Rich
2020-05-13 07:42:17 UTC
On the Excellence of a Free Mind [I]
THE DISCIPLE:
Lord, one who desires perfection must make it his first task to keep
his mind at all times set on heavenly things. By so doing, he can pass
carefree through many troubles, not as one who has not the wit to
realize the dangers that beset him, but in the strength of a free
mind, unfettered by undue attachment to worldly things.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 26
<<>><<>><<>>
May 13th – St. John the Silent B (RM)
Also known as
John Hesychastes
John Sabaites
John Silentiarius
John the Silent
Memorial
7 December
3 December (Orthodox calendar)
30 March on some calendars
13 May of some calendars
Born at Nicopolis, Armenia, in 454; died near Jerusalem, 558. At the
death of his prominent parents when he was 20, John founded a
monastery and become a monk with ten companions in his native city.
Despite their youth, the little community led a most edifying life of
devotion and hard work. As their leader, John acquired a reputation
for sanctity that led to the archbishop of Sebaste's choosing him, at
age 28, as bishop of Colonia (Taxara), Armenia, against his will.
Nevertheless, for nine years he executed his episcopal functions with
zeal, even to the point of depriving himself of the necessities of
life in order to relieve the poor. As much as possible, he continued
to lead the life of a monk. Then his inability to remedy certain evils
combined with the pull of a secluded life. He resigned his position
and headed quietly for Jerusalem.
His vita says that in prayer one night, John saw a bright cross in the
air and heard a voice say, "If you want to be saved, follow this
light." At length he followed it to the laura of Saint Sabas near
Jerusalem. Hiding his episcopal dignity, he entered the monastery of
150 monks, where he spent the rest of his life. At first Saint Sabas
assigned him under the steward to fetch water, carry stone, and serve
the workmen building a new hospital. Having obediently carried out his
work in this position, Sabas made him guest-master.
When Sabas recognized that his novice was on the road to Christian
perfection, he allowed John to occupy a separate hermitage. John left
his cell only on Saturdays and Sundays to attend public worship in the
church. After three years as a hermit, he was chosen to be steward of
the laura.
Four years later, Saint Sabas thought John was worthy of ordination to
the priesthood. Upon their arrival at the church of Mount Calvary,
where John was to be presented to Patriarch Saint Elias for
ordination, he turned to the patriarch and said, "Holy father, I have
something to tell you in private: afterwards, if you judge me
suitable, I will receive holy orders." During the private interview
and after he bound the bishop to secrecy, John revealed: "Father, I
have been consecrated bishop. But on account of my many sins I have
fled and sought out this desert to await the coming of the Lord."
Elias reported to Sabas that he would be unable to ordain John because
of what he had revealed. As they returned to the laura, Sabas was
deeply grieved because he feared that John must have committed a
terrible crime. His fears were relieved when God revealed the
situation to him during his earnest prayer--but he was not to divulge
the secret.
In 503, both Sabas and John were forced to leave the laura for the
nearby desert. Six years later, when Sabas was recalled, John also
returned and lived in his hermitage for another forty years. Although
his humility and love of obscurity would have made the hidden life
preferable, John's sanctity and wisdom drew numerous people seeking
his advice. He now saw it was God's will to lead others to God. When
alone he occupied himself with uninterrupted exercises of love and
praise until his death (Benedictines, Walsh).
In art, Saint John is portrayed as a bishop with his finger on his
lips (Roeder).
Saint Quote:
Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to
ask the blessing of heaven.
--G. C. Lichtenberg
Bible Quote:
I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31
Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not,
with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. 32 And now I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build
up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified. (Acts
20:29-32)
<><><><>
God the End of Our Life [5]
Seek ye, therefore, first the Kingdom of God. (Matt. vi. 33.)
Our life is a circle: whence it first came, thither it must return. As
we proceeded from God, so we must go back to Him if our life is to be
a success. We can never find repose or lasting satisfaction in
anything except God. As long as we do not tend to Him, we shall be
fluctuating, inconstant, uncertain. Until we make Him the end of our
life, we shall feel that we are wandering about in the dark.
What do we mean by making God the end of our life? We mean that to do
His pleasure shall be the motive which shall be first and foremost,
and that when there is a choice between God's pleasure and our own,
when the two seem to be opposed, our disposition shall be to do God's
will and not our own. In spite of the pain involved in giving up his
own will, the man who makes God the end of his life will abandon it
without hesitation, and so will draw nearer to God, his last end.
Every time we do this we break down a barrier between God and
ourselves; we come nearer to the enjoyment of Him, we get a little
closer to Heaven. The self-willed man is never satisfied; the man
whose will is perfectly subjected to God is always happy. The Angels
are always happy because they have no will but God's. If I want to
find happiness in this world or the next, the first thing is to learn
to submit my will to God's.
Pray God to break down your self-will at any cost.
THE DISCIPLE:
Lord, one who desires perfection must make it his first task to keep
his mind at all times set on heavenly things. By so doing, he can pass
carefree through many troubles, not as one who has not the wit to
realize the dangers that beset him, but in the strength of a free
mind, unfettered by undue attachment to worldly things.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 26
<<>><<>><<>>
May 13th – St. John the Silent B (RM)
Also known as
John Hesychastes
John Sabaites
John Silentiarius
John the Silent
Memorial
7 December
3 December (Orthodox calendar)
30 March on some calendars
13 May of some calendars
Born at Nicopolis, Armenia, in 454; died near Jerusalem, 558. At the
death of his prominent parents when he was 20, John founded a
monastery and become a monk with ten companions in his native city.
Despite their youth, the little community led a most edifying life of
devotion and hard work. As their leader, John acquired a reputation
for sanctity that led to the archbishop of Sebaste's choosing him, at
age 28, as bishop of Colonia (Taxara), Armenia, against his will.
Nevertheless, for nine years he executed his episcopal functions with
zeal, even to the point of depriving himself of the necessities of
life in order to relieve the poor. As much as possible, he continued
to lead the life of a monk. Then his inability to remedy certain evils
combined with the pull of a secluded life. He resigned his position
and headed quietly for Jerusalem.
His vita says that in prayer one night, John saw a bright cross in the
air and heard a voice say, "If you want to be saved, follow this
light." At length he followed it to the laura of Saint Sabas near
Jerusalem. Hiding his episcopal dignity, he entered the monastery of
150 monks, where he spent the rest of his life. At first Saint Sabas
assigned him under the steward to fetch water, carry stone, and serve
the workmen building a new hospital. Having obediently carried out his
work in this position, Sabas made him guest-master.
When Sabas recognized that his novice was on the road to Christian
perfection, he allowed John to occupy a separate hermitage. John left
his cell only on Saturdays and Sundays to attend public worship in the
church. After three years as a hermit, he was chosen to be steward of
the laura.
Four years later, Saint Sabas thought John was worthy of ordination to
the priesthood. Upon their arrival at the church of Mount Calvary,
where John was to be presented to Patriarch Saint Elias for
ordination, he turned to the patriarch and said, "Holy father, I have
something to tell you in private: afterwards, if you judge me
suitable, I will receive holy orders." During the private interview
and after he bound the bishop to secrecy, John revealed: "Father, I
have been consecrated bishop. But on account of my many sins I have
fled and sought out this desert to await the coming of the Lord."
Elias reported to Sabas that he would be unable to ordain John because
of what he had revealed. As they returned to the laura, Sabas was
deeply grieved because he feared that John must have committed a
terrible crime. His fears were relieved when God revealed the
situation to him during his earnest prayer--but he was not to divulge
the secret.
In 503, both Sabas and John were forced to leave the laura for the
nearby desert. Six years later, when Sabas was recalled, John also
returned and lived in his hermitage for another forty years. Although
his humility and love of obscurity would have made the hidden life
preferable, John's sanctity and wisdom drew numerous people seeking
his advice. He now saw it was God's will to lead others to God. When
alone he occupied himself with uninterrupted exercises of love and
praise until his death (Benedictines, Walsh).
In art, Saint John is portrayed as a bishop with his finger on his
lips (Roeder).
Saint Quote:
Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to
ask the blessing of heaven.
--G. C. Lichtenberg
Bible Quote:
I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. 30 And of your own selves shall arise men
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31
Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not,
with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. 32 And now I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build
up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified. (Acts
20:29-32)
<><><><>
God the End of Our Life [5]
Seek ye, therefore, first the Kingdom of God. (Matt. vi. 33.)
Our life is a circle: whence it first came, thither it must return. As
we proceeded from God, so we must go back to Him if our life is to be
a success. We can never find repose or lasting satisfaction in
anything except God. As long as we do not tend to Him, we shall be
fluctuating, inconstant, uncertain. Until we make Him the end of our
life, we shall feel that we are wandering about in the dark.
What do we mean by making God the end of our life? We mean that to do
His pleasure shall be the motive which shall be first and foremost,
and that when there is a choice between God's pleasure and our own,
when the two seem to be opposed, our disposition shall be to do God's
will and not our own. In spite of the pain involved in giving up his
own will, the man who makes God the end of his life will abandon it
without hesitation, and so will draw nearer to God, his last end.
Every time we do this we break down a barrier between God and
ourselves; we come nearer to the enjoyment of Him, we get a little
closer to Heaven. The self-willed man is never satisfied; the man
whose will is perfectly subjected to God is always happy. The Angels
are always happy because they have no will but God's. If I want to
find happiness in this world or the next, the first thing is to learn
to submit my will to God's.
Pray God to break down your self-will at any cost.