Ijournal entry 060616 #22. June, Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Aphorism by Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin. Quotes from Dan Burke, Fr. Alexander Rouville,S.J., and St. Silouan. "Sometimes We Need to Get Back to Basics", by Nancy Shuman. "On the Angelic Salutation", by The Angelic Doctor, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (part 1). Audio presentation: "Remember Thy First Love: The Three Stages of the Spiritual Life in the Theology of Elder Sophrony" by Archimandrite Zacharias.
"The month of June is dedicated to The Sacred Heart of Jesus.The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost. In addition to the liturgical celebration, many devotional exercises are connected with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Of all devotions, devotion to the Sacred Heart was, and remains, one of the most widespread and popular in the Church"
Info from this site: http://stkuriakosechurch.org/june-is-dedicated-to-the-sacred-heart/
Info from this site: http://stkuriakosechurch.org/june-is-dedicated-to-the-sacred-heart/
"It should be regarded as a grace of God when we are stripped successively of all human supports and succours, on which we are always too ready to depend. Thereby He compels us to repose only on Him, and herein is the final and most profound secret of wisdom. How can we be dejected at learning it?" By Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin.
MTA= Pretty sad to reject "Gold" for "Brass". A simpleton would pass on a free ticket to pay full price for a ticket. Insanity would cause one to choose a crystal over a diamond. Let's be wise and lean on the strong arm of God, it can definitely support us. It is raised in power, mighty for the victory, healing and blessing abundantly. Trust in The Lord alone!
MTA= Pretty sad to reject "Gold" for "Brass". A simpleton would pass on a free ticket to pay full price for a ticket. Insanity would cause one to choose a crystal over a diamond. Let's be wise and lean on the strong arm of God, it can definitely support us. It is raised in power, mighty for the victory, healing and blessing abundantly. Trust in The Lord alone!
⚫️ "We can make the mistake of trying to make hard truths so palatable, that we end up presenting half-truths or even worse, untruths (implied or actual).... Yes, we can and must say 'come as you are'; but we must also proclaim that the God of Love who meets us where we are, loves us too much to leave us there. He calls us to union with Him, where we will find the Truth that sets us free to know and live an abundant life in Him." By Dan Burke
⚪️ "The Christisn tries to draw profit from every moment. The saints press even the most unlikely actions into the service of God's glory, the neighbor's edification, and their own perfection". By Fr. Alexander Rouville, S.J.
🔴 " my soul years after the Lord and I seek Him in tears. How could I do other than seek Thee? Thou first didn't seek and find me and gravest me to delight in Thy Holy Spirit and my soul fell to loving Thee". By St. Silouan
⚪️ "The Christisn tries to draw profit from every moment. The saints press even the most unlikely actions into the service of God's glory, the neighbor's edification, and their own perfection". By Fr. Alexander Rouville, S.J.
🔴 " my soul years after the Lord and I seek Him in tears. How could I do other than seek Thee? Thou first didn't seek and find me and gravest me to delight in Thy Holy Spirit and my soul fell to loving Thee". By St. Silouan
~ Mind Elevation in Contemplation ~ Oh, what Elation! ~
🗿As deep thoughts keep flowing and flowing
🗿Dwelling on the love of the Triune God becomes mind blowing
🗿It's no longer about second guessing, but bout knowing
🗿An experience of pure spiritual ecstasy
🗿For the contemplative that's in no way a fantasy
🗿It is what it is, reality
🗿God comes in power, to His own mightily
🗿Gifting graciously, those who spend time with Him intimately
🗿Yes passionately romancing
🗿And in an unique way ever so entrancing
🗿Truly it's an amazing wonder
🗿What an experience as joy enters into one's spirit like thunder
🗿Inundated with blissful sighs
🗿Incredible is what passes right before open spiritual eyes
🗿To savor and taste the mystery bit by bit as it is allowed to unfold
🗿So great a privilege that it's the Living God that we get to in a small way behold
🗿As fascinating as is the little that is understood as it is revealed
🗿In no way does it compare with what's to come, for now that part is sealed
🗿The present is no less exciting, how wonderful to be wowed
🗿But just imagine what's to be when we become fully endowed
🗿No longer is it to be mired down in a mechanical plight
🗿Rigidity and narrow mindedness have taken flight
🗿Gone is the attachment to the routine, in a manner ever so rote
🗿Meditative stillness proves to be the antidote
🗿Deep attachment with a desire for oneness makes all this possible
🗿What slowly develops when time in spent in silence is really incredible
🗿The necessity for taking time to embrace the prayer of quietness, enough can't be said
🗿Quite possible for those who are by The Holy Spirt led
🗿It transforms the monotony & repetitive pattern of relating, an upward move to assist the spiritually dead
🗿O God, O God, O God, thank you, Persons of three in one
🗿From the mundane, your captivating love is so welcome
🗿All praises, glory and honor for providing such a life saving ransom
🗿As deep thoughts keep flowing and flowing
🗿Dwelling on the love of the Triune God becomes mind blowing
🗿It's no longer about second guessing, but bout knowing
🗿An experience of pure spiritual ecstasy
🗿For the contemplative that's in no way a fantasy
🗿It is what it is, reality
🗿God comes in power, to His own mightily
🗿Gifting graciously, those who spend time with Him intimately
🗿Yes passionately romancing
🗿And in an unique way ever so entrancing
🗿Truly it's an amazing wonder
🗿What an experience as joy enters into one's spirit like thunder
🗿Inundated with blissful sighs
🗿Incredible is what passes right before open spiritual eyes
🗿To savor and taste the mystery bit by bit as it is allowed to unfold
🗿So great a privilege that it's the Living God that we get to in a small way behold
🗿As fascinating as is the little that is understood as it is revealed
🗿In no way does it compare with what's to come, for now that part is sealed
🗿The present is no less exciting, how wonderful to be wowed
🗿But just imagine what's to be when we become fully endowed
🗿No longer is it to be mired down in a mechanical plight
🗿Rigidity and narrow mindedness have taken flight
🗿Gone is the attachment to the routine, in a manner ever so rote
🗿Meditative stillness proves to be the antidote
🗿Deep attachment with a desire for oneness makes all this possible
🗿What slowly develops when time in spent in silence is really incredible
🗿The necessity for taking time to embrace the prayer of quietness, enough can't be said
🗿Quite possible for those who are by The Holy Spirt led
🗿It transforms the monotony & repetitive pattern of relating, an upward move to assist the spiritually dead
🗿O God, O God, O God, thank you, Persons of three in one
🗿From the mundane, your captivating love is so welcome
🗿All praises, glory and honor for providing such a life saving ransom
"Sometimes We Need to Get Back to Basics", by Nancy Shuman
"On the Angelic Salutation", by The Angelic Doctor, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (part 1)
Info from this site:
https://franciscan-archive.org/bvm/salut.html
"Blessed is the fruit of Thy womb.§⭐️ A sinner sometimes seeks in something that which he cannot attain, but the just does attain it.
Info from this site:
https://franciscan-archive.org/bvm/salut.html
"Blessed is the fruit of Thy womb.§⭐️ A sinner sometimes seeks in something that which he cannot attain, but the just does attain it.
Thus Eve sought the fruit, and in that she did not found all that she desired; but the Blessed Virgin in Her Fruit found all that Eve desired. For Eve in her fruit desired three things. First, that which the Devil falsely promised her, that is, that they would be as gods, knowing good and evil. « You shall be », that liar said, « as gods », just as is said in Gen. 3:5. And he lied, because he is a liar, and the father of him. For Eve on account of eating of the fruit was not make like to God, but unlike: because by sinning she receded from God her Savior, whence she was also expelled from Paradise. But this the Blessed Virgin found, and all Chrisitans, in the Fruit of Her womb: because through Christ we are conjoined and assimilated to God.
§⭐️Second, in her fruit Eve desired delight, because it was good to eat; but she did not find this, because she immediately recognized herself to be naked, and was sorrowful. But in the Fruit of the Virgin we find sweetness and salvation.
§⭐️Third, the fruit of Eve was beautiful in sight; but more beautiful was the Fruit of the Virgin, upon Whom the angels desire to look.
and this is, because He is the Splendor of the Father's glory. Therefore, Eve could not find in her fruit what even no sinner can find in sins. And for that reason, that which we desire, we seek in the Fruit of the Virgin. Moreover, this Fruit is blest by God, because He has so filled Him with every grace that he comes to us by exhibiting reverence to Her:
by the angels:
by men: the Apostle says in
Thus, therefore, is the Virgin blessed; but more blessed is Her Fruit.
IN THIS SALUTATION three things are contained. One part the Angel wrought, that is, « Hail full of grace, the Lord is with Thee! Blessed art Thou among women ». Another part Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, wrought, that is, « Blessed is the fruit of Thy womb ». The third part the Church added, that is, « Mary »: for the Angel did not say, "Hail Mary", but « Hail, full of grace ». And this name, that is Mary, according to its interpretation befits the things said by the Angel, as will be made clear.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee!
§⭐️Therefore, the first thing to be considered about it is, that in antiquity it was a very great thing that angels appeared to men; and/or because men would make reverence to them, they held them in [pro] the greatest praise. Whence to praise Abraham it is written, that he received the Angels with hospitality, and that he exhibited reverence to them. Moreover, that an angel would make reverence to a man, was a thing never heard, except after he saluted the Blessed Virgin, revently saying, « Hail! » Moreover, the reason that in antiquity an angel did not revere a man, but a man an angel, is that an Angel is greater than a man; and this as much as it regards three things.
§⭐️First as much as regards dignity: the reason is, an angel is of a spiritual nature.
IN THIS SALUTATION three things are contained. One part the Angel wrought, that is, « Hail full of grace, the Lord is with Thee! Blessed art Thou among women ». Another part Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, wrought, that is, « Blessed is the fruit of Thy womb ». The third part the Church added, that is, « Mary »: for the Angel did not say, "Hail Mary", but « Hail, full of grace ». And this name, that is Mary, according to its interpretation befits the things said by the Angel, as will be made clear.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee!
§⭐️Therefore, the first thing to be considered about it is, that in antiquity it was a very great thing that angels appeared to men; and/or because men would make reverence to them, they held them in [pro] the greatest praise. Whence to praise Abraham it is written, that he received the Angels with hospitality, and that he exhibited reverence to them. Moreover, that an angel would make reverence to a man, was a thing never heard, except after he saluted the Blessed Virgin, revently saying, « Hail! » Moreover, the reason that in antiquity an angel did not revere a man, but a man an angel, is that an Angel is greater than a man; and this as much as it regards three things.
§⭐️First as much as regards dignity: the reason is, an angel is of a spiritual nature.
but a man is of a corruptible nature: whence Abraham use to say,
It was not, therefore, decent that a spiritual and incorruptible creature exhibit reverence to a corporal oen, that is to a man.
§⭐️Second, as much as regards familiarity before [ad] God. For an angel is familiar with God, as one assisting
§⭐️Second, as much as regards familiarity before [ad] God. For an angel is familiar with God, as one assisting
For that reason it is fitting [conveniens] that a man revere an angel, as one who is near and familiar with his King.
§⭐️ Third, he was pre-eminent on account of the plenitude of the splendor of divine grace: for angels are participants in that Divine Light in the highest plenitude.
And for that reason he always appears with light. But men, even if some participate from the light of grace, however in a little manner, and in a certain obscurity. Therefore it was not decent that he exhibit reverence to a man, so long as someone in human nature was not found, who exceeded angels in these three. And this was the Blessed Virgin. And for that reason, to designate that She exceeded him in these three, the Angel wanted to exhibit reverence to Her: whence he said, « Ave! » Whence the Blessed Virgin exceeded angels in these three.
§⭐️And first in a plenitude of grace, which is greater in the Blessed Virgin than in any angel; and for that reason to insinuate this, the Angel exhibited reverence to Her, saying, « full of grace », as if he said, "For that reason I exhibit reverence to Thee, because Thou dost excell me in the plenitude of grace." Moreover the Blessed Virgin is said to be full of grace as much as regards three things. First as much as regards Her soul, in which She had every plenitude of grace. For the grace of God is given for two things: that is, for working the good, and for avoiding the evil; and as much as regards those two the Blessed Virgin had the most perfect grace. For She Herself avoided every sin, more holy than anyone after Christ. For sin is either original, and from this she was cleansed in the womb; or mortal or venial, and from these She was free. Whence:
§⭐️And first in a plenitude of grace, which is greater in the Blessed Virgin than in any angel; and for that reason to insinuate this, the Angel exhibited reverence to Her, saying, « full of grace », as if he said, "For that reason I exhibit reverence to Thee, because Thou dost excell me in the plenitude of grace." Moreover the Blessed Virgin is said to be full of grace as much as regards three things. First as much as regards Her soul, in which She had every plenitude of grace. For the grace of God is given for two things: that is, for working the good, and for avoiding the evil; and as much as regards those two the Blessed Virgin had the most perfect grace. For She Herself avoided every sin, more holy than anyone after Christ. For sin is either original, and from this she was cleansed in the womb; or mortal or venial, and from these She was free. Whence:
St. Augustine in the book On Nature and Grace says: "Except the holy Virgin Mary, if all the saints, when they were living here, had been asked whether they were without sin, all would have shouted with one voice:
Except, I say, this holy Virgin, of whom for the sake of the honor of the Lord, when one deals with sin, I want, plainly, to have no questioning." For we know that upon Her there was conferred more frace to conquer sin on every side, She who merited to conceive and bear Him, who it is established never had sin".
"Remember Thy First Love: The Three Stages of the Spiritual Life in the Theology of Elder Sophrony" by Archimandrite Zacharias
Link to audio presentation:
http://audio.ancientfaith.com/speakingofbooks/sob_2013-02-19.mp3
Link to audio presentation:
http://audio.ancientfaith.com/speakingofbooks/sob_2013-02-19.mp3