Doctors of the Church and Perfection Series

Within the long perfection series, I remind readers that there are over 235 posts on the Doctors of the Church.

I have re-posted some in the past few weeks, just as a reminder, on some of the feast days of these great saints.

Part 104: Isidore of Seville and Perfection-Doctors of the Church Series

9th century Isidore in the Harley Collection of the British Library:

                          Isidore of Seville, Etymologiae (London, British Library, MS Harley 2686, f. 5r).

Isidore took what was natural, such things as astronomy and medicine, and saw these all in the light of God's gifts to humans. Flowers, herbs, gems, games, animals, laws, legal systems, architecture, rural boundaries, measurements, ships, clothing, colors, tools for building, tools for art, household items, food, recipes, vocabulary are all gifts, and he covers them all.

Here is Isidore on the soul, spirit and mind.


7. Soul (anima) takes its name from the pagans, on
the assumption that it is wind – hence wind is called
... Anemoi
in Greek, because we seem to stay alive by drawing air into the mouth. But this is quite clearly untrue,
since the soul is generated much earlier than air can betaken into the mouth, because it is already alive in the
mother’s womb. 8. Therefore the soul is not air, as was
believed by some people who were unable to grasp its
incorporeal nature. 9. The spirit (spiritus) is the same as
what the Evangelist calls the ‘soul’ when he says (John
10:18): “I have the power to lay down my soul (anima),
and I have the power to take it up again.” With regard
to the soul of the Lord at the time of his Passion, the
aforementioned Evangelist wrote in these words, saying (John 19:30): “And bowing his head, he gave up the
spirit (spiritus).” 10. What else can “to give up the spirit”
be if it is not to lay down one’s soul? – for soul is so
called because it is alive: spirit, however, is so called either
because of its spiritual (spiritalis) nature, or because it
inspires (inspirare) in the body.
11. In like manner some people say that the will
(animus) and the soul (anima) are the same, even though
soul is characteristic of life, while will is characteristic of
intention. Whence the philosophers say that life can continue to exist even without the will, 
and that the soul can
endure without the mind (mens) – which is why we use
the term ‘the mindless’ (amens). The mind is so called
in that it knows; the will, in that it desires.12. The mind
(mens) is socalled because it is eminent (eminere) in the
soul, or because it remembers (meminisse). This is why
one calls ‘forgetful people’ (immemoris) also ‘mindless’
(amens). Because of this, ‘mind’ is not the word we use
for the soul, but for that which is the superior part in the
soul, as if the mind were its head or its eye. It is for this
same reason also that the human being, due to his mind,
is said to be the image of God. Further, all these things
are adjoined to the soul in such a way that it is one entity.
Different terms have been allotted to the soul according
to the effects of its causes. 13. Indeed, memory is mind,
whence forgetful people are called mindless. Therefore it
is soul when it enlivens the body, will when it wills, mind
when it knows, memory (memoria) when it recollects,
reason (ratio) when it judges correctly, spirit when it
breathes forth, sense (sensus) when it senses something.
Will is said to be sense (sensus) with regard to what it
senses (sentire) –whence also the word ‘idea’ (sententia)
derives its name.

To be continued....

St. Isidore of Seville, pray for us

Patron of geeks, the Internet, computer users, ITs, programmers, et al

And, boy, do we need prayers.

Happy Feast Day, Isidore. He is highlighted in my Doctors of the Church series this weekend, so look forward to those postings.










He lived in a time when the classical order of the world was being destroyed from within and without.

Is he important for us, or what?

Post 102. Cyril of Jerusalem and Perfection: DoC series.

What a striking image this is from Cyril. That Christ was free among the dead. This refers to the harrowing of hell, the release of the just from what some theologians called limbo, not the same one as spoken in recent times.

Think on how Christ has raised you from the dead. Perfection begins in the realization that we are dead without Christ and His grace. "He who was free among the dead".

Now, therefore, the Dead is risen, He who was free among the dead, and the deliverer of the dead.  He who in dishonour wore patiently the crown of thorns, even He arose, and crowned Himself with the diadem of His victory over death.

Found here.

Part 101: Doctors of the Church and Perfection-Cyril of Jerusalem

So many people today deny sin, especially Original Sin, In addition, many sins are called "natural", such as sexual acts against nature. Cyril wrote on these problems and his words are as timely today as they were 1,800 years ago or so. Link is here.

The soul is immortal, and all souls are alike both of men and women; for only the members of the body are distinguished⁷¹⁶.  There is not a class of souls sinning by nature, and a class of souls practising righteousness by nature⁷¹⁷:  but both act from choice, the substance of their souls being of one kind only, and alike in all.  

Sin is not inbred; sin is not a result of nature but free choice. We are not born doomed to die in sin. On the contrary, this entire Holy Week is about Christ's Salvific Action of saving us and allowing us to be restored as children of God and heirs of heaven.

But, this means that God's immutable laws are to be respected, not changed.

I know, however, that I am talking much, and that the time is already long:  but what is more precious than salvation?  Art thou not willing to take trouble in getting provisions for the way against the heretics?  And wilt thou not learn the bye-paths of the road, lest from ignorance thou fall down a precipice?  If thy teachers think it no small gain for thee to learn these things, shouldest not thou the learner gladly receive the multitude of things told thee?

Perfection demands a mental, intellectual involvement in one's faith life. Ignorance is not an excuse.

21.  The soul is self-governed:  and though the devil can suggest, he has not the power to compel against the will.  

Satan cannot make you do anything against your will. This is key. However, you and I must strengthen our wills. Weakness of will is a result of original sin and it is part of our duty to learn how to resist evil and choose perfection, day after day. Hell is not a necessary choice. This is so important to understand.

One chooses heaven or hell; imperfection or perfection.

He pictures to thee the thought of fornication:  if thou wilt, thou acceptest it; if thou wilt not, thou rejectest.  For if thou wert a fornicator by necessity, then for what cause did God prepare hell?  If thou were a doer of righteousness by nature and not by will, wherefore did God prepare crowns of ineffable glory?  The sheep is gentle, but never was it crowned for its gentleness:  since its gentle quality belongs to it not from choice but by nature.

One cannot excuse one's self concerning sin.

To be continued....

Part 100: Doctors of the Church and Perfection-Cyril of Jerusalem

I am looking at this Doctor's copious works on catechesis and the mystagogia. One of the things which stands out in his writing is, thankfully, he insistence on seeking a life of perfection, but only after purification.

Cyril warns us of the dangers of this journey, as he knows that vice can look like virtue. He also, like all the Doctors so far, emphasizes orthodoxy, which must be accepted by those wanting to enter the Kingdom of God.

Here is a snippet and my comments are in blue"

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, &c.

1.  Vice mimics virtue, and the tares strive to be thought wheat, growing like the wheat in appearance, but being detected by good judges from the taste.  The devil also transfigures himself into an angel of light⁶³⁹; not that he may reascend to where he was, for having made his heart hard as an anvil⁶⁴⁰, he has henceforth a will that cannot repent; but in order that he may envelope those who are living an Angelic life in a mist of blindness, and a pestilent condition of unbelief.  

The devil is not obvious in his deceit. He is more than cunning, he is brilliant intellectually and watches us for weaknesses. But, what does Cyril mean when he states that vice mimics virtue? We see this daily in the false use of the words "love", "committment", "care" and so on with regard to abortion, contraception, euthenasia and same-sex unions. Language is twisted to seem virtuous when the ideals depart from Revelation and natural law.

Many wolves are going about in sheeps’ clothing⁶⁴¹, their clothing being that of sheep, not so their claws and teeth:  but clad in their soft skin, and deceiving the innocent by their appearance, they shed upon them from their fangs the destructive poison of ungodliness.  We have need therefore of divine grace, and of a sober mind, and of eyes that see, lest from eating tares as wheat we suffer harm from ignorance, and lest from taking the wolf to be a sheep we become his prey, and from supposing the destroying Devil to be a beneficent Angel we be devoured:  for, as the Scripture saith, he goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour⁶⁴².  This is the cause of the Church’s admonitions, the cause of the present instructions, and of the lessons which are read.

Grace, as defined and described in the mini-series of the last few days, is absolutely necessary. And, grace is connected to the acceptance and belief in the doctrines of the Church.

2.  For the method of godliness consists of these two things, pious doctrines, and virtuous practice:  and neither are the doctrines acceptable to God apart from good works, nor does God accept the works which are not perfected with pious doctrines.  For what profit is it, to know well the doctrines concerning God, and yet to be a vile fornicator?  And again, what profit is it, to be nobly temperate, and an impious blasphemer?  A most precious possession therefore is the knowledge of doctrines:  also there is need of a wakeful soul, since there are many that make spoil through philosophy and vain deceit⁶⁴³.  

Sadly, in this day of television and Internet evangelization, there are too many false prophets. Men and women who claim to know God but support contraception or same-sex unions. 

One must be always looking at preachers of all kinds with the eyes of Christ. If one is in a prayer group which is not upholding the teachings of the Catholic Church and yet claims to be spirit-filled, beware.

The Greeks on the one hand draw men away by their smooth tongue, for honey droppeth from a harlot’s lips⁶⁴⁴:  whereas they of the Circumcision deceive those who come to them by means of the Divine Scriptures, which they miserably misinterpret though studying them from childhood to old age⁶⁴⁵, and growing old in ignorance.  But the children of heretics, by their good words and smooth tongue, deceive the hearts of the innocent⁶⁴⁶, disguising with the name of Christ as it were with honey the poisoned arrows⁶⁴⁷ of their impious doctrines:  concerning all of whom together the Lord saith, Take heed lest any man mislead you⁶⁴⁸.  This is the reason for the teaching of the Creed and for expositions upon it.

The road to perfection begins with the Creed.

To be continued....

Just for fun, a cool site on sunken cities...

http://all-that-is-interesting.com/post/8395804085/sunken-cities-of-the-ancient-world

A short thought from Cyril of Alexandria: Part 98: DoC and Perfection

Alexandria on the map in ancient times

On Zephaniah 3:14-20 from here and my comments in blue.

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

[...] As far as the deeper meaning of this passage is concerned, it clearly commands Jerusalem to rejoice exceedingly, to be especially glad, to be joyful wholeheartedly as its sins are wiped out through Christ.The spiritual and holy Zion – that is, the Church, the holy multitude of believers – is justified in Christ and only in him.

Only the Church is holy and therefore, if we are with the Church, we have a chance for holiness.

By him and through him we are also saved as we escape from the harm of the invisible enemies, for we have a Mediator who was incarnated in our form, the King of all, who is the Word of God the Father.Thanks to him, we have been delivered from the powers of evil.

If we allow God to purify us, we shall be freed from evil.

The Word of God is the armour of good will, the peace, the wall, the one who bestows incorruption, the arbiter of crowns, who has ended the war of the incorporeal Assyrians and made void the schemes of the demons. Do not fear, O Zion, let not your hands grow weak.

God wants the Church, the new Zion, to be strengthened by the grace of Christ.

[...] We have heard Christ himself renewing this ancient prophecy when he says that,you will have affliction in this world but have confidence, for I have overcome the world.

However, we shall suffer. There is no way around this....

For now he is in our midst as a strong warrior who gives victory we have no excuse to be feeble handed and weak kneed. Now we too can be confident that Christ who is the all-powerful God in our midst can redeem and save those who believe in him.

We must look to Christ and not to men.

For he dwells in our hearts through the Spirit and he has given us a spiritual and worthy joy.Why had the Holy Spirit been given us except in order to be our delight and joy and the grounds of our spiritual happiness?

St. Therese, the Little Flower, expressed that she had "unfelt joy"; we look not for consolation, but for inner peace and confidence in God despite all ills.

When Christ gave us joy through the Holy Spirit he renewed us by his own love. [...] He indeed laid down his own life and was numbered for our sake among the dead. Although by nature he was Life, he returned to life and renewed our nature in newness of life and restored it to its first likeness:  if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. For it pleased our God and Father to restore all things in him.

This restoration is real, not merely a cover-up or imputing. We are made new in Christ and the Father restores all things to Christ. We, too, become new creations, if we cooperate with grace.

Therefore Christ gathered together those who had been smashed up by sin, those Satan had torn apart and enfeebled, and, although they didn’t know what was happening, he brought them back to enter the straight paths of the way of justice.

Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376-444): Commentary on Zephaniah 43-44 (PG 71:1013-1017); tr Pluscarden;  from the Monastic Office of Vigils, Sunday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1.

Tomorrow, I begin to look at Cyril of Jerusalem...

Part 83: DoC and Perfection: Hilary of Poitiers

Of course, you know his name means "happy". For homeschooling parents who follow the Oxford Term, his feast day marks the beginning of Hilary Term, on or about January 13th. This saint is also the patron of children with learning disabilities. He himself was classically educated, which warms my heart.

Here is more from this great French Doctor. This is a long passage, but I did not want to break it up. Again, it is from the saint's book on the Trinity. My comments are in blue.

You hear the words, I and the Father are one⁶⁴⁹. Why do you rend and tear the Son away from the Father? They are a unity: an absolute Existence having all things in perfect communion with that absolute Existence, from Whom He is. When you hear the Son saying, I and the Father are one, adjust your view of facts to the Persons; accept the statement which Begetter and Begotten make concerning Themselves. Believe that They are One, even as They are also Begetter and Begotten. Why deny the common nature? Why impugn the true Divinity? You hear again, The Father in Me, and I in the Father⁶⁵⁰. 

Of course, Hilary is writing to the Arians, but also to us who are seeking perfection. Why? We must come to the realization of the Indwelling of the Trinity in us, through baptism and confirmation,  so that we do not squander our lives in foolishness, seeking either fame, fortune or false loves.

The only thing that matters is to desire and try to be saints, and saints are made, though suffering and grace. As the Trinity is one, so to we shall be one in God. This is our call, this is our goal. Hilary is, like Augustine and the others, not speaking from mere reflection or meditation, but from experience. He knew the Trinity from his conversion, from his walk with God, in his intellect, will, soul. As there is a perfect fullness of Christ in the Trinity, so as creatures, we are called to a perfection as much as we were created to be, to have, in Christ and in the Father, through the Spirit. As Christ is one, so we have our source in God and we, hopefully, go back to God at the end of our lives.

That this is true of Father and of Son is demonstrated by the Son’s works. Our science cannot envelope body in body, or pour one into another, as water into wine; but we confess that in Both is equivalence of power and fulness of the Godhead. For the Son has received all things from the Father; He is the Likeness of God, the Image of His substance. The words, Image of His substance⁶⁵¹, discriminate between Christ and Him from Whom He is, but only to establish Their distinct existence, not to teach a difference of nature; and the meaning of Father in Son and Son in Father is that there is the perfect fulness of the Godhead in Both. The Father is not impaired by the Son’s existence, nor is the Son a mutilated fragment of the Father. An image implies its original; likeness is a relative term. Now nothing can be like God unless it have its source in Him; a perfect likeness can be reflected only from that which it represents; an accurate resemblance forbids the assumption of any element of difference. Disturb not this likeness; make no separation where truth shews no variance, for He Who said, Let us make man after our image and likeness⁶⁵², by those words Our likeness revealed the existence of Beings, Each like the Other. Touch not handle not, pervert not. Hold fast the Names which teach the truth, hold fast the Son’s declaration of Himself. I would not have you flatter the Son with praises of your own invention; it is well with you if you be satisfied with the written word.

The image is our soul and its faculties and the likeness is grace, states St. Bernard. We have lost the likeness, through sin, and regain it in and through Christ and His Church, through the sacramental life of the Church.

24. Again, we must not repose so blind a confidence in human intellect as to imagine that we have complete knowledge of the objects of our thought, or that the ultimate problem is solved as soon as we have formed a symmetrical and consistent theory. Finite minds cannot conceive the Infinite; a being dependent for its existence upon another cannot attain to perfect knowledge either of its Creator or of itself, for its consciousness of self is coloured by its circumstances, and bounds are set which its perception cannot pass. 

We come to perfect knowledge of God through grace. This is a free gift from God, and when the CCC refers to 'divine life" in us, the authors mean grace. 

That we are totally dependent on grace to become perfect is a sure thing. We can chose to cooperate or not.

Its activity is not self-caused, but due to the Creator, and a being dependent on a Creator⁶⁵³ has perfect possession of none of its faculties, since its origin lies outside itself. Hence by an inexorable law it is folly for that being to say that it has perfect knowledge of any matter; its powers have limits which it cannot modify, and only while it is under the delusion that its petty bounds are coterminous with infinity can it make the empty boast of possessing wisdom. For of wisdom it is incapable, its knowledge being limited to the range of its perception, and sharing the impotence of its dependent existence. And therefore this masquerade⁶⁵⁴ of a finite nature boasting that it possesses the wisdom which springs only from infinite knowledge earns the scorn and ridicule of the Apostle, who calls its wisdom folly. He says, For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, not in the language of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to them that are perishing, but unto them that are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent I will reject. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the enquirer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, God decreed through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews indeed a stumbling-block and to Gentiles foolishness, but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the weakness of God is stronger than men, and the foolishness of God is wiser than men⁶⁵⁵. Thus all unbelief is foolishness, for it takes such wisdom as its own finite perception can attain, and, measuring infinity by that petty scale, concludes that what it cannot understand must be impossible. Unbelief is the result of incapacity engaged in argument. Men are sure that an event never happened, because they have made up their minds that it could not happen.

This means that all have the capacity to come to God and become one with Him. God does the work in us, if we but desire and cooperate.
The works we do are useless unless we are at the stage where God is doing the work through us. Look at the last two lines above. Unbelief stops the process of growing in holiness. The mind narrows and becomes concerned about useless things. Priorities change.

Some people give up, stating that holiness is not possible or too hard. I have heard people say that Catholicism is too hard. That is Hilary's point here. It is hard, but not impossible.

If we create a blockage in our own minds that we can never achieve holiness, perfection, then we shall not to do.

25. Hence the Apostle, familiar with the narrow assumption of human thought that what it does not know is not truth, says that he does not speak in the language of knowledge, lest his preaching should be in vain. To save himself from being regarded as a preacher of foolishness he adds that the word of the cross is foolishness to them that perish. He knew that the unbelievers held that the only true knowledge was that which formed their own wisdom, and that, since their wisdom was cognisant only of matters which lay within 

Does this sound familiar?

their narrow horizon, the other wisdom, which alone is Divine and perfect, seemed foolishness to them. Thus their foolishness actually consisted, in that feeble imagination which they mistook for wisdom. Hence it is that the very things which to them that perish are foolishness are the power of God to them that are saved; for these last never use their own inadequate faculties as a measure, but attribute to the Divine activities the omnipotence of heaven. 

Hilary's great insight...those who do not believe in the Perfection of Christ do not believe in the possibility of their own...

Sadly, so many atheists hold this position today, as do many Protestants. They accept what is...rather than what can be.

God rejects the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent in this sense, that just because they recognise their own foolishness, salvation is granted to them that believe. Unbelievers pronounce the verdict of foolishness on everything that lies beyond their ken, while believers leave to the power and majesty of God the choice of the mysteries wherein salvation is bestowed. There is no foolishness in the things of God; the foolishness lies in that human wisdom which demands of God, as the condition of belief, signs and wisdom. 

How many people make bargains with God? Bargaining is NOT part of the road to perfection. We cannot say, "God, if you do this, I shall do that."  We cannot ask for consolations. On the contrary, many of God's closest friends did not have consolations. Hilary was married and had a daughter, His wife and daughter both died. He lived like a lay brother, as a secular monk. He did not have consolations. 

If we get stuck in seeking consolations instead of absorbing suffering gladly, we shall not reach perfection and we shall not see God. This is why the Cross is so important to both St. Paul and St. Hilary  They know from experience that suffering brings goodness, purity, direction, enlightenment.

It is the foolishness of the Jews to demand signs; they have a certain knowledge of the Name of God through long acquaintance with the Law, but the offence of the cross repels them. The foolishness of the Greeks is to demand wisdom; with Gentile folly and the philosophy of men they seek the reason why God was lifted up on the cross. And because, in consideration for the weakness of our mental powers, these things have been hidden in a mystery, this foolishness of Jews and Greeks turns to unbelief; for they denounce, as unworthy of reasonable credence, truths which their mind is inherently incapable of comprehending. But, because the world’s wisdom was so foolish,—for previously through God’s wisdom it knew not God, that is, the splendour of the universe, and the wonderful order which He planned for His handiwork, taught it no reverence for its Creator—God was pleased through the preaching of foolishness to save them that believe, that is, through the faith of the cross to make everlasting life the lot of mortals; that so the self-confidence of human wisdom might be put to shame, and salvation found where men had thought that foolishness dwelt. 

I love this passage. It is our weaknesses, our "crosses" which bring us to perfection. But, we must crave, desire, with our whole hearts, and minds and souls the splendour which is a Person, Who is God. Not the law saves us, although once we are in Christ the law becomes easy. It is Christ Who saves us.

For Christ, Who is foolishness to Gentiles, and offence to Jews, is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God; because what seems weak and foolish to human apprehension in the things of God transcends in true wisdom and might the thoughts and the powers of earth.

26. And therefore the action of God must not be canvassed by human faculties; the Creator must not be judged by those who are the work of His hands. We must clothe ourselves in foolishness that we may gain wisdom; not in the foolishness of hazardous conclusions, but in the foolishness of a modest sense of our own infirmity, that so the evidence of God’s power may teach us truths to which the arguments of earthly philosophy cannot attain. 

Hilary is writing to the Dawkins of this world, to the list of foolish people found here, and there are so many: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_atheists  (Why is the list of English atheists in politics so much longer than that of other countries?)

Hilary is also talking to the New Age proponents-the real holders of earthly philosophy.

For when we are fully conscious of our own foolishness, and have felt the helplessness and destitution of our reason, then through the counsels of Divine Wisdom we shall be initiated into the wisdom of God; setting no bounds to boundless majesty and power, nor tying the Lord of nature down to nature’s laws; sure that for us the one true faith concerning God is that of which He is at once the Author and the Witness.

Do not set boundaries to the graces that God wants to give to you. Do not limit Him or yourself in Him. If you limit His grace, you will not gain heaven, because the mediocre become evil so quickly.

To be continued...

Moving on in the series...

Monstrance displaying the Host on the altar flanked by St. Peter on the left and St. Paul on the right. The Four Latin Church Fathers are seated adjacent to the altar: Sts Gregory and Jerome on the left and Sts. Ambrose and Augustine on the right. The head of St. Peter appears to be based on the likeness of Pope Julius II With thanks to http://goo.gl/HHDA9

http://supertradmum-etheldredasplace.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/doc-held-off-until-monday-but-then.html

Now, I can add SS. Gregory and Leo to the list on the post above.

I hope you have time to read the ones on St. Jerome. I feel like he is speaking to us today.

Part 79 of DoC: St. Leo the Great and Perfection

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God...  Great is the happiness, beloved, of him for whom so great a reward is prepared. What, then, is it to have the heart pure, but to strive after those virtues which are mentioned above? And how great the blessedness of seeing God, what mind can conceive, what tongue declare? And yet this shall ensue when man's nature is transformed, so that no longer in a mirror, nor in a riddle, but face to face 1 Corinthians 13:12  it sees the very Godhead as He is 1 John 3:2, which no man could see ; and through the unspeakable joy of eternal contemplation obtains that which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man.  Rightly is this blessedness promised to purity of heart. For the brightness of the true light will not be able to be seen by the unclean sight: and that which will be happiness to minds that are bright and clean, will be a punishment to those that are stained. Therefore, let the mists of earth's vanities be shunned, and your inward eyes purged from all the filth of wickedness, that the sight may be free to feed on this great manifestation of God. For to the attainment of this we understand what follows to lead.

What St. Leo is describing is the Illuminative State, wherein, those who have been through purification, willingly accepting the suffering necessary to become pure, finally have an illumined mind, conscience, heart, soul, will.

At this stage, one begins to see one's relationship with God as love and experience a power and clarity of mission as never before.

It would be wished that most men and women who are working in and for the Church would attain this level of grace before actually working. 

Goodbye to Leo, for now And, one to the next set in a few days. St. Leo is not one of the Latin Fathers, but as his papacy and that of St. Gregory's are probably the most important in the classical period, I have put them in the same grouping. 

Part 78: DoC: St. Leo I, the Great continued...

From several sources found here and there. The assumption here is that we all can be pure and holy: that is, perfect. The Great Doctor of Doctrine calls his flock, and us, in these Lenten sermons, to perfection.

Although, dearly-beloved, as the Easter festival approaches, the very recurrence of the season points out to us the Lenten fast, yet our words also must add their exhortations which, the Lord helping us, may be not useless to the active nor irksome to the devout. For since the idea of these days demands the increase of all our religious performances, there is no one, I am sure, that does not feel glad at being incited to good works. For though our nature which, so long as we are mortal, will be changeable, is advancing to the highest pursuits of virtue, yet always has the possibility of falling back, so has it always the possibility of advancing. And this is the true justness of the perfect that they should never assume themselves to be perfect, lest flagging in the purpose of their yet unfinished journey, they should fall into the danger of failure, through giving up the desire for progress.

One of the key points here is that we cannot ease up on our pursuit of holiness. This road is not one from which we can break for a side-road to a vacation. 

If we are not advancing, we shall be sliding back. This is a truism we have heard many times. How do we keep up the pursuit, among so many stresses and distractions? By prayer and by encouragement from those around us who want to also become perfect.


And, therefore, because none of us, dearly beloved, is so perfect and holy as not to be able to be more perfect and more holy, let us all together, without difference of rank, without distinction of desert, with pious eagerness pursue our race from what we have attained to what we yet aspire to, and make some needful additions to our regular devotions. For he that is not more attentive than usual to religion in these days, is shown at other times to be not attentive enough.

If you want to know why he is called "Great", look here.

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This section below is so important. By wicked imaginings, Leo does not merely mean temptations of the carnal sort, but the entertaining of false teachings, false seers, gnosticism and so on. I have written many times on this blog that one CANNOT begin the long and difficult journey towards perfection without first being orthodox.

Having a mind like the mind of Christ means having a mind in keeping with the teaching of Christ's Church. 

If one has any area of one's life which is not following the moral or doctrinal teachings of the Church, one cannot be perfected.

We know indeed, dearly-beloved, your devotion to be so warm that in the fasting, which is the forerunner of the Lord's Easter, many of you will have forestalled our exhortations. But because the right practice of abstinence is needful not only to the mortification of the flesh but also to the purification of the mind, we desire your observance to be so complete that, as you cut down the pleasures that belong to the lusts of the flesh, so you should banish the errors that proceed from the imaginations of the heart. For he whose heart is polluted with no misbelief prepares himself with true and reasonable purification for the PaschalFeast, in which all the mysteries of our religion meet together. For, as the Apostle says, that all that is not of faith is sin Romans 14:23, the fasting of those will be unprofitable and vain, whom the father of lying deceives with his delusions, and who are not fed by Christ's true flesh. As then we must with the whole heart obey the Divine commands and sound doctrine, so we must use all foresight in abstaining from wicked imaginations. For the mind then only keeps holy and spiritual fast when it rejects the food of error and the poison of falsehood, which our crafty and wily foe plies us with more treacherously now, when by the very return of the venerable Festival, the whole church generally is admonished to understand the mysteries of its salvation. 

To be confessor to Christ is to believe in the Creed. If we believe what we say on Sunday, we are confessing our faith and if we live according to those beliefs, we are orthodox.

For he is the true confessor and worshipper of Christ's resurrection, who is not confused about His passion, nor deceived about His bodily nativity. For some are so ashamed of the Gospel of the Cross of Christ, as to impudently nullify the punishment which He underwent for the world's redemption, and have denied the very nature of true flesh in the Lord, not understanding how the impassible and unchangeable Deity of God's Word could have so far condescended for man's salvation, as by His power not to lose His own properties, and in His mercy to take on Him ours. And so in Christ, there is a twofold form but one person, and the Son of God, who is at the same time Son of Man, is one Lord, accepting the condition of a slave by the design of loving-kindness, not by the law of necessity, because by His power He became humble, by His power passible, by His power mortal; that for the destruction of the tyranny of sin and death, the weak nature in Him might be capable of punishment, and the strong nature not lose anything of its glory.

Being holy means clinging to Christ, His Person, His Church.

Confusion cannot be in the mind, nor sin in the heart of the one who wants to be like Christ is all things.

To be continued...