Elder Paisios of Mount Athos
Here’s a good analogy of the monastic life by an Eastern Orthodox monk of Mount Athos.

The monk departs far from the world not because he hates it, but because he loves it. In this way he will, through his prayer, help the world more in those matters that are, being humanly impossible, only possible by God’s intervention. This is how God saves the world. The monk never says: “I will save the world.” Instead, he prays for the salvation of the whole world, along with his own soul. When the Good God hears his prayer and helps the world, he does not say: “I saved the world,” but “God saved the world.”

In a few words, monks are the “radio operators” of Mother Church, and therefore, if they depart far from the world, they do it out of love, departing from the distractions of this world in order to be in better contact with God and help people more effectively.

Of course, when their unit is in danger, some mindless soldiers also share the irrational demand of certain clergymen (i.e. that monks should return to the world). They say that the radio operator should leave the radio aside and grab his rifle, as if by adding one more gun to the two hundred others he will salvage the situation. While the radio operator clamors to make contact, yelling “calling headquarters, come in, come in” etc., the others think that he calls pointlessly to the wind. However, astute radio operators pay no attention, even if they are reviled. They struggle until they make contact and then ask for immediate help from Headquarters and the air forces arrive, as well as the armed forces, the navy, etc. Thus, in this way, and not with their meager rifles, the unit is saved. The same applies to monks who advance with divine power, with their prayer, and not with their negligible individual powers. It is especially the case in our age, when evil is so widespread, that we are in need of God’s intervention.

(Before becoming a monk, Elder Paisios was himself a radio operator in the army during the Greek civil war which went from 1945-1949)

From Epistles by Elder Paisios of Mount Athos

Although not a Catholic book, it has the common link between the East and the West which is monasticism.

RS

Tomb of Saint Josaphat

Today is the feast of Saint Josaphat. I've had a devotion to him for awhile, and have tried to visit him every time I go to Rome. He's another Saint who is difficult to get to in Saint Peter's. His remains, as seen above, are in an altar which is in the area reserved for Confessions, and they usually won't let you in unless you are going to confession. I can usually muster up enough Italian to ask to go pray at his tomb, and they usually let me in, I think mainly because I have a beard and they think I am Eastern rite (that defintely was the case once).

On my last trip a month ago I had the great priviledge of learning how to serve the Tridentine Mass. The awesome part was that the second Tridentine Mass I helped serve was a low Tridentine Mass ... in Saint Peter's ... at the altar of Saint Josaphat. It worked out rather Providentially. Father had made arrangements to say Mass, but when we got there, they had not assigned him any altar. They just said to take any altar that was open. So after walking all around and finding every altar taken, we finally ended up at Saint Josaphat, and the priest there was just finishing up his Mass. So, I gently prodded Father in that direction, and that's where we had Mass.

I thought it was pretty appropriate that with Saint Josaphat being a Ruthenian Rite Catholic Bishop that we would say the Tridentine which is much closer to the Eastern Rites (and Tradition) than the Novus Ordo. It was also appropriate that Father Benedict being a monk would say the Mass at the relics of a Martyr who was a monk. Saint Josaphat was also a Martyr for unity between East and West in the Church, and here we had a very beautiful union of East and West and Heaven and earth. You can see the reason they put Saint Josaphat's relics in one of the altars closest to Saint Peter. Definitely a memory I will treasure.

You can read more about Saint Josaphat at Catholic Encyclopedia:

St. Josaphat Kuncevyc at Catholic Encyclopedia

RS

Patriarch's Homily

I just found this over at New Liturgical Movement.

A great homily by the Patriarch of Constantinople on the importance of the liturgy as worship and the expression of the faith.



It pretty much reminds me of Fr. Z.'s post about "Save The Liturgy, Save The World."

It also reminds me how we really need to get ceremony and reverence back into the Latin Rites. Being man means having both body and soul. Worship can be helped by the physical. I mean, you have got to love those vestments and the decor of that church.

RS

Stunned. From orthodoxy to Orthodoxy

Well, I was thinking much on the universal indult, but that seemed rather unimportant with some news that came across my inbox which has me rather stunned and depressed. I had heard rumors Rod was considering it, but I am suprised that he actually did it.

I probably should not be posting so soon after hearing about and reading his posting, but it is rather breaking news.

Rod Dreher has converted to Eastern Orthodoxy.

I am familiar with Rod's work, especially his editorial battles with the diocese of Dallas. I have met him briefly and acutally admired his dedication to the Catholic faith in light of the fact that, due to his career in journalism, he is exposed to so many of the problems of the Church. I guess that environment eventually got to him.

I certainly sympathize with him, having seen so many scandals at so many levels of the Church. I even long for many of the ideals he is seeking. However, and maybe it is just an inability to clarify his points about something so deep on something so simple like a blog, something seems to be very faulty in his reasoning.

Rod is a good man, and I respect his opinion, even if I don't agree with him.

I can't expect you Catholics to endorse my move, but I hope at least you will pray for me and my family, and with me for the ultimate unity of Orthodoxy and Catholicism...

I will certainly pray for him and his family, as well as his intentions, and I ask readers to do so as well. I do thank God that Rod's belief in the Truth in the Real Presence is unwavering. That will certainly help him and his family.

Also, as a friend said:

the man needs prayers, and those responsible for the scandal that have caused him and so many others to stumble will have accounting to do before a merciful but just God.

I would post my feelings more, but it wouldn't be fair to take pot shots at him since my only understanding of this is from his post and I have never spoken to him personally about this. All I can say is: I don't agree with his move, and I am disappointed, but I will pray for him and his family, and may Christ show all of us His mercy.

Sancti Basili et Benedicte, orate pro nobis.