At the East of the Garden of Eden God Placed the Cherubim, and a Flaming Sword To Guard the Way
Part III in a Series by Pseudo-Ermatinger
The space shuttle Challenger lifts off from the Complex 39A launch pad, National Archives, 1983.
The soul’s journey towards the divine may travel outward from herself, might propel herself outward and upward under her own power, her own ingenuity, her own vainglory. To be sure, the powers of man, of body, mind, […]
Spiritual Retreats Need Piety and Modesty
Originally Published at TAN Direction
A charitable young man, a former parishioner of mine, heard that I was stuck in quarantine. He texted me, indicating that he had just finished a weekend retreat, was in the neighborhood, and could drop off some victuals for his reclusive ex-pastor.
Not only was I moved by his kindness, I wanted to know more about his retreat. He was respectfully silent […]
St. Augustine, May I Pray With Just My Speech?
Question 005
So prayer is more than words?
Let the “inner man” in whom Christ dwells by faith (Eph. 3:17) cry out to the Lord, not with the noise of lips alone, but with the affection of the heart…Unless you cry out to the Lord with your thought, the Lord does not hear you.
from St. Augustine […]
St. Augustine, What Else Might Help Me in Prayer?
Question 004
What else will help me along the way in the life of prayer?
Fasting and abstinence from satisfying sensual pleasure..along with almsgiving…. How can God, intangible Spirit, be touched by hands by any other way than by good works?”
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
As has been discussed (Question 2), the […]
Listen, While I Tell Again the Story of the Lord’s Mercies, What Renown the Lord has Won
Part II in a Series by Pseudo-Ermatinger
Bergidyll Hans Dahl (ca. 1900)
The little of our Heavenly Father that we see in this world below is enough to cry out to Him Glory! — at least it should be. Creation cries out to Him unceasingly, praising Him for the sundry multitude […]
St. Augustine, How do I Begin to Pray?
Question 003
What do I need to begin to pray?
Your desire is itself your prayer. And if your desire is continuous, then your prayer is continuous as well.
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger.
Like all labors in this life, the beginning of labor is first the desire to undertake the labor. The labor […]