tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post5883644513734855834..comments2024-03-05T11:44:26.154-08:00Comments on The New Theological Movement: The Interior Life: That of the Apostles, and our ownFather Ryan Erlenbushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-8130855732542319162012-05-28T20:19:17.162-07:002012-05-28T20:19:17.162-07:00Father Ryan,
Is prayer a gift or is it given to us...Father Ryan,<br />Is prayer a gift or is it given to us in our nature in that we are made in the image and likeness of God? I think I am reading to much and getting confused. I think I read recently that there is no increase in charity given in baptisim? Is the growth discussed here our submission to His will or is it an actuall increase in the amount of charity in the soul?<br />Thank you,<br />Alan R.Alan Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-14210488413227412972012-05-28T06:44:34.920-07:002012-05-28T06:44:34.920-07:00Sorry, I wish I could contribute, but I have had l...Sorry, I wish I could contribute, but I have had little exposure to ways of prayer except for the basics. I appreciate your suggestions and hope to get in sync with a cycle of prayer. Being a beginner I am filled with many errors, so what is an obvious course of action for most is not so for me. <br /><br />I have been working through Michael Casey's <br />Sacred Reading which has been very helpful in getting me to slow down in my reading. I have started this practice on James. I will have more time in the summer to apply this to a larger work. <br /><br />Thank you!ColdStandinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309476438059947636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-83698200606437132302012-05-27T21:19:47.781-07:002012-05-27T21:19:47.781-07:00@Father S,
Yes, you are certainly correct ... &quo...@Father S,<br />Yes, you are certainly correct ... "beginners" are those who have already earnestly begun the life of grace.<br />As I say in the article, they have experienced the "first conversion" and truly strive to avoid mortal sin.<br />These are not worldly people, but are those who have begun to follow Christ.<br /><br />Thanks for stressing that fact! +Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-8752087560417420022012-05-27T21:18:35.589-07:002012-05-27T21:18:35.589-07:00@ColdStanding,
During the summer months, I often r...@ColdStanding,<br />During the summer months, I often recommend spending more time with Sacred Scripture ... especially with some of the books from the Old Testament.<br />Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings ... that would be a good start (trying for about 30min a day of prayerful reading).<br /><br />Also, June is the month of the Sacred Heart ... the Litany to the Sacred Heart is very good ... we can use it as a means to consecrate families to the Heart of Jesus! <br /><br />Do you have any other suggestions? :-)Father Ryan Erlenbushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07557817305024750902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-59777531513663387642012-05-27T15:46:41.158-07:002012-05-27T15:46:41.158-07:00It is important to understand how the term "b...It is important to understand how the term "beginner" ought to be understood. St. John of the Cross goes into some detail on this, though I cannot recall in which of his works. This term is not meant as the absolute beginner, but as one who is already familiar with the Christian life. It is not as if all souls naturally find themselves in the Purgative Way simply by being alive. It is not the default position. The essential characteristic of this first age--turning away from grave sin and abandonment to Providence (which is the same as overcoming the will)--necessitates that the soul in the Purgative Way is there by choice and not "spiritual geography," so to speak. In short, this entire process is predicated upon conversion. <br /><br />I have the blessed privilege of directing a number of souls. Very often, people seek out direction but have no intention of giving up sin. Quite to the contrary, it is as if they are looking for permission to sin, wanting to find some principal spiritual wound or defect that would give them license to sin in their favorite ways. It is very difficult to come to the moment when they (or any of us) can realize that turning away from sin and casting it aside without attachment is essential. <br /><br />I think that this comes down to the question to submission to the Divine Will. Submission inevitably leads to vulnerability and very often to a great deal of self-consciousness, akin to embarrassment. There comes a time when we need to be able to identify our weaknesses openly and plainly with our director and/or confessor. The choice to step away from sin and be ruled by God is, even then, a hard choice. We often speak of self-mastery, but it is a mastery of a certain type. It is not mastery in the sense that we can, of our own volition, easily stay firm in temptation. It is rather mastery in the sense that we cooperate with grace so that, in the moment of temptation, we take refuge in God's Will. Our vulnerability lies in letting ourselves be defended by God. <br /><br />I hope that this is clear and not too rambling. <br /><br />Kind Regards, <br />Father S. <br /><br />Kind Regards, <br />Father S.Father S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5578980753063154388.post-84209332350928124552012-05-27T11:52:50.615-07:002012-05-27T11:52:50.615-07:00What should we start praying next? Sure, the Rosa...What should we start praying next? Sure, the Rosary. That is continuous/daily, but is there another cycle of prayer that would be worthwhile at this time?<br /><br />Or, because we have come to the end of the Lenten season, is it a time to rest?<br /><br />My hope is for more prayer suggestions.ColdStandinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309476438059947636noreply@blogger.com