life

Mysticism and infused contemplation transcend theology and dogma, but they neither contradict nor nullify it. The mind & will must be nurtured on the milk of theo/dogma before passing to the solid food of contemplation. If not, one will read the mystics but not truly grow.

— Taylor Patrick O'Neill (@thomaesplendor) July 11, 2022

Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus

For "anyone looking for particularly Western traditional expressions of the devotion to the name of Jesus, and the power of prayer in his holy name."https://t.co/zR0ygOEJbi

— Akenside Institute for English Spirituality (@AkensideInst) July 1, 2022

Reacting Against the Pope's Reaction Against "Legalism"

"If you love Me, keep My commandments."
Love and precepts go together. God knew we need instructions on how to be happy here on earth and be a good neighbor, unto eternal life. https://t.co/TTn1Tn67RQ

— Dr. Maike Hickson (@HicksonMaike) October 20, 2021

The Ethical Discourses

The treatises on the mystical life, usually rendered as The Ethical Discourses, comprise St Symeon's most extensive treatment of the experience of God. Volume I selects those treatises devoted to the Church, the sacraments and the last things. Buy now: https://t.co/BWkFHLknWd pic.twitter.com/m8wvLeuUye

— SVS Press (@SVSPress) October 18, 2021

This is the second of a three-volume series translating The Ethical Discourses into English for the first time. In this collection he addresses the traditional language of Eastern Christian asceticism in the light of his message. Buy now: https://t.co/Z3bh7csVYL pic.twitter.com/qXwn6vZ1mH

— SVS Press (@SVSPress) October 19, 2021

Evagrius on the True Theologian

🙏 Evagrius was born around 345 in the Iberian fortress of Pontus, being the son of the local bishop.
⛪ He was ordained a reader by Saint Basil the Great and a deacon by Saint Gregory the Theologian.
✝ He died in 399, at the age of 54, after more than 15 years of hardship. pic.twitter.com/ZhG7fiAKC2

— Basilica.ro (EN) (@BasilicaNews) August 31, 2021

"Blessed Are You O Lord, Teach Me Your Commandments"

"There is nothing automatic or magical about the Jesus Prayer. If we do not strive to obey God's commandments, calling upon God's name will be in vain." -St. Sophrony (On Prayer, 137) pic.twitter.com/XjWn6ppOzL

— Perry Hamalis (@pthamalis) July 23, 2021

Mt. Athos

Mt. Athos Isn’t About Geography—It’s About a State of Hearthttps://t.co/wYBcJ546mG

This mysterious life of the Spirit is open not only to those who reside on Holy Mount Athos. pic.twitter.com/yMsbzVamB7

— Orthodox Christianity (@Orthodoxy2019) July 19, 2021

The Forms of Prayer?

Saint Paisios: “Glory be to God” is superior to “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” #orthodox_times https://t.co/sZB7qzKzbC

— Orthodox Times (@orthodox_times) July 12, 2021

Latin Gerondism?

Withdrawing From the World to Save It by Thomas Griffin

What is useful in the rule for the laity is whatever immediately reflects life in Christ; there is an analogue between living in a monastic community and political community, but political community must be explained on its own terms. And hence the Rule of St. Benedict by itself is insufficient to provide that sort of guidance for lay people.

Yes, But Pure Agape Requires a Lifetime of Ascesis

“St. John of the Cross believed that a small act of pure love is more useful to the Church than all the other works combined.”

— Pope Francis at this morning’s general audience 🇻🇦https://t.co/p9k2LqRVPW

— Luke Coppen (@LukeCoppen) May 5, 2021

Interview with Jared Ortiz

“Deification is not an exotic doctrine,” says Jared Ortiz, “but one found from start to finish in pretty much every major Christian thinker, east and west. The problem is we do not know our own traditions and have bought into a false narrative about them.”https://t.co/K2beJ4tXxj

— Catholic World Report (@cworldreport) March 26, 2021

CWR

"Till It"?

An appropriate translation of וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ? Or a prejudice of a civilization based upon tillage agriculture? Heaven forbid that such a translation would be used as an argument against the truthfulness of Revelation...

Just as conservatives insist on a rightly ordered sexual ethic, so should we insist on a rightly ordered “land ethic.”https://t.co/a1wswZicqg

— First Things (@firstthingsmag) February 20, 2021

Nouwen and Lentz

It should have been a book written by an Orthodox author instead. I would consider this book worthy of becoming a discard or book-burning.

I had a great 3 hour coffee with my old friend Art Mize this morning and got a book out of the deal. I’m thankful for those who can grasp where I’ve come from and where I’m going. pic.twitter.com/zndwimszaq

— Alan Cornett (@alancornett) January 29, 2021

Perhaps Too Intellectualist?

"Prayer is the energy which accords with the dignity of the intellect; it is the intellect's true and highest activity."

(Evagrios the Solitary, On Prayer, 84) pic.twitter.com/F1xwbCePGM

— Akenside Institute for English Spirituality (@EngSpirituality) January 20, 2021

Receptivity

Crisis: Far from the Spirit of the Lord: On the Pope’s New Motu Proprio by Peter Kwasniewski

What we need to see, and see clearly, is this: the highest dignity of the baptized is to welcome Christ the Lord in Holy Communion. Period. Nothing else they do, no other function or service or activity, can compare to the Marian privilege of receiving God. When we elaborately multiply functions, services, and activities, we introduce distractions, invert priorities, build false hierarchies, and undermine simple faith, devotion, humility, and reverence. The participatio actuosa or actual participation of the faithful in the liturgy is not about doing, but about being, or more precisely, being a good recipient of the Word, so that this Word may be fruitful in us. It is not about busyness with much serving, but about contemplation, the union of love.

There is also the receptivity of the Son, who receives everything from the Father. Marian receptivity is symbolized by her, as a woman, becoming the Theotokos. Marian receptivity on a spiritual level is the receiving of the Divine Life by being a filia in Filio, just as the Son receives everything He is from the Father.

Polemical?

Mysticism in the Orthodox Church
In this short video, Fr. Panayiotis explains how the Orthodox Church has preserved the Mystical aspects of Christianity, which have been mostly lost in Western Christianity.https://t.co/k7NrlhRbYj

— Trisagionfilms (@TrisagionFilms) December 30, 2020

Mysticism in the Orthodox Churchhttps://t.co/k7Nrli8NmT
"...the wise providence of God orders our affairs in many different ways and lovingly bestows on each one of us what is appropriate and profitable both for virtuous deeds and the mysteries of faith."
Gregory Palamas pic.twitter.com/EYwUJWhqbI

— Trisagionfilms (@TrisagionFilms) December 30, 2020

On Mysticism https://t.co/k7NrlhRbYj
The Lord came to send fire upon the earth, and through participation in this fire He makes divine not just the human substance which He assumed for our sake, but every person who is found worthy of communion with Him.
Palamas pic.twitter.com/FgT57GH9cL

— Trisagionfilms (@TrisagionFilms) December 30, 2020

Related:

What makes a person saintly is love.
- St Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia pic.twitter.com/yRbQX3mpTM

— Basilica.ro (EN) (@BasilicaNews) December 30, 2020

Monasticism for the Laity?

We can truly take the richness of Orthodox monasticism and apply this preserved tradition of silence, of stillness and of simplicity in our family setting#orthodox_times

https://t.co/IEvL2RzKSV

— Orthodox Times (@orthodox_times) December 8, 2020

Thought and Action

This may be more questionable...

There Is a Place for Hope in the Christian Life

And considering the Last Things frequently. But is the eschaton our primary motivation or God in the present? Focusing too much on our subjective beatitude instead of objective beatitude (God) can lead to that sort of piety which focuses on the accumulation of good works and merit, rather than God. Purification of one's self so that one can focus on God is what is important; everything else will be taken care of accordingly.

I think we need more homilies on heaven. Fixing the mind and heart on the good things to come helps to bear well and patiently the sufferings and sorrows of the present. To live for heaven is neither escapist nor cowardly: it's Christian. https://t.co/isHX4A26QQ

— Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP (@PatrickMaryOP) December 5, 2020

A Mind at Peace: Reclaiming an Ordered Soul in the Age of Distraction

Perfect Advent reading.

Reclaim an ordered soul and practice interior peace.

I’ll give away three copies on Friday.

Retweet or comment to enter the drawing. pic.twitter.com/NWaSVOp2hc

— Josh Hochschild (@JoshHochschild) November 24, 2020

Sophia Institute Press