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Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

Please pray for me as I enter the comprehensive testing phase in my graduate studies in theology. I start the written section today and the oral part a week from today. My major is systematic theology and my minor is monastic studies.

After completion of my degree I am slated to teach at our school - Conception Seminary College.

I been away from the BBS for awhile, since I have been stuffing head head with as much dogmatics as I can fit. Oh, how I wish my professors on my review board would follow the counsel of Evagrius: "The theologian is the one who prays well." - but they insist on all this intellectual stuff (just kidding)!

Thank you.

PAX

Br. Elias OSB

Dear Brother in Christ!

I will invoke St Evagrius Ponticus on your behalf (yes, he has a cult in the East!).

As someone who had a kidney stone attack the week of my doctoral orals, I was on all sorts of medication when I faced my committee of six.

I don't recommend pills as a way to prep for exams, mind you.

But I did notice a propensity to quote extensively from Alexander Schmemann and John Meyendorff.

The problem was that this was a sociology oral examination . . .

But at least one professor insisted that I include all those quotes from Schmemann .

Also invoke St Justin the Philosopher.

His intercession is really "cum laude!"

PAX VOBISCUM

Alex

I remember the orals and the comprehensives. May the Spirit guide your study and your responses.

May you feel the gathering in prayer of those who support you at home, in the community and in our cyber community as you progress through the orals. I remember the almost palpable sensation of the presence of those who were praying for me during the defense of the dissertation.

May you be blessed with like memories.

Steve

[ 07-16-2002: Message edited by: Inawe ]