The Forgotten Way

Illness can be a source of temptation. Stumbles can be an opportunity for repentance and renewal. Spouses are called to be there through it all. 

Perpetual availability can pull us out of real stability. 

 

We are at peace when we give up the idea of comfort and accept the circumstances, we find ourselves in with gratitude. 

Christ's first Gospel commandment was to repent. St. Isaac teaches us this life has been given to us for repentance. So how does this pillar of the spiritual life form our domestic monasteries? 

Why are we more attentive to the dangers that threaten our body than to the ones that threaten our soul? 

"There is nothing more tragic in all the world than wasted pain." Venerable Fulton Sheen 

Every trial, cross, and suffering is a time to unite our will to God's and a time of grace if we keep our heart open. 

Failure can guide you to the royal middle way.  

A Saturday afternoon with the Forgotten Woman. Something may be allowable, but that does not mean it is useful for eternal salvation. 

What if this is the last time we see each other, or the last time we talk, or the last time we have a chance to forgive? 

"He who cherishes his stomach and hopes to overcome the spirit of fornication, is like one who tries to put out a fire with oil. " St. John Climacus 

The world continues to cheapen the definition of marriage and run away from difficult marriages. But Christians of the true faith are called to put on the crown of martyrdom at marriage. 

Permanent spiritual formation is part of the rule for life and involves daily spiritual reading, turning to our spiritual father regularly, and good companionship. Permanent spiritual formation is not designed to win apologetic arguments or write sophisticated theological essays. Permanent spiritual formation is about learning the art of the spiritual life. 

St. Isaac the Syrian teaches that the foundation of all good things is built on two practices; stability of place and continual fasting. Today we will focus on cultivating stability of place. 

Saintly mothers raise saintly children as demonstrated through the lives of modern saints and elders. 

The day to repent is now so that the passions do not take root.

St. Isaac the Syrian teaches, "Fear for the body is often so strong in a man as to make him incapable of any deeds worthy of honor or praise."

Striving for uniformity with God's will in the midst of difficulties takes practicing perseverance and cultivating prayer in trials and hardships.

We have been blessed by the examples of our family and the saints to lay aside concern for personal health to come to the aid of the suffering. 

St. Isaac the Syrian prayed for the reptiles, St. Paisios was at peace with all creation, even vipers, and Fr. George Calciu befirended a cockroach while in isolation- what is our capacity to love all of creation? 

St. John Climacus, in Step 26 of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, provides an "alphabet for all" a combination of 24 ascetical practices meant to mortify the body, reorient our soul, and restructure our life. 

When the father leads the charge against spiritual attacks the whole family wins.

St. John of the Ladder is commemorated on the 4th Sunday of the Great Fast and on March 30th and here is why we love him.

Christianity is not always pleasant, and the world would like to make it polite and whitewashed instead of honest. Guile and discomfort frequently infect our conversations. 

1. Sunday through Thursday: Romanian Roundtable- Reflections on "Every Sigh Can Be a Prayer" the teachings of Elder Aresenie Papacioc

 

2. Friday- Faith Formation- Reflections on Catcheism: A Short Guide to Orthodox Christianity by Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev

 

3. Saturday: Saturday Afternoon at St. John's Skete

General confession is thorough cleansing of our soul that can help us grow in humility, avoid forgetfulness, and trust in God's mercy. 

All-Souls Saturdays are time to intensify our liturgies, prayers, alms, and sacrifices on behalf of the deceased. 

Celebrating sacrificial love. 

When we try to live apart from the world we begin to look at little foolish.

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 

The world knows that it is supposed to live liturgically. 

What is idle chatter and what are its consequences?

“When you make the beginning of a good deed, first prepare for the temptations that will come to you.” ~ St. Isaac the Syrian

"For this dear brother 

whether you will live a long or short life

throughout your life never forget,

do not forget that you will die." - St. Paisius of Sihastria 

The hidden snares of compliments sometimes draw blood. 

All I really want is to be able to do a metany by the time evening prayer rolls around on Christmas night, so we pre-examined the potential spiritual pitfalls heading into the Nativity. 

The modern elders encouraging and guiding us to preserve Baptismal grace.

We cannot allow ourselves to become attached to secondary goods and disciplines. Our primary aim is purity of heart and union with Christ.

Striving to overcome laziness and irritability in our work with diligence and interior peace. 

Zeal and fire can be extinguished by adding too much too soon. 

The spiritual struggle lasts until we are in the coffin. 

The flames of the passions can flare up long after we thought the fire of sin was out.

St. Isaac the Syrian says, "For a man can never complete the work of repentance."  

St. Augustine teaches, "If you have found and not restored you have stolen."

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run but one receives the prize, run in such a way that you may obtain it." 1 Corinthians 9:24 

"There is an evil spirit, called the forerunner, who assails us as soon as we awake from sleep and defiles our first thought." - St. John Climacus

There is an often a disconnect in the words we pray and the actions we take.

God calls us to Himself when our soul is most ready. 

Brazenness can plunge us over cliffs, fear can paralyze us, but trust keeps us moving forward on the path.

Have I watched over my children and the company they keep, the books they read, the entertainments they engage in, the social media they use?

Meaningful moments in the mundane. 

He who loves father, mother, or children more than Me is not worthy of me.  

Illness as medicine to the passions.

Behold the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night, will the door be opened for you?

The value of manual labor as a family.

Sometimes we need corrected, and it is done for our good done out of love.

"The world is thy ship and not thy home." St. Therese of Lisieux 

Scurvy may be preferrable over self-love. 

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Learning the need for firm purpose of amendment can be a painful process. 

Striving to live domestic monasticism. 

Rejecting comfort to prepare for the cross.

Keep mowers and marriages moving forward.

Cleaning out the car and cleaning out the soul.

Simple lessons on keeping the last things first.

We should never trust ourselves even in the small things. 

Trying to learn self-control as a family.