The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XXVII: On Stillness of Mind and Body, Part III

What possibly could hesychasm or the life of hesychasts - those who live in perpetual stillness and prayer -  mean for those who living in the world; for all of those surrounded by a constant stream of noise and distraction?The answer is everything! Though few are called to this manner of life, all are destined to experience the fullness of its joy and sweetness in Christ in the kingdom. We have been made sons and daughters of God and the very Spirit of Love dwells within our hearts. 

What moves us to emulate the fathers in their discipline, to seek what they seek, must be the same desire. Our experience of Christ, our drawing close to him through prayer, the sacraments, and the scriptures must kindle within us an urgent longing for what He alone can provide. 

Those who love the things of the world do not see the pursuit of them as being extreme. Why is it when it comes to seeking the One who offers us perfect Life and Love that we become self-conscious; that we begin to worry about what others may think of us or how they might treat us? Why is this true even though Christ tells us that we should expect to be hated all by all because of His name? The Hesychast becomes the image of one who adds fire to fire. Having tasted the sweetness of Divine Love, he is willing to sell all to possess it. Gradually he becomes prayer and his life - a sacrifice of praise. In this he becomes like unto the angels.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:29:15 Michael Hinckley: what you are talking about reminds me of St Thomas' straw comment.

 

00:32:04 Nick Bodmer: I believe it was Sartre

 

00:32:20 Michael Hinckley: "other people" came from that play no exxt?

 

00:32:25 Michael Hinckley: exit

 

00:32:32 Nick Bodmer: Yes, No Exit

 

00:32:47 Susan M: YES IT WAS SARTRE

 

00:32:56 Michael Hinckley: On the feast of St. Nicholas [in 1273, Aquinas] was celebrating Mass when he received a revelation that so affected him that he wrote and dictated no more, leaving his great work the Summa Theologiae unfinished. To Brother Reginald’s (his secretary and friend) expostulations he replied, “The end of my labors has come. All that I have written appears to be as so much straw after the things that have been revealed to me.” When later asked by Reginald to return to writing, Aquinas said, “I can write no more. I have seen things that make my writings like straw.”

 

00:55:18 Rebecca Thérèse: It made a big difference to me when I was talking to a Catholic priest and I realised that he really believed what he was saying. That was one of the main things that informed my decision to become Catholic having previously been Anglican.

 

00:57:13 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "It made a big differ..." with 🥰

 

01:01:20 Michael Hinckley: need to drop This Holy Priest is living much of what is mentioned here. He is part time hermit and fun to watch https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIcePO_eJb28EWIw68kBQMew0vMZydwj1

 

01:07:28 Kate : It seems like he is giving us an examination of conscience when he lists the different places on the ladder.

 

01:08:11 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "It seems like he is ..." with 👍🏼

 

01:11:41 Andres Oropeza: What if you suffer from despondency but the common life isn’t an

option and yet the battle rages around you, or even if you aren’t alone but the people with you can’t offer what’s needed? Should we not pursue stillness by cutting out distractions, focus on prayer and fasting etc. or temper it in some way?

 

01:19:58 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father!

 

01:20:05 Jeff O.: Thank you!! Great to be with you all.

 

01:20:09 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you