Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: July 2022

Monday, July 25, 2022

Catholic Mysticism is Incarnational

I came across this from the lectures on Carmelite Mysticism by St Titus Brandsma. It is his feast day on the 27th and the first one since his canonisation a few months ago.

Since reading his lectures, I truly felt I have met a friend who is helping and guiding me in my life as a Carmelite hermit.

This quote I found very beautiful, the indwelling of the Trinity is a regular theme in Carmelite spirituality, but notice he emphasises the connection between the humanity of Jesus and our union with God? Many people try to separate mysticism from the humanity of Jesus, but this leads away from Catholicism. Following the teachings of St John of the Cross & St Teresa of Avila, we know that no matter how deep or amazing prayer may be, we can never stop meditating on the humanity of Christ.

Through our baptism, we are united with Christ and then through his sacred humanity he unites us to the Trinity. Praise God for the gift of the sacraments, for that is where we revive the graces in authentic Catholic mysticism - Union with God

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Attachment in the spiritual life means slavery

Going the the “Ascent of Mount Carmel” and St John of the Cross doesn’t hold back!

His teaching on detachment can be off putting for us in today’s day and age, but the more you mature in your faith the more it makes sense. Anything that captures our love and attention away from God, is ultimately something that ensnares and traps us. It is an idol of false worship.

Learning detatchment is a long, slow and painful process - but ultimately it gives us freedom. Because attachment means slavery in the doctrine of St John of the Cross.

Only God, true beauty and goodness can truly satisfy us.

Holding fast to the things that endure

The collect/opening prayer for today Sunday 17th week in Ordinary time, really struck me this week. Especially with the focus on the things of this world that are passing, in contract to holding fast to those things that endure for eternity.

The Lord truly is the protector of those who hope in Him, but this does not mean we will not be attacked or tempted here below. It means that when we hope in Him, the plans He has for us and the victory given to us in Christ, that he will protect us from those things that can damage us spiritually. With the Lord as our Ruler & Guide, we can have holiness, blessing, protection, hope and mercy - all this belongs to us through our union with Jesus and obedience to the Gospel.

Without God we are nothing - but with Him, we can have everything He has planned for us. This is the blessed hope that we have.

O God, protector of those who hope in you,
without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy,
bestow in abundance your mercy upon us
and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide,
we may use the good things that pass
in such a way as to hold fast even now
to those that ever endure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.