Sunday, July 23, 2017
The Story of Pierre Haab
Pravoslavie: “Every Human Life is a Gift From God”. The Long Journey of a Swiss Catholic To Orthodoxy
Ceaseless Prayer
Ceaseless Prayer, Through the Apostle Paul’s Personal Letter by Deacon Pavel Serzhantov
Then the service ends. The pilgrim leaves the church and heads to the feast in the refectory. But at the same time, he hears the Vespers hymns in his mind—“Lord I have cried unto Thee, hearken unto me.”
Then the service ends. The pilgrim leaves the church and heads to the feast in the refectory. But at the same time, he hears the Vespers hymns in his mind—“Lord I have cried unto Thee, hearken unto me.”
Return to the First Grace
Return to the First Grace by Protosingel Arsenie (Muscalu)
Protsingel Arsenie (Muscalu) is one of the most respected Romanian spiritual fathers of our days. In this interview we offer to our readers, an experienced father confessor talks about temptations, warnings to young people on the path to Christ, and about how Christians can lose God’s grace.
Protsingel Arsenie (Muscalu) is one of the most respected Romanian spiritual fathers of our days. In this interview we offer to our readers, an experienced father confessor talks about temptations, warnings to young people on the path to Christ, and about how Christians can lose God’s grace.
Saturday, July 22, 2017
ἀνθρώπους
New, but not improved... A Response to Public Orthodoxy, on the Creed by Fr. John Whiteford
John Fotopoulos and Aristotle Papanikolaou, in their recent article "Women and the Creed: Who For Us Humans and for Our Salvation," (published by "Public Orthodoxy") have expressed their unhappiness that the Greek Archdiocese has decided to use a translation of the Creed that is in line with pretty much every other translation that English speaking Orthodox Christians have been using for as long as we have had Orthodox Christians speaking English. They are offended by the use of the word "man".
John Fotopoulos and Aristotle Papanikolaou, in their recent article "Women and the Creed: Who For Us Humans and for Our Salvation," (published by "Public Orthodoxy") have expressed their unhappiness that the Greek Archdiocese has decided to use a translation of the Creed that is in line with pretty much every other translation that English speaking Orthodox Christians have been using for as long as we have had Orthodox Christians speaking English. They are offended by the use of the word "man".
The Translation of the Reclis of St. Theophan the Recluse
Translation of the Relics of St. Theophan, the Recluse of Vysha
The holy relics of St. Theophan the Recluse were secretly exhumed in 1973 on the territory of the Shatzk psychiatric hospital located in the buildings of Vysha Monastery, which had been desecrated by the godless authorities, and immediately taken to the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. There they were interred in the basement of the Dormition Cathedral until 1988.
The holy relics of St. Theophan the Recluse were secretly exhumed in 1973 on the territory of the Shatzk psychiatric hospital located in the buildings of Vysha Monastery, which had been desecrated by the godless authorities, and immediately taken to the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. There they were interred in the basement of the Dormition Cathedral until 1988.
But Is There a Form of Depression That Has a Purely Physiological Cause?
A Priest’s Thoughts on Depression, Anxiety, the Soul, Your Body and Your Brain by Fr. Stephen Freeman
Somewhat problematic, I think, is the not infrequent distinction made between anxiety and depression as physical/medical problems and as so-called “spiritual” problems. There is no such distinction. We do not have “spiritual” problems that are not also physical problems, simply because we do not exist as some sort of divisible creatures.
Related:
The Spiritual Life in Depression and Anxiety by Fr. Stephen Freeman
A very poignant question was sent privately to me after my last post. It asked how I was able to go about my parish work when I was battling with depression and anxiety.
Somewhat problematic, I think, is the not infrequent distinction made between anxiety and depression as physical/medical problems and as so-called “spiritual” problems. There is no such distinction. We do not have “spiritual” problems that are not also physical problems, simply because we do not exist as some sort of divisible creatures.
Related:
The Spiritual Life in Depression and Anxiety by Fr. Stephen Freeman
A very poignant question was sent privately to me after my last post. It asked how I was able to go about my parish work when I was battling with depression and anxiety.
Orthodox Polemics Is Alive and Well?
The Orthodox Church and Non-Chalcedonians, Part One Christology/Ecclesiology by Igumen Gregory (Zaiens)
There are, however, many of both Chalcedonians and Non-Chalcedonians, who believe that all along through history, it was a language problem, a matter of semantics. However, St. John of Damascus knew their language, and he wrote against them. And if it was all along this language problem, then we would have to say that God made a mistake with the miracle He performed through the Great Martyr Euphemia at the Fourth Ecumenical council.
The Orthodox Church and the Non-Chalcedonians: Part 2 Deification: Pope Shenouda and Matthew the Poor by Igumen Gregory (Zaiens)
There is one more issue to consider which is central to the Orthodox concept of salvation, and that is deification. I will relate what I have learned from an Orthodox priest who is a university professor. This father is fluent in Arabic and has studied the Chalcedonian/Non-Chalcedonian positions.
And...
An Appeal to Traditional Roman Catholics From an Orthodox Catholic Priest by
Fr. Victor E. Novak
There are, however, many of both Chalcedonians and Non-Chalcedonians, who believe that all along through history, it was a language problem, a matter of semantics. However, St. John of Damascus knew their language, and he wrote against them. And if it was all along this language problem, then we would have to say that God made a mistake with the miracle He performed through the Great Martyr Euphemia at the Fourth Ecumenical council.
The Orthodox Church and the Non-Chalcedonians: Part 2 Deification: Pope Shenouda and Matthew the Poor by Igumen Gregory (Zaiens)
There is one more issue to consider which is central to the Orthodox concept of salvation, and that is deification. I will relate what I have learned from an Orthodox priest who is a university professor. This father is fluent in Arabic and has studied the Chalcedonian/Non-Chalcedonian positions.
And...
An Appeal to Traditional Roman Catholics From an Orthodox Catholic Priest by
Fr. Victor E. Novak
Friday, July 21, 2017
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Monday, July 17, 2017
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Friday, July 14, 2017
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Does any prominent Father in the first millenium
apply the image of Spouse to the individual human person, and not just to the Church as a whole? Or is this more of a medieval Latin development, concomitant with shifts in Latin understandings of spirituality and the Eucharist?
Regarding the Bridegroom and the Bride, God the Son is the analogue of the male/man, and the Church (and perhaps the individual human person) is the analogue of the female. Just as the husband is the "active" principle and leads and imprints himself on his wife, and the wife is conformed to the husband, so Christ is the active principle, and the individual human person is conformed to Christ.
While the literal application of this imagery may be useful to female religious, I question its effectiveness for men. (As opposed to its being used as a theological metaphor to help our understanding of our communion with Christ and the Holy Trinity.)
And the individual human person has a filial relationship with God the Father by being sons in the Son. A logical consequence of the first, perhaps, our being conformed to Christ.
Would we say that the individual soul is the bride of the Holy Trinity as a whole? Or of the Father? I don't think so, even though it may be claimed that Israel is the bride of God the Father in the OT? It would be even more problematic if the human person were called to have a "conjugal" relationship with God the Father and a "filial" relationship as well. I believe the latter is literal, even if by analogy, while the former is only a metaphor or figurative language. So as I start reading through John Paul II's catechesis (and not the popularizations put forth by others) I will be keen to see how he parses this out.
Regarding the Bridegroom and the Bride, God the Son is the analogue of the male/man, and the Church (and perhaps the individual human person) is the analogue of the female. Just as the husband is the "active" principle and leads and imprints himself on his wife, and the wife is conformed to the husband, so Christ is the active principle, and the individual human person is conformed to Christ.
While the literal application of this imagery may be useful to female religious, I question its effectiveness for men. (As opposed to its being used as a theological metaphor to help our understanding of our communion with Christ and the Holy Trinity.)
And the individual human person has a filial relationship with God the Father by being sons in the Son. A logical consequence of the first, perhaps, our being conformed to Christ.
Would we say that the individual soul is the bride of the Holy Trinity as a whole? Or of the Father? I don't think so, even though it may be claimed that Israel is the bride of God the Father in the OT? It would be even more problematic if the human person were called to have a "conjugal" relationship with God the Father and a "filial" relationship as well. I believe the latter is literal, even if by analogy, while the former is only a metaphor or figurative language. So as I start reading through John Paul II's catechesis (and not the popularizations put forth by others) I will be keen to see how he parses this out.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Sunday, July 09, 2017
CWR: Eamon Duffy’s “Reformation Divided” revises assumptions, offers deep historical insights by Michael B. Kelly
Among the very significant contributions in Reformation Divided are the three chapters devoted to Thomas More, who has suffered from much hagiographical treatment, both good and ill.
Among the very significant contributions in Reformation Divided are the three chapters devoted to Thomas More, who has suffered from much hagiographical treatment, both good and ill.
Saturday, July 08, 2017
Thursday, July 06, 2017
A Two-Tier Spirituality?
CWR: Spiritual direction and the role of the laity by Russell Shaw
In the writings of Saint Teresa of Avila we have a glimpse of the two-tier spirituality that has been taken for granted by most spiritual writers for a long time. It might be put like this: The goal for priests and religious is to be holy, the goal for lay people is to be good.
In the writings of Saint Teresa of Avila we have a glimpse of the two-tier spirituality that has been taken for granted by most spiritual writers for a long time. It might be put like this: The goal for priests and religious is to be holy, the goal for lay people is to be good.
Wednesday, July 05, 2017
Tuesday, July 04, 2017
Monday, July 03, 2017
Sunday, July 02, 2017
CWR: Why did Robert Cardinal Sarah decide to devote a book to silence?
The Introduction to Cardinal Sarah’s The Power of Silence, by French journalist Nicolas Diat, reveals the book could never have existed without a young French monk who was paralyzed and unable to speak—and yet formed a deep and abiding friendship born in silence, that grew in silence, and continues to exist in silence.
The Introduction to Cardinal Sarah’s The Power of Silence, by French journalist Nicolas Diat, reveals the book could never have existed without a young French monk who was paralyzed and unable to speak—and yet formed a deep and abiding friendship born in silence, that grew in silence, and continues to exist in silence.
Saturday, July 01, 2017
A Jesuit Now in Charge of the CDF
A good Jesuit or a bad one? Will he be a Jesuit first and a Catholic second when advising the Jesuit Pope? What would Malachi Martin have to say about this latest development (and the newest superior general of the Society of Jesus)?
Pope names Archbishop Luis Ladaria as Müller’s successor to head CDF The Spanish Jesuit has served as second-in-command at the CDF since 2008.
Pope names Archbishop Luis Ladaria as Müller’s successor to head CDF The Spanish Jesuit has served as second-in-command at the CDF since 2008.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Rorate Caeli: BREAKING - EXCLUSIVE IN ENGLISH: Pope dismisses Cardinal Müller from CDF
Just not a good fit for the Bergoglio papacy? Or is there more to it?
In difesa dei "dubia" dei quattro cardinali, messi in castigo dal papa
After the Academy for Life, A New Face for the Institute of the Family
Just not a good fit for the Bergoglio papacy? Or is there more to it?
In difesa dei "dubia" dei quattro cardinali, messi in castigo dal papa
After the Academy for Life, A New Face for the Institute of the Family
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Monday, June 26, 2017
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Aristotle and the Garments of Skin
James Chastek: The Point of Sexual Desire
Aristotle's reflections on the end of reproduction, on the "natural" level remind me of what I read from St. Maximos the Confessor on the garments of skin and the fall of Adam and Eve and the consequences of that fall.
The intensity of our desire for coitus is a result of the fall?
Aristotle can be used to support a Patristic view on the 'garments of skin' rather than John Paul II's Theology of the Body?
Aristotle's reflections on the end of reproduction, on the "natural" level remind me of what I read from St. Maximos the Confessor on the garments of skin and the fall of Adam and Eve and the consequences of that fall.
The intensity of our desire for coitus is a result of the fall?
Aristotle can be used to support a Patristic view on the 'garments of skin' rather than John Paul II's Theology of the Body?
Friday, June 23, 2017
A Forgotten Devotion in the West?
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (EWTN)
Fr. Tim Finigan: The healthy notion of reparation
That we can seek to make up for our sins is only possible because of our participation in Christ and the satisfaction of God's righteousness that He is able to make -- and the latter part is meant not in a Latin/legalistic way but an Eastern one.
Fr. Tim Finigan: The healthy notion of reparation
That we can seek to make up for our sins is only possible because of our participation in Christ and the satisfaction of God's righteousness that He is able to make -- and the latter part is meant not in a Latin/legalistic way but an Eastern one.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Looks Like Latin Legalism
Fr. Z's answer: Must a Latin Church Catholic going to an Eastern Church still obey Latin laws?
What's an Eastern Catholic response?
What's an Eastern Catholic response?
Red Bull Music Academy Daily: Devotion: The Architecture of Medieval Churches
Emma Warren explores the transcendent impact and contemporary relevance of medieval acoustic treatments
Emma Warren explores the transcendent impact and contemporary relevance of medieval acoustic treatments
A New book from Fr. Thomas Joseph White
With a Western image of the Transfiguration on the front cover...
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Pretty Please?
CWR Dispatch: Four cardinals to Pope Francis: “Faced with this grave situation…”
“…[we] ask humbly and respectfully for an Audience.” But they likely aren’t going to receive an audience or an answer.
Original blog post by Edward Pentin.
“…[we] ask humbly and respectfully for an Audience.” But they likely aren’t going to receive an audience or an answer.
Original blog post by Edward Pentin.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Way Behind...
Still haven't caught up.
The snippet offered below could be understood as a defense of patriarchy (in conjunction with what St. Paul wrote), but I don't think that's how it will work out.
The snippet offered below could be understood as a defense of patriarchy (in conjunction with what St. Paul wrote), but I don't think that's how it will work out.
Friday, June 16, 2017
Thursday, June 15, 2017
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