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"Today the concept of truth is viewed with suspicion, because truth is identified with violence. Over history there have, unfortunately, been episodes when people sought to defend the truth with violence. But they are two contrasting realities. Truth cannot be imposed with means other than itself! Truth can only come with its own light. Yet, we need truth. ... Without truth we are blind in the world, we have no path to follow. The great gift of Christ was that He enabled us to see the face of God".Pope Benedict xvi, February 24th, 2012

The Church is ecumenical, catholic, God-human, ageless, and it is therefore a blasphemy—an unpardonable blasphemy against Christ and against the Holy Ghost—to turn the Church into a national institution, to narrow her down to petty, transient, time-bound aspirations and ways of doing things. Her purpose is beyond nationality, ecumenical, all-embracing: to unite all men in Christ, all without exception to nation or race or social strata. - St Justin Popovitch

Friday 29 May 2009

The Desert Tradition: St Antony and St Simeon Stylitis





The Hermits of Bethlehem
These videos tell something of the vocation of the solitary from different angles. I especially recommend the EWTN film "In Praise of the Desert", after which any article by me would be superfluous. Instead, I shall remind you of the treatise of St Peter Damian on "The Dominus Vobiscum" which gives the reason why a hermit in his cell should read the responses in the Divine Office, even when he is totally alone. He tells us that the unity of the Church is not something we create ourselves, the result of ur own efforts, merely an expression of our own limited feelings, but is a gift of the Holy Spirit. We are united by the Spirit to Christ in the Eucharist, and hence we are united to all who are "in" Christ, because he cannot be separated from his body. A hermit, who is dedicating his life to loving God with al he has and is, also comes to love the whole Church as Christ loves the Church; and, like Christ, he includes in himself all Christ's members. A hermit is never more united to the whole Church than when he is alone wth God who is the true Source of Christian unity. It is a gift brought about by the Eucharist



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

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