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Wednesday 6 November 2013
Note and Pray for Malta, Please
Signs of Contradiction in the World
I told a friend of mine yesterday that she was a sign of contradiction in the world. Those who were Fools for Christ were such, including St. Francis.
Here is a bit on Xenia of Saint Petersburg. I am intrigued by her for many reasons including the fact that ten years ago some of my students, knowing about my warrior status in the Church Militant, brought a huge poster into the classroom of Zena, Warrior Princess, which was their nickname for me. I honestly do not feel like a warrior, today, as I am very battle weary.
Well, here is a real Xenia Warrior Princess in the Church Militant.
From Wiki; and photo of icon as well:
Here is a bit on Xenia of Saint Petersburg. I am intrigued by her for many reasons including the fact that ten years ago some of my students, knowing about my warrior status in the Church Militant, brought a huge poster into the classroom of Zena, Warrior Princess, which was their nickname for me. I honestly do not feel like a warrior, today, as I am very battle weary.
Well, here is a real Xenia Warrior Princess in the Church Militant.
From Wiki; and photo of icon as well:
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St._Xenia_of_Saint_Petersburg.jpg |
Saint Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg (Russian: Святая блаженная Ксения Петербургская [Xenia Grigoryevna Petrova - Ксения Григорьевна Петрова]; c. 1719–1730 – c. 1803, Saint Petersburg) is a patron saint of St. Petersburg, who according to tradition, gave all her possessions to the poor after her husband died.
Her husband had been Colonel Andrey Fyodorovich Petrov, a chanter at the Saint Andrew Cathedral. After his death, Xenia became a "fool-for-Christ" and for 45 years wandered around the streets of St. Petersburg, usually wearing her late husband's military uniform.
St. Xenia's grave is in the Smolensky Cemetery of St. Petersburg. It has been marked by an ornate chapel since 1902. She was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church on February 6, 1988. Her feast day in the O.S. is January 24, which is February 6 in the New Calendar.
St. Blessed Mother Xenia is noted for her intercessions in helping those with employment, marriage, the homeless, for fires, for missing children, and for a spouse. (from suprtradmum-many of you might want to ask here for help!)
(*http://www.serfes.org/lives/stxeniaofpetersburg.htm) She is venerated in several countries, there are about 40 churches and chapels built in her name.[1]
Moving to St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. Ignatius in his writings on the Spiritual Exercises speaks of the three kinds of humility. These definitions prove to be helpful for those in the Dark Night. This is a bit of a repetition from a previous post.
The first definition is that one must be subject and obey the Lord God in all things, not disobeying any of the Ten Commandments. Some Catholics do not realize the gravity of mortal sin, and how this state keeps one from the way of holiness.
The second involves the complete detachment of seeking either riches or poverty, but accepting whatever God decides to give. One cannot desire fame, status, honor, a long life, (or a short life) but rest in an indifference at to what God brings. At this stage of humility, one avoids all venial sin and is grieved if one does commit a venial sin.
This desire not to commit a venial sin means the person is aware of the great holiness of God.
The third definition shows one the way of true perfection, as one now chooses poverty, chooses insults with Christ, rather than honors, and desires to be, as St. Ignatius says, a Fool for Christ.
So was Christ treated....more on the Fools later.
The first definition is that one must be subject and obey the Lord God in all things, not disobeying any of the Ten Commandments. Some Catholics do not realize the gravity of mortal sin, and how this state keeps one from the way of holiness.
The second involves the complete detachment of seeking either riches or poverty, but accepting whatever God decides to give. One cannot desire fame, status, honor, a long life, (or a short life) but rest in an indifference at to what God brings. At this stage of humility, one avoids all venial sin and is grieved if one does commit a venial sin.
This desire not to commit a venial sin means the person is aware of the great holiness of God.
The third definition shows one the way of true perfection, as one now chooses poverty, chooses insults with Christ, rather than honors, and desires to be, as St. Ignatius says, a Fool for Christ.
So was Christ treated....more on the Fools later.
Rain Again Forecasted (and the saint of the day)
Well, in my remaining days in Malta this time, the weather is looking dire. There should be sun tomorrow and Friday, but today it is suppose to rain again.
Thankfully, I brought a coat which is a bit water-proof, although not a slicker.
Summer has ended here and the Maltese autumn has begun.
Can you imagine wearing one of these uniforms and the armor in 77 degrees Fahrenheit and heavy, even torrential rains?
Strong men in those days....(update--no rain, yet...sunny and warm!)
And, today is the Feast of St. Leonard in Malta, who, among being patron of many others, is patron of political prisoners. St. Leonard might be a great saint to remember in days to come, dear Catholics.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=300
Thankfully, I brought a coat which is a bit water-proof, although not a slicker.
Summer has ended here and the Maltese autumn has begun.
Can you imagine wearing one of these uniforms and the armor in 77 degrees Fahrenheit and heavy, even torrential rains?
Strong men in those days....(update--no rain, yet...sunny and warm!)
And, today is the Feast of St. Leonard in Malta, who, among being patron of many others, is patron of political prisoners. St. Leonard might be a great saint to remember in days to come, dear Catholics.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=300
| Thanks Wiki for the photo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller |
a brief note....repetition
Since this is the proper moment, we ought to point out another
benefit resulting from this night and dryness of the sensory appetite. So
that the prophecy -- your light will illumine the darkness [Is. 58:10] --
may be verified, God will give illumination by bestowing on the soul not
only knowledge of its own misery and lowliness but also knowledge of his
grandeur and majesty. When the sensory appetites, gratifications, and
supports are quenched, the intellect is left clean and free to understand
the truth, for even though these appetites and pleasures concern spiritual
things, they blind and impede the spirit. Similarly, the anguish and
dryness of the senses illumine and quicken the intellect, as Isaiah
affirms: Vexation makes one understand [Is. 28:19]. But God also, by means
of this dark and dry night of contemplation, supernaturally instructs in
his divine wisdom the soul that is empty and unhindered (which is the
requirement for his divine inpouring), which he did not do through the
former satisfactions and pleasures.
On the senses being purified....from St. John of the Cross
Repost on prayer
Sunday, 29 September 2013
Clarifications on Prayer Part One-The First Four Levels
The prayer of meditation precedes the Dark Night. One must move into that stage of prayer before experiencing the Dark Night. Why? Because unless one is somewhat proficient in meditation, one cannot reflect to the point of understanding the purifications, which are between the person and God. Unless one has had spiritual director for years, one who can tell one the predominant fault, one needs to do this on one's own.
A sign of the movement towards the Dark Night is the movement into regular meditation, as meditation disappears in the Dark Night as indicated on the list of the levels of prayer. The first, the Ascetical, is the Purgative Way. This stage includes: one, vocal prayer; two. meditation; three. affective prayer; four, acquired recollection. These all precede the Dark Night of the Soul.
The last two may not be familiar to some readers. Affective prayer is in the will. It is the movement of the mind from meditation, which is intelletual rational discourse and the use of the imagination to prayer based on love of God. However, one must not, and I repeat strongly, must not, seek consolations in this type of prayer. One is willing to love God. If there is a feeling of love, fine, but that is not the goal. The goal is to love God for Himself.
Acquired recollection follows, and this is the attempt of the person to recollect in memory, understanding and will on the attributes of God. This is not without danger, as a person can fall into self-adoration too easily. Acquired recollection is exactly as the name states-it is not infused contemplation.
It is active, not passive recollection.
Garrigou-Lagrange states this quotation from St. Teresa of Avila:
It is called (active) "recollection," because by its means the soul collects together all the faculties and enters within itself (25) to be with God. The divine Master thus comes more speedily than He otherwise would to teach it and to grant the prayer of quiet. For, being retired within itself, the spirit can meditate on the Passion and can there picture in its thoughts the Son, and can offer Him to the Father without tiring the mind by journeying to find Him on Mount Calvary, or in the garden, or at the column.
The last two may not be familiar to some readers. Affective prayer is in the will. It is the movement of the mind from meditation, which is intelletual rational discourse and the use of the imagination to prayer based on love of God. However, one must not, and I repeat strongly, must not, seek consolations in this type of prayer. One is willing to love God. If there is a feeling of love, fine, but that is not the goal. The goal is to love God for Himself.
Acquired recollection follows, and this is the attempt of the person to recollect in memory, understanding and will on the attributes of God. This is not without danger, as a person can fall into self-adoration too easily. Acquired recollection is exactly as the name states-it is not infused contemplation.
It is active, not passive recollection.
Garrigou-Lagrange states this quotation from St. Teresa of Avila:
It is called (active) "recollection," because by its means the soul collects together all the faculties and enters within itself (25) to be with God. The divine Master thus comes more speedily than He otherwise would to teach it and to grant the prayer of quiet. For, being retired within itself, the spirit can meditate on the Passion and can there picture in its thoughts the Son, and can offer Him to the Father without tiring the mind by journeying to find Him on Mount Calvary, or in the garden, or at the column.
Those who are able thus to enclose themselves within the little heaven of their soul where dwells the Creator of both heaven and earth, and who can accustom themselves not to look at anything nor to remain in any place which would preoccupy their exterior senses, may feel sure that they are traveling by an excellent way, and that they will certainly attain to drink of the water from the fountain, for they will journey far in a short time. They resemble a man who goes by sea, and who, if the weather is favorable, gets in a few days to the end of a voyage which would have taken far longer by land. These souls may be said to have already put out to sea, and though they have not quite lost sight of land, still they do their best to get away from it by recollecting their faculties.
If this recollection is genuine it is easily discerned, for it produces a certain effect that I cannot describe, but which will be recognized by those who know it from personal experience. The soul seems to rise from play - for it sees that earthly things are but toys - and therefore mounts to higher things. Like one who retires into a strong fortress to be out of danger, it withdraws the senses from outward things, so thoroughly despising them that involuntarily the eyes close so as to veil from the sight what is visible, in order that the eyes of the soul may see more clearly. Those who practice this prayer almost always keep their eyes shut during it.
This is an excellent custom for many reasons. . . . The soul appears to gather strength and to dominate itself at the expense of the body. . . .By persevering in the habit [of recollecting itself] for several days, and by controlling ourselves, the benefits that result will become clear. We shall find that when we begin to pray the bees (symbol of the different faculties) will return to the hive and enter it to make the honey without any effort on our part, for our Lord is pleased to reward the soul and the will by this empire over the powers in return for the time spent in restraining them. Thus the mind only requires to make them a sign that it wishes to be recollected, and the senses will immediately obey us and retire within themselves. . . . When the will recalls them they return more quickly, until after they have re-entered a number of times, our Lord is pleased that they should settle entirely in perfect contemplation.(28)
It is only after the Dark Night of the Soul that Contemplation occurs. Do not let any liberal nuns or priests confuse you on this point.
In the next post, I shall continue with Mystical Prayer, which follows the Dark Night.
Just to remind people, the rosary can be meditation, but this type of prayer usually employs the active imagination with Scripture, as taught by St. Ignatius so clearly.
Also, the Liturgy of the Hours, is verbal prayer, as is singing.
to be continued.....
Just to remind people, the rosary can be meditation, but this type of prayer usually employs the active imagination with Scripture, as taught by St. Ignatius so clearly.
Also, the Liturgy of the Hours, is verbal prayer, as is singing.
to be continued.....
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