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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: May 2007
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I agree with Bob wholeheartedly about this being overemphasized, and so too, e.g, obsession with "weeping icons," personal revelations, etc. It's all a "thirst for spooky religion." With that said, the issue has been addressed within Orthodoxy, as well. H.G. Bp. KALLISTOS, when he was simply Timothy Ware, wrote: It is sometimes said, and with a certain truth, that bodily transfiguration by divine light corresponds, among Orthodox saints, to the receiving of the stigmata among western saints. We must now, however, draw too absolute a contrast in this matter. Instances of bodily glorification are found in the [W]est, for example, in the case of an Englishwoman, Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941): a friend records how on one occasion her face could be seen transfigured with light (the whole account recalls Saint Seraphim: see The Letters of Evelyn Underhill, edited by Charles Williams, Lonedon, 1943, p. 37). Similarly, in the [E]ast stimatization is not unknown: in the Coptic life of Saint Macarius of Egypt, it is said that a cherub appeared to him, "took the measure of his chest," and "crucified him on the earth."
Ware, Fr. Timothy. The Orthodox Church. (NY: Penguin Books, 1963), pp. 238-9. (fn). Here's the whole post [ westernorthodox.blogspot.com]. ----------------
Western Orthodoxy Blog [westernorthodox.blogspot.com]
Last edited by Western Orthodox; 02/26/08 07:04 PM.
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"During this time of Great Lent, we are supposed to be focusing on our own souls and how we fulfill the Lord's mandate to love God to the best of our ability and to care for our neighbors as ourselves. It's time for heavy-duty examination of conscience; it's time to give (secretly) to the needy; to read Scripture and the liturgical texts to learn what the elders are passing on.
I sometimes wonder what is going on in the souls of those who are focused on the "externalia". If one truly gets 'into' the spirit of Lent, it would seem that worrying about much of anything but one's own soul and its salvation would be a failing in following the pathway given to us for the Great Lent."
I'm really trying to figure out what is wrong about reading a book about Padre Pio or Catherine Anne Emmerich and wondering if there are any Eastern rite stigmatists. My goodness, you would think I was reading something or inquiring about something evil. I assure you that I am very much 'into' the spirit of Lent and am focused on my own soul, as well as the souls of my husband and children, as I ought to be. But, I'm quite certain it is possible to be in the spirit of Lent and read spiritual books as well that might mention or talk of stigmatists or weeping icons or whatever it may be. Theophan & Dr. John, I don't think asking a question or reading a book for 30 min. or so at night would be considered being "fixated" on something. How can anything that comes from God - whether extraordinary or quite ordinary- be considered a distraction from Him? Spiritual reading, I would think, encompasses not only Scripture and liturgical texts, but lives of the saints and the history of the Church as well.
Alexis
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I did not intend in any way to minimize the value of 'spiritual reading'. It's a blessing when one has the time!
But the Byzantine church (as well as other Eastern churches) have a massive amount of liturgical and personal prayer for our use which have been included in the various public services and the Canons. It seems to me that we should be drawing spiritual nourishment from these 'official' sources as our primary practice for the Great Lent. As we move through the Triodion, there is an organic development of our understanding and approach to Christ and His impending sacrifice. Sticking with this puts us into the spiritual framework of Lent. Going outside of it to things that are not focused directly on the Savior seems to be a distraction to me. The more deeply the lessons of the Hours and the Divine Liturgies of Lent are internalized, the more earth-shaking the experience of Pascha.
It's a "good", "better", "best" sort of thing. But, if it 'floats your boat', there is certainly nothing wrong with other spiritual reading.
Dr John
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