The Defense of Monastic Memory in Bernard of Clairvaux’S
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The Excellence of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ"
"THE EXCELLENCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST" Philippians 3:8 INTRODUCTION 1. Prior to his conversion to Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul was on the "fast track", a "rising star" in the religion of Judaism - cf. Ga 1: 13-14; Ph 3:4-6 2. But once he came to know who Jesus Christ really was, all the power, all the prestige, all the position of influence that he once had, meant nothing - cf. Ph 3:7-8 3. What mattered now was for him to "know Jesus Christ": "...I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord..." (Ph 3:8) 4. What is there about the knowledge of Jesus Christ that makes it so desirable for people like Paul and countless others? And should we desire this "knowledge," how do we gain it? [To answer these questions, let's first make some observations about...] I. THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST THAT IS "EXCELLENT" A. IT MUST BE A "PERSONAL" KNOWLEDGE... 1. We cannot come to know Jesus solely through another person's acquaintance with Him 2. While we may initially learn about Jesus from others, especially the authors of the New Testament, we must come to know Him for ourselves a. Like Paul, we must speak in the first person: "that I may know Him" (Ph 3:10) b. The "faith of our fathers" must become OUR faith, for God does not have any "grandchildren" B. IT MUST BE AN "INTELLIGENT" KNOWLEDGE... 1. Jesus does not expect us to commit "intellectual suicide" to know Him, He desires us to use our minds as well - Mt 22:37 2. -
On Jesus' Eschatological Ignorance
On Jesus’ Eschatological Ignorance Edwin K. P. Chong Version: July 25, 2003 1 Jesus’ ignorance of His return One of the most difficult passages in the New Testament is Mark 13. Epitomizing the difficulty of this chapter is verse 32, which explicitly teaches that Jesus does not know when He will return:1 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. An identical verse appears in Matthew 24:36. How is this compatible with the orthodox view that Jesus is God and hence is omniscient? Over the centuries, groups like the Ebionites, Arians, and Nestorians2 have used this verse to argue that Jesus was not fully divine.3 In response, the church fathers developed interpretive approaches to Mark 13:32, which today continue to form the basis for theological solutions to this problem. In 451 A.D., the Council of Chalcedon, in Act V, defined the union of the divine and human natures in the person of Christ.4 According to this definition, Christ is “truly God and truly man.” This Chalcedonian formula has since become a hallmark of orthodox Christology. How exactly does this orthodox view reckon with Mark 13:32? In this essay, I outline the prevalent solutions to the controversy surrounding Mark 13:32, the major proponents of each solution, and its basis. I also provide some evaluation of these solutions, indicating which have garnered mainstream acceptance, and why. 1Mark 13:32, New International Version. 2Over the centuries, a number of heresies on the divine and human nature of Christ have emerged. -
A Christian Understanding of Property: Spiritual Themes Underlying Western Property
A paper presented at the Pacific Rim Real Estate Conference, Melbourne, January 2005 A Christian Understanding of Property: Spiritual themes underlying Western property Garrick Small, PhD University of Technology, Sydney [email protected] Abstract: Interest in customary title has raised awareness of the cultural dependence of property and its relationship to spirituality. Western culture has a historical connection with Christian spirituality, yet its property institution is seldom related to it. Property is found within Christian thought from the very beginning of the Old Testament and shares several important commonalities with customary peoples. The notion of property is evident in the gospels along with repeated comments on the correct application of riches. Early Christianity can be viewed as a development of the Old Testament property institution consistent with other aspects of Christian moral thought. Changes in the institution of property through the Christian era can be seen to parallel changes in Christian thought eventually leading to present day property. Overall, property can be linked to the spiritual roots of Western culture in a manner that has the capacity to inform the development of dialogue with customary peoples in their endeavours to assert the validity of their property conventions. Keywords: property theory, customary title, moral theology, social economics, property and culture Introduction The current institution of property was initiated in the sixteenth century as the former conditional notion of private property was replaced by absolute property (Anderson 1979). That century also saw radical changes in other human institutions. Modernity began with Machiavelli’s (d.1527) option to replace classical realism with empiricism in political science1 (Machiavelli and Mansfield 1985). -
What They Wear the Observer | FEBRUARY 2020 | 1 in the Habit
SPECIAL SECTION FEBRUARY 2020 Inside Poor Clare Colettines ....... 2 Benedictines of Marmion Abbey What .............................. 4 Everyday Wear for Priests ......... 6 Priests’ Vestments ...... 8 Deacons’ Attire .......................... 10 Monsignors’ They Attire .............. 12 Bishops’ Attire ........................... 14 — Text and photos by Amanda Hudson, news editor; design by Sharon Boehlefeld, features editor Wear Learn the names of the everyday and liturgical attire worn by bishops, monsignors, priests, deacons and religious in the Rockford Diocese. And learn what each piece of clothing means in the lives of those who have given themselves to the service of God. What They Wear The Observer | FEBRUARY 2020 | 1 In the Habit Mother Habits Span Centuries Dominica Stein, PCC he wearing n The hood — of habits in humility; religious com- n The belt — purity; munities goes and Tback to the early 300s. n The scapular — The Armenian manual labor. monks founded by For women, a veil Eustatius in 318 was part of the habit, were the first to originating from the have their entire rite of consecrated community virgins as a bride of dress alike. Belt placement Christ. Using a veil was Having “the members an adaptation of the societal practice (dress) the same,” says where married women covered their Mother Dominica Stein, hair when in public. Poor Clare Colettines, “was a Putting on the habit was an symbol of unity. The wearing of outward sign of profession in a the habit was a symbol of leaving religious order. Early on, those the secular life to give oneself to joining an order were clothed in the God.” order’s habit almost immediately. -
The Doctrine of Biblical Sufficiency in the Writings of Clement
Diligence: Journal of the Liberty University Online Religion Capstone in Research and Scholarship Volume 1 Article 2 September 2016 The Faith Delivered Unto the Saints: The Doctrine of Biblical Sufficiency in theritings W of Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch Elijah M. Cisneros Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/djrc Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, History of Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Cisneros, Elijah M. (2016) "The Faith Delivered Unto the Saints: The Doctrine of Biblical Sufficiency in the Writings of Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch," Diligence: Journal of the Liberty University Online Religion Capstone in Research and Scholarship: Vol. 1 , Article 2. Available at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/djrc/vol1/iss1/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Divinity at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Diligence: Journal of the Liberty University Online Religion Capstone in Research and Scholarship by an authorized editor of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Faith Delivered Unto the Saints: The Doctrine of Biblical Sufficiency in the Writings of Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch Cover Page Footnote 1. Ron J. Bigalke Jr., “The Latest Postmodern Trend: The Emerging Church,” JDT 10, no. 31 (December 2006): 20-30; David Cloud, The Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement: The History and Error, 4th ed. (Port Huron, MI: Way of Life Literature, 2011). 2. Suggested reading: James King, “Emerging Issues for the Emerging Church,” JMT 9, no. -
The Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Philippians 3:7-8 7 but What Things Were Gain to Me, These I Have Counted Loss for Christ
The Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Philippians 3:7-8 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ Paul had given up on all that he had achieved in life. His reward was now he can know Christ Jesus as only God can reveal Him. Some might say that it was a lousy trade. Many will not give up their situation here in this life so that they might know Christ. Weather it is drugs, money, fame, position or a hundred other things that keep people away from Jesus. But here is Paul, not sorry at all of what he has done. As a matter of fact he is telling us that it was well worth it. He compares what he has in Christ with the “rubbish” which he had before. Well of course you say, it makes perfect sense, even a rich man would throw away his gold to save his life. And of course that is true, but Paul here does not seem to have eternal life as the goal. But if the goal is not eternal life, a place in heaven, a mansion over the hill-top, then what is it that Paul has now that he did not have before? It is the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. -
LIVING in CHRIST SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL— “God Does Not Require Us to Give up Anything That It Is for Our Best Interest to Retain
Family Bible Studies - 24 page 1 What the Bible says about – LivingLiving inin ChristChrist SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 15:1-11 EPHESIANS 1:1-8 One evening a student asked Phillip Brooks a serious question: “Is conscious personal fellowship with Jesus Christ a part of Christianity?” The great preacher replied decisively: “It is Christianity—personal fel- lowship with Jesus Christ is Christianity. That is what differentiates the religion of the Bible from all others. A man is a Christian so far as he knows Jesus Christ.” This agrees with the words of Christ who said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). When a person knows Christ and is truly converted—when he repents of his sins, confesses them to God, and trusts in the merits of Christ for salvation—something very definite happens in his life. He is a dif- ferent man. The apostle Paul explains what happens to the one who goes through this experience: Galatians 2:20—“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” By this figure, Paul wishes to teach that the old life has been crucified and buried and that a new life has begun. And that life is Christ’s life— “Christ liveth in me.” And of course the kind of life that Christ will live in the new believer is quite different from the sinful life of the uncon- verted man. -
Knowing Jesus Experientially Philippians 3:8-11, NRSV Massanetta Springs Conference Center, July 19-21, 2013
Knowing Jesus Experientially Philippians 3:8-11, NRSV Massanetta Springs Conference Center, July 19-21, 2013 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. INTRO: • Review: We have looked at the passion and drive of Paul with his deep desire to know Christ above anything else. • Today we ask the question, what does mean to know Christ personally, experientially? How is this done? • ILL: David Loleng story about knowing CS Lewis. 1. A Better Knowledge of Christ’s Person (vv. 8-9) "In order that I may gain Christ and be found in him" A. Know that God found you and offers His righteousness to you. 1. Reformed understanding is that God is sovereign, and God is continually reaching out to humanity, all we need to do is to reach to God's extension of love through faith. not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. -
Saint Anselm, Blessed John Henry Newman, and the Idea of a Benedictine University
Saint Anselm, Blessed John Henry Newman, and the Idea of a Benedictine University Fr. Daniel Patrick Moloney, Ph.D. John Henry Newman's "Benedictine Essays" develop a strong thesis that Benedictine spirituality is necessarily at odds with the methods of the modern university. Benedictine spiritual life encourages the monk to mortify his intellect, not to satisfy it or to stir it up. It is best suited to grammar school, to the study of literature and history and Scripture, while rejecting the value of studying worldly topics that don't prepare a person for union with God in the next life. Newman's account makes the project of a Benedictine university like St. Anselm's College seem deeply problematic, even oxymoronic. St. Anselm of Canterbury, a transitional figure on Newman's account, shows some ways of reconciling a speculative intellectual life with Benedictine spirituality, but Newman's challenge to the project still remains. It’s a great honor to be here. When I was invited to give this lecture, that is to give the Saint Anselm Lecture at Saint Anselm College on the Feast of Saint Anselm, I thought I noticed a theme. I’m an expert on Saint Anselm, having written my dissertation on your patron saint and having been studying him since I was a senior in college more than twenty years ago. So I figured that the topic of my talk was going to be Saint Anselm. But then I read the fine print of the invitation, and realized that because this year is the anniversary of the College, that I was being asked to talk not just about Saint Anselm and his continued significance, but about something I didn’t know anything about, namely “distinctively Benedictine Catholic higher education.” I’m sure that’s a topic of some reflection here, at a Benedictine College, but it’s not something I’ve ever thought about. -
John Cassian and the Creation of Early Monastic Subjectivity
University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2019 Exercising Obedience: John Cassian and the Creation of Early Monastic Subjectivity Joshua Daniel Schachterle University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the History of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Schachterle, Joshua Daniel, "Exercising Obedience: John Cassian and the Creation of Early Monastic Subjectivity" (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1615. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1615 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. Exercising Obedience: John Cassian and the Creation of Early Monastic Subjectivity A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology Joint PhD Program In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Joshua Daniel Schachterle June 2019 Advisor: Gregory Robbins PhD © by Joshua Daniel Schachterle All Rights Reserved Author: Joshua Daniel Schachterle Title: Exercising Obedience: John Cassian and the Creation of Early Monastic Subjectivity Advisor: Gregory Robbins PhD Date: June 2019 Abstract John Cassian (360-435 CE) started his monastic career in Bethlehem. He later traveled to the Egyptian desert, living there as a monk, meeting the venerated Desert Fathers, and learning from them for about fifteen years. Much later, he would go to the region of Gaul to help establish a monastery there by writing monastic manuals, the Institutes and the Conferences. -
Of the Desert Fathers. the Relationship with the Other in Apophthegmata Patrum
The “Ecumenism” of the Desert Fathers. The Relationship with the Other in Apophthegmata Patrum Paul Siladi* Ecumenism is a 20th century concept that cannot be directly transposed in the everyday reality of the Desert Fathers, but the authority of the desert ascetics is still crucial to the monastic milieu of the Orthodox Church as well as other denominations. For this very reason, the present paper intends to investigate the stories recorded in the alphabetical collection of the Egyptian Paterikon in order to understand to what extent they may actually offer a guide to the complex relations with the Other. How do these stories illustrate denominational or even religious alterity? What types of rapports can one identify therein? Rejection? Separation? Acceptance of the other’s difference? These are all legitimate questions and their significance is amplified in the context of our times – a period in which we see an increase in fundamentalist movements and tendencies, including in the Orthodox community. Keywords: Ecumenism, Desert Fathers, Paterikon, Apophthegmata Patrum, asceticism, spirituality. The recent concept of ecumenism dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and as such it would be difficult to transfer it into the reality of the every-day lives of the Desert Fathers. Even so the ancient ascetics of the desert still exert significant authority in the Orthodox monastic milieus and not only there; for this very reason the present paper sets out to investigate the stories recorded in the alphabetical collection of the Egyptian Paterikon in order to see if they may contain elements for a guide to relationships marked by confessional1 or religious alterity. -
THE SAYINGS of the DESERT FATHERS
Selections From THE SAYINGS Of THE DESERT FATHERS With Kind Permission Of Cistercian Publication Title of the book - The Sayings of the Desert Fathers Name of the translator - Sister Benedicta Ward SLG Publisher - Cistercian Publication Address of the published - WMU Station, Kalamazoo, Michigan 19008/USA Copyright, 1975 2 Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ King of Kings and Lord of lords Icon designed by Dr. Yousef Nassief and Dr. Bedour Latif H.H. Pope Shenouda III, 117th Pope of Alexandria and the See of St. Mark ABBA ANTHONY THE GREAT Anthony the Great, called 'The Father of Monks' was born in central Egypt about AD the son of peasant farmers who were Christian. In c. 269 he heard the Gospel read in church and applied to himself the words. 'Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor and come . .’ He devoted himself to a life of asceticism under the guidance of a recluse near his village. In c. 285 he went alone into the desert to live in complete solitude. His reputation attracted followers, who settled near him, and in c. 305 he came out of his hermitage in order to act as their spiritual father. Five years later he again retired into solitude. He visited Alexandria at least twice. Once during the persecution of Christians and again to support the Bishop Athanasius against heresy. He died at the age of one hundred and five. His life was written by Saint Athanasius and was very influential in spreading the ideals of monasticism throughout the Christian World. 1.