Thank you to all who participated in the group tonight!
To say that this was the most beautiful reading that we have considered in the Evergetinos would be an understatement. We continued our reflection on Hypothesis 12 on the importance of parents instilling in their children the love of virtue and the willingness to risk all for it.
Tonight we read one single story: from the life of Saint Clement of Ancyra, martyr. The story centers on Clement’s mother who is a widow and so became for her son - father, teacher, and mother. Above all things she sought to teach her son the inestimable value of giving his life over to Christ. She taught him from the earliest age that, despite the fact that his earthly father had died before he knew him, Clement had gained God as his true Father. “Christ reared you in the strength of the Spirit”, she taught him. Above all, she did not want her son to lose sight of the fact that the love of Christ alone has true value and endures. He is our salvation - the One who has come to raise us up and to make us children of God.
With the most beautiful exhortation she encourages Clement to ready himself for the trials to come. The depth of her faith gave her prophetic vision; she saw not only her own impending death but also the trial and martyrdom her son was to endure. Therefore, she would prepare him in every way throughout his tender years to seek “the one thing necessary”.
In the story we also catch a glimpse of what parenthood looks like when transformed by faith and understood in light of the communion of saints. This mother understood that despite leaving her son in this world they are bound together. His heroic faith and coming martyrdom is something that she would share in intimately; the rewards and joy that will belong to Clement will be hers as well and together they will boldly worship before the throne of Christ.
Clement, so nourished by his mother, endured the greatest tortures for Christ and then made the ultimate gift of his life to his Savior.
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Text of chat during the group:
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-nine
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part X and Hypothesis II, Part I
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-eight
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part IX
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-seven Part II
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part VIII
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-six Part II and Letter Forty-seven Part I
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part VII
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-six Part I
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part VI
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-five Part II
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part V
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-four Part II and Letter Forty-five
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part IV
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-three Part II and Letter Forty-four
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part III
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-three
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part II
Letters of Spiritual Direction to a Young Soul - Letter Forty-two
The Evergetinos - Vol. I, Hypothesis I, Part I
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