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The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter One: On Renunciation, Part I

Philokalia Ministries

Thank you to all who attended the group on the Ladder of Divine Ascent. It was wonderful to see so many with the desire to sit at the feet of the great Saint and teacher John Climacus. Synopsis: Tonight was our inaugural group reading the Ladder of Divine Ascent by Saint John Climacus. We allowed ourselves to jump immediately into the text with step number one “On Renunciation.” We will unpack things as we move forward; including the anthropology and the psychology of the fathers, the language used by Climacus and historical details from his life. In the first three paragraphs Climacus begins his writing with God, who he describes as the source of life and salvation for all, believers and unbelievers, just and unjust, pious and impious, educated and illiterate, healthy and sick, young and old. He then goes on to define the Christian and the monk and how their identity determines the way they live their lives. Freedom is set out as imperative. God has created all free beings and offers salvation to all. This is the essential frame in which we are to read the rest of the book and understand the ascetical life. We freely seek to give ourselves and our love to God and to embrace the love and grace that He has given to us. Our asceticism is not simply an act of endurance but rather an act of freedom and love. Outside of this the ascetical life loses any sense of purpose and meaning. Likewise we look to the elders, to the fathers in their virtue and purity of heart for their guidance in word and deed. They in turn engage us not as impartial observers or analysts but rather as those who are fellow strugglers in the pursuit of God and of the kingdom. It is the love and desire for the salvation of those in their charge that guides and directs their care of others. --- 19:27:40 From FrDavid Abernethy, CO : https://www.thepittsburghoratory.org/_files/ugd/5299f8_4fb9f89659424fcb997865abbdef4d24.pdf 19:29:16 From siobhan from pittsburgh : Hi Im Sandra 19:29:32 From Michele : Dave and Michele Berthelsen are here. 19:29:52 From siobhan from pittsburgh : not Siobhan 19:29:56 From Rachel : 🙏🏼 19:30:25 From kevinferrick : Hello everyone, newbie here from Boston. Hope I navigate the zoom alright 19:30:45 From Sr Mary of our Divine Savior solt : Hi, God bless, Sr. Mary of our Divine Savior 19:31:09 From Amil : Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, we are all pretty tiny. 19:31:23 From siobhan from pittsburgh : I love it!! 19:32:24 From Ambrose Little : https://pghco.org/climacus 19:33:24 From Carole DiClaudio : Hi Kevin! 19:33:46 From Carole DiClaudio : Hi Sr. Mary! 19:40:39 From Joseph Caro : If there is a handout, can the link be posted here? thanks! 19:40:58 From Sean McCune : https://www.thepittsburghoratory.org/_files/ugd/5299f8_4fb9f89659424fcb997865abbdef4d24.pdf 19:41:55 From Miika : Good Morning everyone! First time live! Miika from Finland 19:42:30 From Carol Nypaver : Very cool! Welcome, Miika! 19:42:37 From Carole DiClaudio : Hello Miika!!! 19:42:53 From Rachel : 2-3 years! I hope I have that many ( blessed) years. 19:43:35 From Carole DiClaudio : :) 19:47:38 From Erick Chastain : Sorry, I ended up breaking into this zoom room by pure luck I guessed the link. I didn't sign up 19:48:01 From Ashley Kaschl : 😂 19:48:31 From Debra : I always fumble around to find the link 19:48:31 From Erick Chastain : If Fr wants me to leave since I didn't sign up, he or Ren can notify me 19:48:47 From Debra : BTW...thank you Ambrose for the link! 19:49:03 From Ambrose Little : Write it on your heart and on your mind. 19:49:15 From Debra : It's a weird URL 19:52:27 From Ren : No worries Erick :-) All are welcome. Even the hackers ;-) 19:52:55 From Carol Nypaver : 🤣 19:52:55 From Fr. Miron Jr. : 🤣 19:54:02 From Anthony : Wow, this is different than - as in other teachings - "elect" and "reprobate" 19:55:42 From Ren : WOW. Beautiful. 19:56:20 From Jim Milholland : How poeti