☦️The Life of St. Anthony, Father of Monasticism

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[TexasProgresive]

1. Thank you for that.

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2. 💙

I couldn't do monastic life at the present time. Although our Faith says practice as best you can at home, in your personal life. No need to head off to a monastery. But I thank God for all monastics. They have little earthly cares getting them sidetracked from praying for all and every thing.

One in CA is praying for poor feeble sprink...

[TexasProgresive]

3. Some time back I read books about or by Charles Eugne de Foucauld.

He was a soldier, explorer who then became a hermit living in the Sahara with the Tuareg as a priest. He envisioned the formation of communities he called Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus. This did not happen during his live time but has sense grown into a movement.

Something I remember from his writings is that we do not have to go to the desert. We just need to find the desert within. A Franciscan Priest, Fr. Richard Rohr started The Center for Contemplation and Action headquartered in Santa Fe, NM that you might find helpful.
https://cac.org/

I think that you are Orthodox and these are Catholic groups but truth is truth.

I am a "cradle Catholic" who nearly lost his faith because of a stupid book. I was brought back to right thinking by a little community in Houston, Texas of Latin Rite Catholic who were allowed to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Melchite Catholic Rite. The Liturgy revitalized my faith and I began to understand that the issue I had was not present in the Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches.

I know we are not in Paschal time but every Sunday is a time to celebrate the Resurrection with The Paschal troparion.



As I learned it - Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tomb, restoring life!

This youtube of the Paschal troparion is glorious. It gives a hint of the true glory of heaven. I would call it an audio ikon, a sound window into heaven.

Even the gates of Hell shall not prevail

Christ in Limbo - Fra Angelico

Pray for me when you attend the Divine Liturgy and I will of you at the Mass.

[sprinkleeninow]

4. You have given me a beautiful gift this day, my brother in Christ.

Baptized and Chrismated at 40 days 'new', I continue on the road of theosis, please God. Every day, [hourly,] I stumble and fall down. A Greek Orthodox priest I had the chance of meeting at one year's festival at the church we communicated at a while ago said, "After the gift of salvation, He gave us the gift of repentance."

As you have shown, every Sunday is a Day of Resurrection. Christ Is Risen! Indeed He Is Risen!

I attended a Catholic high school for two years. My dad promised I could, then passed away suddenly. My mom said, "Daddy made a promise and you go." I excelled--IN LATIN! I made second honor roll my sophomore year. Then I mistakenly switched to the public h.s. to save my mom money for tuition. I did well, but the guidance and structure at the Catholic school was missing here.

You had been brought back from the 'brink' of having your Faith subside. The enemy is lethal.

Grateful for your posting these. You've done my heart good.

I will offer prayers for you at our church community, and at another. Also, at the Monastery of St. John in CA.

In XC,
💖

[TexasProgresive]

6. You taught me a new word that is Greek, theosis.

I was sure I knew what it meant and was right- deification or divination. St. Athanasius has it, "becoming by grace what God is by nature" As a Deacon I have the privilege of adding the water to the wine before the consecration with the prayer that is theosis, “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.”

Tis a mystery that our Father in heaven wants us His children to be like God. But then we are created in the image and likeness of God.

[sprinkleeninow]

7. It sounds profane/heretical, but it's not. Become 'like' God, not become God.

>>It is said that St Basil stated: "We are to strive to become little gods, within God, little jesus christs within Jesus Christ". In other words, Orthodox Christians must seek perfection in all things in their lives; and strive to acquire Godly virtue."<<
Attribution: Wikipedia

Orthodox and Roman Catholics were one once.
Imagine...

[sprinkleeninow]

5. I also meant to say my thinking--we are/could be seen as being in a desert of sorts presently. 💙