The Evergetinos: Book Two - XXXII, Part IV

Philokalia Ministries

“Contrition is his very name!” This is how the authors describe a monk who not only is contrite of heart, but who also lives always in this state. What becomes clear in the writings and experience of the desert fathers is that contrition is the source of consolation. The capacity to see one’s sin, though painful, is also the path to healing. It draws us to God and creates a thirst in our heart that only he can satisfy.We might wonder how we, living in the world, can maintain the same state. It is not only by humbly acknowledging our sins before God or remembering our mortality. This certainly contributes to fostering such blessed mourning. Yet what truly shapes the heart is the realization that our soul, which is of greater worth to us than the whole world, has been deadened by sins and lies dying before us. One contemporary elder said that God loves an individual soul more than the entire cosmos! It is this vision of the beauty of the human soul and the depth of God‘s love that moves the heart the most to the sorrow that draws us back to the Beloved; that gives rise to the tears that become a source of true consolation. May God fill our hearts with such contrition and open our eyes to the depth of his love. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:13:21 Una: What page are we on in the Nun Christina translation? 00:14:09 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Not sure. I don’t have that translation 00:14:25 Janine: Page 182 nun christina 00:15:44 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 246, first full paragraph 00:18:11 Una: Thank you for the page number 00:21:38 wayne: Is there a difference between contrition and repentance? 00:29:08 Suzanne Romano: I'm hearing a beautiful dichotomy. The sense of being incapable of perfectly conforming to the will of God; and yet a deep consolation. 00:58:58 Rebecca Thérèse: song of Bernadette 00:59:06 Nypaver Clan: Song of Bernadette 01:04:29 Janine: St Gregory of Narak 01:05:08 Janine: From the depths of the heart 01:13:26 Sean Coe: Maintain a spirit of peace and you will save a thousand souls - St Seraphim of Sarov 01:18:19 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️ 01:18:27 Suzanne Romano: Pax! 01:18:32 Troy Amaro: Thank You Father. 01:18:37 Sean Coe: Thank you, Fr Charbel

About Podcast

Philokalia Ministries is the fruit of 30 years spent at the feet of the Fathers of the Church. Led by Father David Abernethy, Philokalia (Philo: Love of the Kalia: Beautiful) Ministries exists to re-form hearts and minds according to the mold of the Desert Fathers through the ascetic life, the example of the early Saints, the way of stillness, prayer, and purity of heart, the practice of the Jesus Prayer, and spiritual reading. Those who are involved in Philokalia Ministries - the podcasts, videos, social media posts, spiritual direction and online groups - are exposed to writings that make up the ancient, shared spiritual heritage of East and West: The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Saint Augustine, the Philokalia, the Conferences of Saint John Cassian, the Ascetical Homilies of Saint Isaac the Syrian, and the Evergetinos. In addition to these, more recent authors and writings, which draw deeply from the well of the desert, are read and discussed: Lorenzo Scupoli, Saint Theophan the Recluse, anonymous writings from Mount Athos, the Cloud of Unknowing, Saint John of the Cross, Thomas a Kempis, and many more.

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