The Philokalia is a collection of the writings of the Eastern Church Fathers beloved by the Orthodox but little known by many Catholics and Protestants. When reading the works of the Roman Stoic philosophers, I was struck by the commonalities between the stoic writings and the Philokalia, the shared lists of virtues and vices as well as the terminology, which made it clear that many of the writers in the Philokalia were drawing from Greco-Roman moral philosophy.
In their introduction, the translators tell us the meaning of the Philokalia. “Philokalia itself means love of the beautiful, the exalted, the excellent, understood as the transcendent source of life and the revelation of Truth. It is through such love that, as the subtitle of the original edition puts it, ‘the intellect is purified, illumined and made perfect.’ . . . The Philokalia shows the way to awaken and develop attention and consciousness, to attain that state of watchfulness which is the hallmark of sanctity.” “The Philokalia is an itinerary through the labyrinth of time, a silent way of love and gnosis through the deserts and emptiness of modern life, a vivifying and fadeless experience.” The Philokalia is a “summons to man to overcome his ignorance, to uncover the knowledge that lies within, to rid himself of illusion, and to be receptive to the grace of the Holy Spirit who teaches all things and brings all things to remembrance.” The Philokalia encourages unceasing prayer and the Jesus Prayer.
Please support our channel, we receive a small Amazon commission:
The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1): The Complete Text; Compiled by St. Nikodimos & St. Markarios
https://amzn.to/3zh8wjD
The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 2): The Complete Text
https://amzn.to/3sUC303
The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 3): The Complete Text
https://amzn.to/3BeWDet
The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 4) : The Complete Text
https://amzn.to/3zpDqGs
The Philokalia: A Classic Text of Orthodox Spirituality, Essays
https://amzn.to/2V1dhhQ
John Climacus: The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Classics of Western Spirituality)
https://amzn.to/3jMLomA
John Climacus: The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Blue Hardcover
https://amzn.to/3iLgPyl
Ascending the Heights: A Layman's Guide to The Ladder of Divine Ascent Paperback, by Fr. John Mack
https://amzn.to/3zstAUv
Thirty Steps to Heaven Paperback, by Vassilios Papavassiliou
https://amzn.to/2Y5P0ZM
Please review our blog on this topic:
http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/introduction-to-the-philokalia-the-love-of-the-beautiful/
Please support our efforts, be a patron, at:
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
Patrons can participate in online Zoom discussions of draft presentations we prepare for future YouTube videos.
Like all Stoic philosophers, Marcus Aurelius never asks why bad things happen to good people, why the virtuous suffer while the evil prosper, how God can permit suffering in a perfect world. Not only are these questions never asked by the stoics; stoics see these questions as simply absurd. Marcus Aurelius is aware that “good and evil happen indiscriminately to the good and the bad.” Furthermore, “death and life, honor and dishonor, pain and pleasure – all these things happen equally to good men and bad, being things which make us neither better nor worse. Therefore, they are neither good nor evil.” The Stoics never only ask why bad things happen to good people, rather they ask, bad things happen to both good people and bad, good things happen to both bad and good people, sometimes more, sometimes less, so what? If you are poor, be virtuous in your poverty, if you are rich, be virtuous in your wealth, always be generous, you can live a virtuous life regardless of your station in life.
The last of the good emperors, Marcus Aurelius was both an emperor and a stoic philosopher, living a stoic life of moderation while ruling the Empire out of a sense of duty. He wrote the Meditations in Greek in his tent while on campaign fighting against the Germanic tribes. His biggest inspiration came from studying Epictetus, the stoic philosopher who was a former slave of a former slave.
YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/0qHpReZYhv4
Our blogs: https://wp.me/pachSU-aM , https://wp.me/pachSU-aV , https://wp.me/pachSU-aZ , https://wp.me/pachSU-b2
Please support our channel, purchase these from Amazon, we earn a small affiliate commission:
Meditations (Dover Thrift Editions), by Marcus Aurelius
https://amzn.to/2W3nxqt
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
https://amzn.to/3rmSlOx
Famous Romans, Audiobook, by J. Rufus Fears, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3D6mMgE
The Meditations of Marcus Auerlius: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
https://amzn.to/3BsYgWR
A History of Philosophy, Vol. 1: Greece and Rome From the Pre-Socratics to Plotinus, by Frederick Copleston
https://amzn.to/2Wuh6wX
Epictetus is my favorite Roman Stoic Philosopher. The writings of Epictetus are accessible and easy to read, consisting of one maxim after another, resembling the teachings of the early Church Fathers in the Philokalia, echoing many of sayings in the Gospels and Epistles of St Paul. Many of his writings were his recollections of the sayings of his Stoic teacher, Musonius Rufus.
To Epictetus, only the good can be truly happy, only the good can truly be free, tyrants may take all you own, but they can never take your most prized possession, your freedom of will; tyrants can throw you in jail, but they can never take away the freedom of your mind; tyrants can take your life, but they can never have your soul. Epictetus, the great philosopher of freedom, was a former slave, a slave to a freed man, and was both poor and a cripple, eking out a living by teaching philosophy.
Epictetus tells us of someone who stole his lamp one night, Epictetus got the better end of the exchange. For Epictetus only lost his lamp, but he kept his faith. The man who stole his lamp, in exchange for the lamp he consented to become a thief, becoming faithless.
I first learned of Epictetus from a series of Teaching Company lectures on Greek Moral Philosophers by Professor Timothy Luke Johnson. This a series of lectures that deeply affected me. The similarities between the stoic philosophers and the writings of the monastic eastern Church Fathers who preceded St Benedict, and to the Pauline Epistles and the Gospels, are so striking that I can truly say I am a better Christian for having read the Stoic Philosophers.
Likewise, the stoic philosophers are greatly treasured by Professor Johnson. He had by chance picked up a used book containing the writings of Epictetus and was deeply influenced by his teachings. It is puzzling why the stoic philosophers are so often neglected by modern scholars, they were far more highly prized in antiquity and by the early Christians and Church Fathers.
We include many more of the sayings of Epictetus in our video. Enjoy!
Please support our channel by purchasing these resources from Amazon:
Stoic Six Pack, Epictetus and Seneca:
https://amzn.to/36KNo8T
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
https://amzn.to/3rmSlOx
Please support our efforts, be a patron, at:
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
Patrons can participate in online Zoom discussions of draft presentations we prepare for future YouTube videos.
St Augustine’s key work, On Christian Teaching, is translated often as On Christian Doctrine, teaches us how to read Scriptures and teach and spread our faith to our neighbors. What is the core of this work? We should Love God with all of our heart and with all of our soul and with all of our mind and with all of our strength, and we should love our neighbor as ourselves. If we do not love our neighbor, we cannot Love God, and if we do not Love God and our neighbor, we cannot fathom Scripture, let alone deign to teach and preach the Scriptures.
St Augustine teaches, “Whoever thinks he understands the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but interprets them in a way that does not build up this two-fold Love of God and love of neighbor, does not truly understand the Scriptures. If, on the other hand, a man draws a meaning from Scriptures that builds up the two-fold Love of God and love of his neighbor, although he does not precisely understand the exact meaning of the author, his error is not pernicious, and he is wholly clear from the charge of deception.”
St Augustine further teaches that if someone with a good heart and pure motives has a mistaken interpretation of Scripture, that “if his mistaken interpretation of Scripture tends to build up love, . . . he goes astray in much the same way as a man who by mistake quits the high road, but yet reaches through the fields the same place to which the road leads.”
To support our channel, you can purchase these from Amazon:
On Christian Teaching, by St Augustine, R. P. H. Green, Translator
https://amzn.to/3mmZn5x
Kindle: The Complete Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Collection of Early Church Fathers
https://amzn.to/3kMFdBa
Best place to purchase eBook for Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Volume 2, which has this work, is https://www.christianbook.com
See our blog: https://wp.me/pachSU-s9
St Augustine delivered the Treatise on Faith and the Creed, the Apostle’s Creed, to a council of the North African Episcopate, to encourage the formation of a common faith. What is curious is that this Augustinian Treatise on Faith and the Creed is referenced in the Catholic Catechism under the commandment, Do Not Envy, linking it to the Beatitude, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” but the treatise itself never mentions envy, so we will ponder how these teachings by St Augustine on the Apostle’s Creed can shield us from the sin of covetousness and envy.
This is the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty;
Then He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/np21ooy5Nwg
Please support our channel by purchasing the books we discuss from Amazon, we receive a small associate’s commission:
Kindle: The Complete Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Collection of Early Church Fathers
https://amzn.to/3kMFdBa
The best eBook for Series 1, Volume 3 of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers can be purchased from:
www.christianbook.com
Augustine: Philosopher and Saint, Audiobook, by Phillip Cary, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3aWgrIp
Our blog: http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/st-augustines-treatise-on-the-faith-and-the-creed/
Please support our efforts, be a patron, at:
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
Patrons can participate in online Zoom discussions of draft presentations we prepare for future YouTube videos.
Summaries of Catholic Teaching
These brief texts, prepared by theologians at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, offer an introduction to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
originally published on web:
http://opusdei.uk/en-uk/section/summaries-of-catholic-teaching/
Re-edited as pdf for CSR (slideshare) October 2014
part 1: The Profession of Faith
Hans Kung was a friend to many in the inner circles of the Catholic Church, since he was one of the leading theologians of the Second Vatican Council. Indeed, he gave a friendly reference to the young priest Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, when he was accepted as a professor at the University of Tubingen in Germany. Hans Kung was always the more flamboyant, driving around campus in his fire engine-red Alfa Romeo sportscar. While teaching at Tubingen, Kung and Ratzinger had dinner each Thursday to discuss theology, and they both were editors of a scholarly theology journal. Sources claim that Ratzinger became more conservative politically in response to the student protests in the Sixties, though both Kung and Ratzinger always supported the theological pronouncements of Vatican II. Several of Hans Kung’s works are part of the history of the Second Vatican Council and its implementation.
Several decades ago, I read a news article that quoted Cardinal Schonborn as saying that although Hans Kung was quite beloved in the Vatican, they really wish he would quit constantly calling press conferences where he criticized the Catholic Church for ignoring all his urgent suggestions for reform. He irritated the Pope John Paul II and the Roman Curia so much they finally revoked his license to teach Catholic theology. However, Hans Kung was neither excommunicated nor defrocked, and was able to celebrate Mass as a Catholic priest until the day he died. Pope Francis considered offering an olive branch to Kung, but the negative reaction was overwhelming. Perhaps this revocation of his teaching license was a consequence of his hubris rather than his incorrect doctrine.
You8iTube video: https://youtu.be/Nbtinm3ATgI
Like all Stoic philosophers, Marcus Aurelius never asks why bad things happen to good people, why the virtuous suffer while the evil prosper, how God can permit suffering in a perfect world. Not only are these questions never asked by the stoics; stoics see these questions as simply absurd. Marcus Aurelius is aware that “good and evil happen indiscriminately to the good and the bad.” Furthermore, “death and life, honor and dishonor, pain and pleasure – all these things happen equally to good men and bad, being things which make us neither better nor worse. Therefore, they are neither good nor evil.” The Stoics never only ask why bad things happen to good people, rather they ask, bad things happen to both good people and bad, good things happen to both bad and good people, sometimes more, sometimes less, so what? If you are poor, be virtuous in your poverty, if you are rich, be virtuous in your wealth, always be generous, you can live a virtuous life regardless of your station in life.
The last of the good emperors, Marcus Aurelius was both an emperor and a stoic philosopher, living a stoic life of moderation while ruling the Empire out of a sense of duty. He wrote the Meditations in Greek in his tent while on campaign fighting against the Germanic tribes. His biggest inspiration came from studying Epictetus, the stoic philosopher who was a former slave of a former slave.
YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/0qHpReZYhv4
Our blogs: https://wp.me/pachSU-aM , https://wp.me/pachSU-aV , https://wp.me/pachSU-aZ , https://wp.me/pachSU-b2
Please support our channel, purchase these from Amazon, we earn a small affiliate commission:
Meditations (Dover Thrift Editions), by Marcus Aurelius
https://amzn.to/2W3nxqt
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
https://amzn.to/3rmSlOx
Famous Romans, Audiobook, by J. Rufus Fears, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3D6mMgE
The Meditations of Marcus Auerlius: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
https://amzn.to/3BsYgWR
A History of Philosophy, Vol. 1: Greece and Rome From the Pre-Socratics to Plotinus, by Frederick Copleston
https://amzn.to/2Wuh6wX
Epictetus is my favorite Roman Stoic Philosopher. The writings of Epictetus are accessible and easy to read, consisting of one maxim after another, resembling the teachings of the early Church Fathers in the Philokalia, echoing many of sayings in the Gospels and Epistles of St Paul. Many of his writings were his recollections of the sayings of his Stoic teacher, Musonius Rufus.
To Epictetus, only the good can be truly happy, only the good can truly be free, tyrants may take all you own, but they can never take your most prized possession, your freedom of will; tyrants can throw you in jail, but they can never take away the freedom of your mind; tyrants can take your life, but they can never have your soul. Epictetus, the great philosopher of freedom, was a former slave, a slave to a freed man, and was both poor and a cripple, eking out a living by teaching philosophy.
Epictetus tells us of someone who stole his lamp one night, Epictetus got the better end of the exchange. For Epictetus only lost his lamp, but he kept his faith. The man who stole his lamp, in exchange for the lamp he consented to become a thief, becoming faithless.
I first learned of Epictetus from a series of Teaching Company lectures on Greek Moral Philosophers by Professor Timothy Luke Johnson. This a series of lectures that deeply affected me. The similarities between the stoic philosophers and the writings of the monastic eastern Church Fathers who preceded St Benedict, and to the Pauline Epistles and the Gospels, are so striking that I can truly say I am a better Christian for having read the Stoic Philosophers.
Likewise, the stoic philosophers are greatly treasured by Professor Johnson. He had by chance picked up a used book containing the writings of Epictetus and was deeply influenced by his teachings. It is puzzling why the stoic philosophers are so often neglected by modern scholars, they were far more highly prized in antiquity and by the early Christians and Church Fathers.
We include many more of the sayings of Epictetus in our video. Enjoy!
Please support our channel by purchasing these resources from Amazon:
Stoic Six Pack, Epictetus and Seneca:
https://amzn.to/36KNo8T
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
https://amzn.to/3rmSlOx
Please support our efforts, be a patron, at:
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
Patrons can participate in online Zoom discussions of draft presentations we prepare for future YouTube videos.
St Augustine’s key work, On Christian Teaching, is translated often as On Christian Doctrine, teaches us how to read Scriptures and teach and spread our faith to our neighbors. What is the core of this work? We should Love God with all of our heart and with all of our soul and with all of our mind and with all of our strength, and we should love our neighbor as ourselves. If we do not love our neighbor, we cannot Love God, and if we do not Love God and our neighbor, we cannot fathom Scripture, let alone deign to teach and preach the Scriptures.
St Augustine teaches, “Whoever thinks he understands the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but interprets them in a way that does not build up this two-fold Love of God and love of neighbor, does not truly understand the Scriptures. If, on the other hand, a man draws a meaning from Scriptures that builds up the two-fold Love of God and love of his neighbor, although he does not precisely understand the exact meaning of the author, his error is not pernicious, and he is wholly clear from the charge of deception.”
St Augustine further teaches that if someone with a good heart and pure motives has a mistaken interpretation of Scripture, that “if his mistaken interpretation of Scripture tends to build up love, . . . he goes astray in much the same way as a man who by mistake quits the high road, but yet reaches through the fields the same place to which the road leads.”
To support our channel, you can purchase these from Amazon:
On Christian Teaching, by St Augustine, R. P. H. Green, Translator
https://amzn.to/3mmZn5x
Kindle: The Complete Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Collection of Early Church Fathers
https://amzn.to/3kMFdBa
Best place to purchase eBook for Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Volume 2, which has this work, is https://www.christianbook.com
See our blog: https://wp.me/pachSU-s9
St Augustine delivered the Treatise on Faith and the Creed, the Apostle’s Creed, to a council of the North African Episcopate, to encourage the formation of a common faith. What is curious is that this Augustinian Treatise on Faith and the Creed is referenced in the Catholic Catechism under the commandment, Do Not Envy, linking it to the Beatitude, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” but the treatise itself never mentions envy, so we will ponder how these teachings by St Augustine on the Apostle’s Creed can shield us from the sin of covetousness and envy.
This is the Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty;
Then He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/np21ooy5Nwg
Please support our channel by purchasing the books we discuss from Amazon, we receive a small associate’s commission:
Kindle: The Complete Ante-Nicene, Nicene and Post-Nicene Collection of Early Church Fathers
https://amzn.to/3kMFdBa
The best eBook for Series 1, Volume 3 of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers can be purchased from:
www.christianbook.com
Augustine: Philosopher and Saint, Audiobook, by Phillip Cary, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3aWgrIp
Our blog: http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/st-augustines-treatise-on-the-faith-and-the-creed/
Please support our efforts, be a patron, at:
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
Patrons can participate in online Zoom discussions of draft presentations we prepare for future YouTube videos.
Summaries of Catholic Teaching
These brief texts, prepared by theologians at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, offer an introduction to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
originally published on web:
http://opusdei.uk/en-uk/section/summaries-of-catholic-teaching/
Re-edited as pdf for CSR (slideshare) October 2014
part 1: The Profession of Faith
Hans Kung was a friend to many in the inner circles of the Catholic Church, since he was one of the leading theologians of the Second Vatican Council. Indeed, he gave a friendly reference to the young priest Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, when he was accepted as a professor at the University of Tubingen in Germany. Hans Kung was always the more flamboyant, driving around campus in his fire engine-red Alfa Romeo sportscar. While teaching at Tubingen, Kung and Ratzinger had dinner each Thursday to discuss theology, and they both were editors of a scholarly theology journal. Sources claim that Ratzinger became more conservative politically in response to the student protests in the Sixties, though both Kung and Ratzinger always supported the theological pronouncements of Vatican II. Several of Hans Kung’s works are part of the history of the Second Vatican Council and its implementation.
Several decades ago, I read a news article that quoted Cardinal Schonborn as saying that although Hans Kung was quite beloved in the Vatican, they really wish he would quit constantly calling press conferences where he criticized the Catholic Church for ignoring all his urgent suggestions for reform. He irritated the Pope John Paul II and the Roman Curia so much they finally revoked his license to teach Catholic theology. However, Hans Kung was neither excommunicated nor defrocked, and was able to celebrate Mass as a Catholic priest until the day he died. Pope Francis considered offering an olive branch to Kung, but the negative reaction was overwhelming. Perhaps this revocation of his teaching license was a consequence of his hubris rather than his incorrect doctrine.
You8iTube video: https://youtu.be/Nbtinm3ATgI
Marcus Aurelius was truly the philosopher-king that Plato dreamed of, he was both one of the good Roman Emperors and a Stoic Philosopher who ruled out of a sense of duty while living the modest stoic life.
The paradox of Marcus Aurelius is that as Roman Emperor he likely oversaw the brutal persecution of Christians, but as a Stoic philosopher his main work, the Meditations, offers a Stoic philosophy that reflects many Christian values and teachings. This paradox led some ancient Christians to hope that he indeed was a friend to Christians, including Tertullian and St Justin the Martyr, who was himself martyred under the reign of Marcus Aurelius. This paradox was explored by the ancient church historian Eusebius in his work Church History or Ecclesiastical History.
We review the history behind Marcus Aurelius, how he was the adopted son of his predecessor, Antonius Pius, who had been adopted by Hadrian. We learn how his marriage to the daughter of Antonius Pius, Faustina, led to the birth of Commodus, who succeeded him as emperor and began the decline of the Roman Empire due to his neglect of his responsibilities, he preferred performing as a gladiator to serving as a stoic Roman Emperor.
We review the history of the persecutions from Nero to Diocletian, and the series of letters between Pliny and Trajan discussing how Christians should be properly persecuted.
We review how modern historians view this paradox, including Henry Chadwick, Walter Kaufman, Matthew Arnold, Copleston, and McGuckin.
YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/-uQxq1O9xSY
Our blog: https://wp.me/pachSU-aC
Please support our channel, purchase these from Amazon, we earn a small affiliate commission:
Meditations (Dover Thrift Editions), by Marcus Aurelius
https://amzn.to/2W3nxqt
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
https://amzn.to/3rmSlOx
Famous Romans, Audiobook, by J. Rufus Fears, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3D6mMgE
The Meditations of Marcus Auerlius: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
https://amzn.to/3BsYgWR
A History of Philosophy, Vol. 1: Greece and Rome From the Pre-Socratics to Plotinus, by Frederick Copleston
https://amzn.to/2Wuh6wX
The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine, by Eusebius (263-339), Penguin Classic, introduction by Andrew Louth
https://amzn.to/3eRbZgK
The Path of Christianity: The First Thousand Years Hardcover, by John Anthony McGuckin
https://amzn.to/2UHXMeW
The Early Church, by Henry Chadwick
https://amzn.to/36W9OUB
Lumen Fidei: Pope Francis on Faith (Presented by St. Jude Oshkosh Faith Forma...rsaley
What is the true meaning of faith? How does faith impact our lives?
This presentation gives Pope Francis's reflections on faith. It provides an overview of the major themes of his first encyclical letter, Lumen Fidei or "Light of Faith."
Deprecated for https://www.slideshare.net/jdigger/saint-augustine-29936693
A quick look at the life of Saint Augustine of Hippo and some of his thoughts.
Hillel and Shammai were rabbis in Palestine in the period before Jesus' ministry, and some of their teachings are similar to the teachings of Jesus, so it would be beneficial to ponder these similarities. The following story reflects Jesus’ discussion with the rich young man.
Once was a Gentile who came before Shammai and requested:
“Convert me to Judaism on condition that you will teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot.”
Shammai pushed the man away with the building rod he was holding.
Undeterred, the man then came before Hillel with the same request.
Hillel said to him, “That which is hateful unto you, do not do unto your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Now, go and study.” And Jesus, as well as St Augustine and many other Church Fathers, concur that this two-fold Love of God and love for our neighbor is the rock upon which our Christian faith should stand.
Please support our channel, if you wish to purchase these Amazon books we receive a small affiliate commission:
Hillel: If Not Now, When?, by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
https://amzn.to/3z6eK5S
The Book of Legends/Sefer Ha-Aggadah: Legends from the Talmud and Midrash
https://amzn.to/2WyaMVv
Our blogs are:
Hillel and Jesus, Reflections on Rabbi Telushkin's Observations
http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/hillel-and-jesus-reflections/
Comparing Hillel and Shammai to Jesus
http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/comparing-hillel-and-shammai-to-jesus/
More Stories and Sayings of Hillel and Shammai
http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/more-stories-and-sayings-of-hillel-and-shammai/
In 2018 Pope Francis and the Vatican issued an official Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete Et Exsultate, or in English, On the Call to Holiness In Today’s World. In the spirit of Vatican II, Pope Francis is not only addressing Catholics, he is addressing the challenges all Christians face when living in the modern world.
The Pope warns us of the spiritual dangers of social media. Yelling and screaming and bullying on social is discouraged, we must always remember that whatever we say on social media should make the world a slightly better place, that we should strive always for whatever we post on social media will increase in all of us greater love for our neighbor and our Love for God.
Catholics should not be one-issue voters, even when that one issue is abortion, but if Catholics do wish to be one-issue voters, that one issue should be social justice, which includes abortion and concern for the poor, the sick, the elderly, the sojourner, the immigrant, the widow, the orphan, and all other disadvantaged people. Black lives indeed matter very much to the Church.
Pope Benedict’s speech at Aparecida, the Conference of Latin American Bishops, chaired by the future Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, sought to affirm the preferential option for the poor of marginalized that Liberation Theology seeks, while also condemning the Marxist system as an oppressive system.
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/jF-fsMvYsak
Our blog: http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/pope-francis-mentions-abortion-in-gaudete-et-exsultate-with-a-prayer-from-pope-benedict/
Please support our channel, if you wish to purchase these Amazon books we receive a small affiliate commission:
Catechism of the Catholic Church, UCSSB Bishop's Edition
https://amzn.to/3kca1sT
A Compendium of Texts Referred to in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
https://amzn.to/2W4cxK2
An introduction to Jesus for Unitarian Universalists, religious liberals, the spiritual but not religious, progressive Christians, skeptics, seekers, "Nones" and others.
A Matter of Plain Reason: Why Christians Must Believe in Joseph SmithRonald Kimmons
They say: "You believe in a different Jesus."
I say: "It is wonderful that you believe in Jesus. Since you do, you have to believe in living prophets, as prophetic guidance is an essential aspect of Christianity. And no one in modern times has a stronger case for being such a prophet than Joseph Smith."
Marcus Aurelius was truly the philosopher-king that Plato dreamed of, he was both one of the good Roman Emperors and a Stoic Philosopher who ruled out of a sense of duty while living the modest stoic life.
The paradox of Marcus Aurelius is that as Roman Emperor he likely oversaw the brutal persecution of Christians, but as a Stoic philosopher his main work, the Meditations, offers a Stoic philosophy that reflects many Christian values and teachings. This paradox led some ancient Christians to hope that he indeed was a friend to Christians, including Tertullian and St Justin the Martyr, who was himself martyred under the reign of Marcus Aurelius. This paradox was explored by the ancient church historian Eusebius in his work Church History or Ecclesiastical History.
We review the history behind Marcus Aurelius, how he was the adopted son of his predecessor, Antonius Pius, who had been adopted by Hadrian. We learn how his marriage to the daughter of Antonius Pius, Faustina, led to the birth of Commodus, who succeeded him as emperor and began the decline of the Roman Empire due to his neglect of his responsibilities, he preferred performing as a gladiator to serving as a stoic Roman Emperor.
We review the history of the persecutions from Nero to Diocletian, and the series of letters between Pliny and Trajan discussing how Christians should be properly persecuted.
We review how modern historians view this paradox, including Henry Chadwick, Walter Kaufman, Matthew Arnold, Copleston, and McGuckin.
YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/-uQxq1O9xSY
Our blog: https://wp.me/pachSU-aC
Please support our channel, purchase these from Amazon, we earn a small affiliate commission:
Meditations (Dover Thrift Editions), by Marcus Aurelius
https://amzn.to/2W3nxqt
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
https://amzn.to/3rmSlOx
Famous Romans, Audiobook, by J. Rufus Fears, The Great Courses
https://amzn.to/3D6mMgE
The Meditations of Marcus Auerlius: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations)
https://amzn.to/3BsYgWR
A History of Philosophy, Vol. 1: Greece and Rome From the Pre-Socratics to Plotinus, by Frederick Copleston
https://amzn.to/2Wuh6wX
The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine, by Eusebius (263-339), Penguin Classic, introduction by Andrew Louth
https://amzn.to/3eRbZgK
The Path of Christianity: The First Thousand Years Hardcover, by John Anthony McGuckin
https://amzn.to/2UHXMeW
The Early Church, by Henry Chadwick
https://amzn.to/36W9OUB
Lumen Fidei: Pope Francis on Faith (Presented by St. Jude Oshkosh Faith Forma...rsaley
What is the true meaning of faith? How does faith impact our lives?
This presentation gives Pope Francis's reflections on faith. It provides an overview of the major themes of his first encyclical letter, Lumen Fidei or "Light of Faith."
Deprecated for https://www.slideshare.net/jdigger/saint-augustine-29936693
A quick look at the life of Saint Augustine of Hippo and some of his thoughts.
Hillel and Shammai were rabbis in Palestine in the period before Jesus' ministry, and some of their teachings are similar to the teachings of Jesus, so it would be beneficial to ponder these similarities. The following story reflects Jesus’ discussion with the rich young man.
Once was a Gentile who came before Shammai and requested:
“Convert me to Judaism on condition that you will teach me the entire Torah while I stand on one foot.”
Shammai pushed the man away with the building rod he was holding.
Undeterred, the man then came before Hillel with the same request.
Hillel said to him, “That which is hateful unto you, do not do unto your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Now, go and study.” And Jesus, as well as St Augustine and many other Church Fathers, concur that this two-fold Love of God and love for our neighbor is the rock upon which our Christian faith should stand.
Please support our channel, if you wish to purchase these Amazon books we receive a small affiliate commission:
Hillel: If Not Now, When?, by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
https://amzn.to/3z6eK5S
The Book of Legends/Sefer Ha-Aggadah: Legends from the Talmud and Midrash
https://amzn.to/2WyaMVv
Our blogs are:
Hillel and Jesus, Reflections on Rabbi Telushkin's Observations
http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/hillel-and-jesus-reflections/
Comparing Hillel and Shammai to Jesus
http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/comparing-hillel-and-shammai-to-jesus/
More Stories and Sayings of Hillel and Shammai
http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/more-stories-and-sayings-of-hillel-and-shammai/
In 2018 Pope Francis and the Vatican issued an official Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete Et Exsultate, or in English, On the Call to Holiness In Today’s World. In the spirit of Vatican II, Pope Francis is not only addressing Catholics, he is addressing the challenges all Christians face when living in the modern world.
The Pope warns us of the spiritual dangers of social media. Yelling and screaming and bullying on social is discouraged, we must always remember that whatever we say on social media should make the world a slightly better place, that we should strive always for whatever we post on social media will increase in all of us greater love for our neighbor and our Love for God.
Catholics should not be one-issue voters, even when that one issue is abortion, but if Catholics do wish to be one-issue voters, that one issue should be social justice, which includes abortion and concern for the poor, the sick, the elderly, the sojourner, the immigrant, the widow, the orphan, and all other disadvantaged people. Black lives indeed matter very much to the Church.
Pope Benedict’s speech at Aparecida, the Conference of Latin American Bishops, chaired by the future Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, sought to affirm the preferential option for the poor of marginalized that Liberation Theology seeks, while also condemning the Marxist system as an oppressive system.
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/jF-fsMvYsak
Our blog: http://www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com/pope-francis-mentions-abortion-in-gaudete-et-exsultate-with-a-prayer-from-pope-benedict/
Please support our channel, if you wish to purchase these Amazon books we receive a small affiliate commission:
Catechism of the Catholic Church, UCSSB Bishop's Edition
https://amzn.to/3kca1sT
A Compendium of Texts Referred to in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
https://amzn.to/2W4cxK2
An introduction to Jesus for Unitarian Universalists, religious liberals, the spiritual but not religious, progressive Christians, skeptics, seekers, "Nones" and others.
A Matter of Plain Reason: Why Christians Must Believe in Joseph SmithRonald Kimmons
They say: "You believe in a different Jesus."
I say: "It is wonderful that you believe in Jesus. Since you do, you have to believe in living prophets, as prophetic guidance is an essential aspect of Christianity. And no one in modern times has a stronger case for being such a prophet than Joseph Smith."
The world knows Josemaría Escrivá (1902-75) best as the founder of Opus Dei and the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. Members of the Catholic Church know him best for his personal holiness and intercessory power, and so, on October 6, 2002, Pope John Paul II canonized Josemaría Escrivá, declaring him worthy all over the world of public veneration and imitation...
Blessed James Alberione attended the sessions of Vatican II He was perspicacious in regard to some of the documents in his founding of a religious family of institutes.
The Theology of Spirituality: It's Growing Importance Amid the Transformation...Jonathan Dunnemann
Abstract: This article raises issues surrounding the theology of spirituality as a relatively new theological focus. It argues that, faced with a changing world and numerous new (or perceived as new) phenomena, the theology of spirituality, as a scholarly area examining spiritual experience, is becoming a branch of
theological research of increasing importance. The first part of this article focuses on the ever-growing areas of interest found within the theology of spirituality, a growth stemming from the core of the field itself (agere sequitur esse). The second part emphasizes the newer areas of interest within the theology
of spirituality. These new horizons arise from the pluralism of theology itself and the criteria used in differentiating theological disciplines, such as ethno-geographic, doctrinal, and ascetic-practical concerns. In particular, amid a fast-changing world in which information and mutual contact have become incredibly accessible, the interpenetration of cultures and traditions can not only be of great value but also carry the dangers of a chaotic eclecticism. As this accessibility becomes ever easier and more pervasive, contemporary human beings can thus become confused, not only about their worldviews but also concerning their spiritual and religious beliefs. Thus, research into the theology of spirituality is becoming increasingly more important.
La veneracion correcta de la Virjen Maria.pdfadyesp
Algunos sin conocimiento en opiniones sobre la Santísima y Eterna Virgen, en sus esfuerzos se empeñan en ponerlo en lugar que solo pertenece a Dios". Pero lo que se trae a la Virgen es impertinente y arremolinada insensibilidad, y en lugar de ser una alabanza se consigue una blasfemia; y la Purísima Madre de Dios rechaza estos escapes de mentiras, siendo la Madre de la Verdad
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
Instructions for Submissions thorugh G- Classroom.pptxJheel Barad
This presentation provides a briefing on how to upload submissions and documents in Google Classroom. It was prepared as part of an orientation for new Sainik School in-service teacher trainees. As a training officer, my goal is to ensure that you are comfortable and proficient with this essential tool for managing assignments and fostering student engagement.
Welcome to TechSoup New Member Orientation and Q&A (May 2024).pdfTechSoup
In this webinar you will learn how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Introduction to the Philokalia, the Love of the Beautiful
1.
2. Today we will learn and reflect on the Philokalia.
The Philokalia is truly a spiritual treasure, when the Russian pilgrim in
the spiritual classic “The Way of the Pilgrim” dedicates his life to the
Lord, sells all that he has, seeking to pray ceaselessly, embarks on a
spiritual pilgrimage through the forests of Siberia, he only brings with
him in his travel bag the Holy Scriptures and the Philokalia, the
treasured writings of the early Church Fathers.
3. You may ask, why should we study the Philokalia?
The Philokalia is a collection of writings from the Eastern Church
Fathers, mostly from the first millennium before the church split
between the Catholic West and the Orthodox East. These writings
preserved the monastic traditions that first developed in the desert
sands of Egypt and were passed onto the west, influencing the
later monasticism of St Benedict and the west. These writings
quote the Holy Scriptures extensively.
Since we are human we tend to read the Scriptures narrowly as we
remember them, but when we encounter the Scriptures in the
Philokalia we realize how much we fall short of leading a truly
godly life.
4. At the end of our talk, we will discuss the sources
used for this video, and my blogs that also cover this
topic. Please, we welcome interesting questions in
the comments, sometimes these will generate short
videos of their own. Let us learn and reflect
together!
6. The Philokalia was a collection of writings gathered by the monks St
Makarios and St Nikodimos of Mount Athos. Mount Athos is on a
forbidding peninsula accessible only by boat on the east coast of Greece
that is occupied only by about twenty monasteries, many of which were
founded over a thousand years ago. Many of these monasteries had
spiritual writings centuries old, mostly addressed to monks, that were
crumbling and needed to be preserved. The monastic rules are strict, to
this day, only men are permitted to visit the monasteries. Each monk
has a spiritual advisor, often the abbot in charge of the monastery, who
guides him on his spiritual journey.
7.
8. St Makarios and St Nikodimos were hesychasts, a reform movement
that promoted deeper spirituality among monks and laity. The
hesychasts are best known for encouraging the Jesus prayer, in which
the supplicant repeatedly prays, Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have
mercy on me, a sinner. They feared that many of the monastic writings
might be lost, so they compiled and published a five-volume collection
of monastic writings known as the Philokalia in Venice in 1782.
Philokalia means love of the beautiful, it is a generic title, there have
been several compilations of writings of the Eastern Church Fathers
published in several languages over the centuries.
10. This Greek compilation was not comprehensive, this Greek Philokalia
did not include notable writings of the church fathers that were so well
known that their survival was not threatened. The works omitted
include the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St John Climacus, and the
writings of the Cappadocian Church Fathers, St Basil, St Gregory of
Nyssa, and St Gregory Nanzanius. Some of these works are included in
the Philokalias translated to other languages.
11. There was controversy surrounding the publication of the Philokalia.
Some monks felt that these works were too challenging for laymen,
that they should only be read by fellow monks under the guidance of a
spiritual director, but that would not eliminate the risk that one day
some of the works would be lost and forgotten.
St Makarios and St Nikodimos thought that the devout layman could
benefit from reading these works, although they were originally
written for fellow monastics. Indeed, isn’t the Christian life a monastic
calling at its core? Is not marriage a monastic calling, where each
spouse is called to place the interests of the other before their own?
Isn’t any human endeavor a monastic calling? This attitude can be
seen in his introduction to the Philokalia:
12. St Nikodimos in his intro:
“Some may object that it is not right to publish
certain texts in this volume, since they will
sound strange to the ears of many people, and
may even prove harmful to some of them.”
BUT: “Occasionally some people will go
slightly astray,” but many others, aided by inner
prayer “with all humility and in a spirit of
mourning,” will greatly benefit from the book.
PHILOKALIA: LOVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL
13. St Nikodemos explains how both the monk and the layman can strive
towards unceasing prayer:
14. St Nikodimos, “Unceasing prayer
should be practiced by all. Naturally,
the monastic life provides conditions,
such as quietness, solitude and
regularity, indispensable for that
concentration without which one
cannot advance far along the spiritual
path.” As long as the layman participate
in the Divine Liturgy and partakes of the
sacraments, “this path is open to all to
follow, each to the best of his or her
ability and whatever the circumstances
under which he or she lives.”
PHILOKALIA AND UNCEASING PRAYER
Saints of Mount Athos, in Romanian Skete
15. Translators in introduction say:
“Philokalia itself means love of the beautiful,
the exalted, the excellent, understood as the
transcendent source of life and the
revelation of Truth. It is through such love
that ‘the intellect is purified, illumined and
made perfect.’ . . . The Philokalia shows the
way to awaken and develop attention and
consciousness, to attain that state of
watchfulness which is the hallmark of
sanctity.”
PHILOKALIA: LOVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL
Kallistos Ware, translator
16. www.seekingvirtueandwisdom.com
The translators continue,
“The Philokalia is an itinerary through the
labyrinth of time, a silent way of love and
gnosis through the deserts and emptiness
of modern life.” The Philokalia is a
“summons to man to overcome his
ignorance, to uncover the knowledge that
lies within, to rid himself of illusion, and to
be receptive to the grace of the Holy Spirit
who teaches all things and brings all things
to remembrance.”
PHILOKALIA: LOVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL
18. Theme 1: “Nepsis, a key concept in
Eastern Christian spirituality, signifies
inner sobriety, lucidity, alertness,
watchfulness, and vigilance.” St
Hesychios in “On Watchfulness” links
Nepsis with “attentiveness, purity of
heart, guarding of the intellect, the
Jesus prayer, stillness, and
contemplation.”
Theme 2: “Hesychia, which is stillness
or silence of the heart,” and is also the
“shedding of thoughts, at type of inner
nakedness, of noetic poverty.”
THREE THEMES OF PHILOKALIA
Mount Athos, Agiou Dionysiou monastery
19. Theme 3: Jesus prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son
of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
“The Jesus prayer enables the intellect, or
nous, to descend into the heart, or kardia,
bringing about a union between the
two.” The Philokalia emphasizes that “the
invocation of the Name of Jesus should be as
far as possible continuous, for its purpose is
precisely to assist us to pray without ceasing (I
Thess. 5:17).” The Jesus prayer “should be as
far as possible unaccompanied by images
and discursive thinking, for its aim is equally
to initiate us into hesychia.”
THREE THEMES OF PHILOKALIA
St Gregory Palamas, Hesychast
20. How should you read the Philokalia?
Roughly, you should read the Philokalia chronologically, although you
can skip around if something in particular interests you. The Eastern
church fathers did not treasure originality, they would first repeat the
teachings of the monastics preceding them, and add their
observations, which means that much of what is in Volume 1 is
repeated in the succeeding volumes, which is good, because beauty is
worth repeating.
To gain the greatest benefit from reading the Philokalia, we
recommend that you read the translators’ introduction, and then study
the Glossary. Indeed, you may want to study the glossary each time
you read the Philokalia.
21. Language is what separates us from the beasts, language is what
enables us to study the divine, language allows us to remember the
past and plan for the future. When we mention tables and chairs and
burgers and beaches, everyone knows exactly what we are talking
about. But when we speak of spiritual concepts like faith, hope, and
love, everyone of us has a different concept of what these terms mean.
The translators have done us a great favor by drawing out the
definitions the writers of the Philokalia attach to these words so we do
not dilute their meaning with our shallow understanding.
22. FROM GLOSSARY OF PHILOKALIA: FAITH
FAITH: “Not only an individual or
theoretical belief in the dogmatic
truths of Christianity, but an all-
embracing relationship, an
attitude of love and total trust in
God. Faith transforms man’s
entire life. Faith is a gift of God,
the means whereby we are taken
up into the whole theanthropic
activity of God in Christ and of
man in Christ through which man
attains salvation.”
Katholikon of Zograf Monastery
23. In our modern world, we want a feel-good religion, and we are
suspicious when someone seeks to challenge us with an intellectual
understanding of our faith.
But the writers of the Philokalia reject this concept that somehow
Christian love and faith is incompatible with an intellectual
understanding of the faith, that this intellectualism somehow
impedes our faith.
The Philokalia rejects this, in the patristic understanding, the
intellect dwells in the depths of the soul. The Eastern concept of the
intellect does not separate the intellect from the emotions, instead
they are each bound up in the other.
24. FROM GLOSSARY OF PHILOKALIA: INTELLECT
INTELLECT, or in Greek, NOUS: “The
highest faculty of man, through
which, if he is purified, he knows
God or the inner essences or
principles of created things by direct
or spiritual apprehension.” . . . The
intellect can “understand divine truth
by immediate experience, intuition,
or ‘simple cognition.’ The intellect
dwells in the ‘depths of the soul,’ the
intellect is the innermost aspect of
the heart.”
NOETIC: “That which belongs to or
is characteristic of the intellect.”
Mount Athos fresco
25. The church fathers of the Philokalia believed that the intellect was
tied to both heart and soul.
26. FROM GLOSSARY OF PHILOKALIA: HEART
HEART: “Not simply the
physical organ but the spiritual
center of man’s being, his
deepest and truest self, or the
inner shrine, to be entered only
through sacrifice and death, in
which the mystery of the union
between the divine and the
human is consummated. As
the psalmist cried, ‘I called with
my whole heart’, with body,
soul, and spirit.”
Mount Athos, Dochiariou monastery
27. The church fathers of the Philokalia have an active definition of
discrimination, describing how we should exercise this trait in the
practice of our faith:
28. FROM GLOSSARY OF
PHILOKALIA: DISCRIMINATION
DISCRIMINATION: “a spiritual gift
enabling us to discriminate between the
types of thought that enter into our mind,
to assess them accurately and to treat
them accordingly.” We should seek the
“ability to distinguish between the
thoughts inspired by God and the
suggestions or fantasies coming from the
devil. Discrimination is a kind of eye or
lantern of the soul by which man finds his
way along the spiritual path without
falling into extremes; thus it includes the
idea of discretion.”
Saints of Mount Athos Icon in Grigoriou
by Veniamin from Galatista 1841
29. The church fathers of the Philokalia share with the Stoic philosophers
the need to control the passions.
30. FROM GLOSSARY OF PHILOKALIA: PASSION
In Greek, the word PASSION describes
what happens to a person as a passive
experience. “Many Greek fathers
regard the passions as intrinsically evil,
a ‘disease’ of the soul. For example, St
John Climacus affirms that God is not
the creator of the passions and that
they are ‘unnatural’, alien to a man’s
true self. Other Greek fathers look on
the passions as impulses originally
placed by God, and so fundamentally
good, though at present distorted by
sin. . . In this second view, the passions
should be educated, not eradicated; to
be transfigured, not suppressed; to be
used positively, not negatively.”
Moni Agiou Panteleimonos (Athos)
31. PREVIEW OF PHILOKALIA
Volume 1: Foundation of Philokalia
St Evagrios, then St John Cassian:
Early Church Fathers in monastic tradition
St Mark the Ascetic: Works and Righteousness
Appendix: Attributed to St Anthony the Great
In Greek Philokalia this was placed first,
this is a writing by a Stoic Philosopher
Volume 2: St Maximus the Confessor, and others
You should be eager to forgive your neighbor
Beauty of theology of Jesus as both God and man
Volume 3: St Peter of Damaskos, and others
Volume 4: St Symeon the New Theologian:
Three Methods of Prayer, and St Gregory Palamas,
esp. New Testament Decalogue
Volume 5: Other English translations are available
Mount Athos, Leinwand, painted 2015
32. SOURCES, The Four Volumes of the Philokalia,
Like the philosophy of the stoics, the Philokalia is enjoyable to read. Many will
say you cannot study the Philokalia with a spiritual guide, but when St Nikodemus
gathered the Greek collection on Mt Athos, his intention was to make this
wisdom available to the educated layman. So, give it a try, Taste and see that the
Lord is good.
And we have a collection of essays on the Philokalia, among these essays is an
exploration of how St Evagrios is one of the early church fathers who wrote on
monasticism. Also there is an essay on one of my favorite saints, St Maximus the
Confessor, and some essays with background on the Philokalia and monasticism.
33.
34. And we have the Way of a Pilgrim that we referred to in the beginning
of our talk, which we soon, in 2021, want to discuss in a future video
and blog. You want to purchase a volume that also contains the
sequel, The Pilgrim Continues His Way.
35. Our pilgrim asked a priest how he could pray
without ceasing, as the Scriptures bid us to do:
“Read the Philokalia, it tells you the science of
constant interior prayer, set forth by 25 holy Fathers.
The book has such lofty profitable wisdom that it is
considered the foremost and best manual of the
contemplative life.”
The pilgrim asked, “Is it more sublime and holy than
the Bible?”
“No, but it clearly explains what the Bible holds in
secret, and which cannot be easily grasped by our
shortsighted understanding. I will give you an
illustration. The Sun is the greatest, most
resplendent, and most wonderful of heavenly
luminaries, but you cannot contemplate it with
unprotected eyes.” But you can view the sun
through a piece of dark glass, “delight in it, and
endure its fiery rays.”
36. “The Holy Scriptures is also a dazzling sun, and the
Philokalia is the piece of glass we use so we cam
contemplate this spiritual sun in its imperial
splendor. Listen now, I am going to read you its
instruction on praying an unceasing interior prayer.”
“The priest opened the Philokalia, found the
instruction by St Symeon the New Theologian, and
read, ‘Sit down alone and in silence. Lower your
head, shut your eyes, breathe out gently, and
imagine yourself looking into your won heart. Carry
your mind, that is, your thoughts, from your head to
your heart. As you breathe out, say, <Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.> Say it
moving your lips gently, or simply say it in your mind.
Try to put all other thoughts aside. Be calm, be
patient, and repeat the process very frequently.”
St Symeon the New Theologian
37. PLEASE click on the link for our blogs on the Philokalia.
And on the links for our YouTube videos on the Greek Cynics and Stoic
philosophers, and for our blogs on St Justin the Martyr when they are
released, and other interesting videos that will broaden your
knowledge and improve your soul.