Guarding Toward Dispassion

•St. Luke the Evangelist (14:27): “Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
•St. Peter of Damascus: “I have found altogether in the Holy Scriptures 228 virtues and 298 passions.”
•St. Mark the Ascetic & St. Philotheus of Sinai: “ First there is provocation; then a coupling with provocation; then assent to it; then captivity to it; then passion grown habitual and continuous. This is how the holy fathers describe the stages through which the devil gets the better of us.”
•St. Maximos the Confessor: “If you make provision for desires of the Flesh (Rom 13:14) and bear a grudge against your neighbor on account of something transitory, you worship the creature instead of the Creator.”
•Ilias the Presbyter: “Passion is removed from the soul through fasting and prayer; self indulgence through vigil and silence; impassioned craving through stillness and attentiveness. Dispassion is established through the remembrance of God.”

St. Hesichios the Priest; 8th/9th Century (On Watchfulness and Holiness)

Through his incarnation God gave us the model for a holy life and recalled us from our ancient fall. In addition to many other things, he taught us, feeble as we are, that we should fight against the demons with humility, fasting, prayer and watchfulness. For when, after his baptism, He went into the desert and the devil came up to Him as though He was merely a man, He began His spiritual warfare by fasting and won the battel by this means - though, being God, and God of gods, He had no need of any such means at all.

I will now tell you in plain, straightforward language what I consider to be the types of watchfulness which gradually cleanse the intellect from impassioned thoughts. In these times of spiritual warfare I have no wish to conceal beneath words whatever in this treatise may be of use, especially to more simple people. As St. Paul puts it" 'pay attention, my child, Timothy, to what you read' (1 Tim 4:13).

One type of watchfulness consists in closely scrutinizing every mental image or provocation; for only by means of a mental image can Satan fabricate an evil thought and insinuate this into the intellect in order to lead it astray.

A second type of watchfulness consists in freeing the heart from all thoughts, keeping it profoundly silent and still, and praying.

A third type consists in continually and humbly calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ for help.

A fourth type of watchfulness is always to have the thought of death in one's mind.

These types of watchfulness, my child, act like doorkeepers and bar entry to evil thoughts. Elsewhere, if God gives me words, I shall deal more fully with a further type which, along with the others, is also effective: this is to fix one's gaze on heaven and to pay no attention to anything material.

When we have t osome extent cut off the causes of the passions, we should devote our time to spiritual contemplation; for if we fail to do this we shall easily revert to the fleshly passions, and so achieve nothing but complete darkening of our intellect and its reversion to material things.

Eusebius' account of the African Martyrs

Eusebius, the Archbishop of Caesarea, lived between the year 260-339 AD. He is considered the Father of Ecclesiastical History. In his life, Eusebius bore witness to many things; the Apostolic Hierarchy of the Church, the Roman Persecutions, Constantine's Edict of Milan, and the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea (325 AD). For those who have never read an account of Christian Martyrdom this is mandatory reading. In this chapter, Eusebius gives a graphic first-hand account of African and Palestinian Christians Martyred at the hands of the Romans under Diocletian. It stands as a reminder that death and the sufferings which precede it are not always the great evil we think them to be. His testemony also reminds us that the God fo the Universe is faithful in His Grace and Great Love for humanity. All we have to do is remain faithful to the end - if we are ever called to such an end, I pray with earnest, may we be blessed by such Grace! The following is taken from Book 8: Persecutions from Diocletian to Maximian, in his epic "The History of the Church."

Egyptian Martyrs of Phoenicia, in Egypt itself, and in the Thebais

At any rate we know of them who became shining lights in Palestine, and we know those at Tyre in Phonecia. Did any man see them without being amazed at the merciless floggings and the endurance displayed under them by these truly astounding champions of pure religion; at the ordeal with man-eating beasts which came directly after the floggings, when they were attacked by panthers, bears of different kinds, wild boars, and bulls goaded with red-hot irons; at the unflinching courage of these noble people in the face of every one of the beasts? When these things were going on I was there myself, and I witnessed the ever present Divine Power of Him to whom they testified, Our Savior Jesus Christ Himself, visibly manifesting itself to the martyrs. For some time the man-eaters did not dare to touch or even approach the bodies of God's beloved, but rushed at others who were apparently irritating and proviking them from the outside; only the holy champions; as they stood naked, and in accordance with their instructions waved their hands to attract the animals to themselves, were left quite unmolested: sometimes when the beasts did start towards them, they were stopped short as if by some divine power, and retreated to their starting point. When this went on for a long time it astounded the spectators, so that in view of the ineffectiveness of the first a second ant third beast were set onto one and the same martyr.

Nothing could be more amazing than the fearless courage of these saints under duress, the stubborn, inflexible endurance in youthful bodies. You would see a youngster not yet twenty standing without fetters, spreading out his arms in the form of a cross, and with a mind unafraid and unshakeable occupying himself in the most unhurried prayers to the Almighty: not budging in the least and not retreating an inch from the spot where he stood, though the bears and panthers breathing fury and death almost touched his very flesh. Yet by some supernatural, mysterious power their mouths were stopped, and they ran back again to the rear. Again you would have seen others - there were five altogether - thrown to an infuriated bull. When the others approached from outside he tossed them with his horns into the air and mangled them, leaving them to be picked up half dead; but when in his fury he rushed head down at the lonely group of holy martyrs, he could not even get near them, but stamped his feet and pushed with his horns in all directions. Provoked by the hot irons he breathed rage and threats, but divine providence dragged him back. So, as he too did his intended victims no harm whatever, other beasts were set on them. At last, when these animals had launched their terrible varied assaults, the martyrs were one and all butchered with the sword, and instead of being buried in the earth were given to the waves of the sea.

Such was the ordeal of the Egyptians who championed the Faith so gloriously at Tyre. But we should feel equal admiration for those of them who were martyred in their own country, where immense numbers of men, women and children, despising this transient life, faced death in all its forms for the sake of our Savior's teaching. Some were scraped, racked, mercilously flogged, subjected to countless other torments too terrible to describe in endless variety, and finally given to the flames; some were submerged in the sea; others cheerfully stretched out necks to the head's man's axe; some died under torture; others were starved to death; others again were crucified, some as criminals usually are, some with still greater cruelty nailed the other way up, head down, and kept alive till they starved to death on the very cross.

But words cannot describe the outrageous agonies endured by the Martyrs of Thebais. They were torn to bits from head to foot with potsherds like claws till death released them. Women were tied by one foot and hoisted high in the air, head downwards, their bodies completely naked without a morsel of clothing, presenting thus the most shameful, brutal, and inhumane of all spectacles to everyone watching. Others again were tied to trees and stumps and died horribly; for with the aid of machinery they drew together the very stoughtest boughs, fastened one of the Martyr's legs to each, and then let the boughs fly back to their normal position; thus they managed to tear apart the limbs of their victims in a moment. In this way they carried on, not for a few days or weeks, but year after year. Sometiems ten or more, sometimes over twenty were put to death, at other times at least thirty, and at yet others not far short of sixty; and their were occasions when on a single day a hundred men as well as women and little children were killed, condemned to a succession of ever changing punishments.

I was in these places, and saw many of the executions for myself. Some of the victims suffered beheading, others punishment by fire. So many were killed on a single day that teh axe, blunted and worn out by the slaughter, was broken in pieces, while the exhausted executioners had to be periodically relieved. All the time I observed a most wonderful eagerness and a truly Divine Power and Enthusiasm in those who had put their trust in the Christ of God. No sooner had teh first batch been sentenced, than others from every side would jump onto the platform in front of the judge and proclaim themselves Christians. They paid no heed to torture in all its terrifying forms, but undaunted spoke boldly of their devotion to the God of the Universe, and with joy, laughter, and gaity received the final sentence of death; they sang and sent up hymns of thanksgiving to the God of the Universe till their very last breath.

Wonderful as these were, far, far more wonderful were those who were conspicious in their wealth, birth, and reputation, and for learning and philosophy, yet put everything second to true religion and faith in our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. One was Philoromus, who had been entrusted with an important office in the imperial administration at Alexandria, and with his authority and Roman rank had a military bodyguard and conducted judicial investigations every day. Another was Phileas, Bishop of Thmuis, a man esteemed for his patriotic activities and public services, and for his works as a philosopher. Great numbers of relations and friends implored them, as did prominent officials, and the judge himself appealed to them to pity themselves and spare their wives and children; yet all this was not enough to make them yield to love of life and despise our Savior's warning about confessing and denying him. So many with philosophic determination, or rather with heartfelt devotion and love of God, they stood like rocks against all the judge's threats and insults, and were both beheaded."

EUSEBIUS - The History of the Church - Penguin Classics - Copyright G.A. Williamson 1965 - Revisions & new editorial matter copyright Andrew Louth 1989

From the Confessions of St. Augustine

“Urged to reflect upon myself, I entered under your guidance into the inmost depth of my soul. I was able to do so because you were my helper. On entering into myself I saw, as it were with the eye of the soul, what was beyond the eye of the soul, beyond my spirit: your immutable light. It as not the ordinary light perceptible to all flesh, nor was it merely something of greater magnitude but still essentially akin, shining more clearly and diffusing itself everywhere by its intensity. No, it was something entirely distinct, something altogether different from all these things; and it did not rest above my mind as oil on the surface of water, nor was it above me as heaven is above earth. This light was above me because it had made me; I was below it because I was created by it. He who has come to know the truth knows this light.”

O eternal truth, true love and beloved eternity. You are my God. To you do I sigh day and night. When I first came to know you, you drew me to yourself so that I might see that there were things for me to see, but that I myself was not yet ready to see them. Meanwhile you overcame the weakness of my vision, sending forth most strongly the beams of your light, and I trembled at once with love and dread. I sought a way to gain the strength which I needed to enjoy you. But I did not find it until I embraced "the mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who is above all, God blessed for ever." He was calling me and saying: "I am the way of truth, I am the life." That by your wisdom, through which you created all things, might provide milk for us children.

Where did I find you that I came to know you? You were not in my memory before I learned of you; where then, did I fond you that I came to know you, if not within yourself far above me? We come from you and go to you, yet no place is involved in this process. In every place, O Truth, you are present to all at one and the same time, though we seek your counsel on different matters. You respond clearly, but not everyone hears clearly; all ask what they wish, but do not always receive the answer that they wish. Your best servant is one who is intent not so much on having their petition answered, as rather, on willing whatever they hear from you.

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you burst my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled by blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.”

St. Augustine, “Confessions,” Bk. 7, 10, 18; 10, 27.

Pseudo Dionysius: The Mystical Theology

Chapter 2: How one should be united, and attribute praises, to the Cause of all things who is beyond all things.

"I pray we could come to this darkness so far above light! If only we lacked sight and knowledge so as to see, so as to know, unseeing and unknowing, that which lies beyond all vision and knowledge. For this would really be to see and to know: to praise the Trancendent One in a trancending way, namely through the denial of all beings. We would be like sculptors who set out to carve a statue. They remove every obstacle to the pure view of the hidden image, and simply by this act of clearing aside (denial) they show up the beauty that is hidden.

Now it seems to me that we should praise the denials quite differently than we do the assertions. When we made assertions we began with the first things, moved down through intermediate terms until we reached the last things. But now as we climb from the last things up to the most primary we deny all things so that we may unhiddenly know that unknowing which itself is hidden from all those possessed of knowing amid all beings, so that we may see above being that darkness concealed from all the light among beings."

Pseudo Dionysius, the Complete Works © 1987, Paulist Press

St. John Climacus (579-649 AD) - Various Texts

From Step 1 (on Renunciation of Life)
- Some people living carelessly in the world put a question to me: "How can we who are married and living in the world amid public cares aspire to the monastic life?" I answered: "Do whatever good you may. Speak evil of no one. Rob no one. Tell no lie. Despise no one and carry no hate. Do not separate yourself from Divine Liturgy. Show compassion to the needy. Do not be a cause of scandal to anyone. Stay away from the bed of another, and be satisfied with what your own wives (or husbands) can provide you. If you do all this, you will not be far from the Kingdom of Heaven."

From Step 4 (on Obedience)
- "The Devil cannot act contrary to his own will. Those living a negligent life, whether alone or in community, should convince you of this proof. And if there is a temptation on us to move from a place, let that be proof that our life there is pleasing to God. War against us is proof that we are making war."
- "I have seen innocent lovely children come to school for wisdom, education, and profit, and learn only cunning and vice through the contact they make with other students. The wise man will understand what I'm saying."

From Step 15 (on Chastity)
- "The effort of bodily prayer can help those not yet granted real prayer of the heart. I am referring to the stretching out of the hands and beating of the breasts, the sincere raising of the eyes heavenward, deep sighs and constant prostrations. But this is not always feasible when other people are present, and this is when the demons particularly like to launch an attack and, because we have not yet the strength of mind to stand up against them and because the hidden power of prayer is not yet within us, we succumb. So go somewhere apart, if you can. Hide for a while in some secret place. If you can, lift up the eyes of your soul, but if not, the eyes of your body. Stand still with your arms in the shape of a cross so that with this sign you may shame and conquer your Amalek. (Exodus 17:11) Cry out to God, Who has the strength to save you. Do not bother with elegant and clever words. Just speak humbly, beginning with, "have mercy on me, for I am weak." (Ps 6:3) And then you will come to experience the power of the Most High and with help from heaven you will drive off your invisible foes. The man (or woman) who gets into the habit of waging war this way will soon put his (or her) enemies to flight solely by means of spiritual resources, for this is the reward God likes to bestow onb those who put up a good struggle, and rightly so."

All texts quoted from "John Climacus, the Ladder of Divine Ascent" Classics of Western Spirituality © 1982

Philokalia - Various Texts

Evagrios the Solitary on Prayer (Vol I)

A summary of what Prayer is…
–The Flower of Gentleness & freedom from anger
–The Fruit of Joy and Thankfulness
–The Remedy of Gloom and Despondency
–The ascent of the Intellect of God
–Undestracted, it is the highest intellection of the intellect.
–The Shedding of thoughts; material things and worldly cares
–More Divine than all of the virtues
–Hateful and offensive to demons

–Bread: food for the body
–Holiness: food for the soul
–Prayer: food for the intellect

Elias the Presbyter: Gnomic Anthology III (Vol III): "The three most comprehensive virtues of the soul are prayer, silence and fasting, Thus, you should refresh yourself with the contemplation of created realities when you relax from prayer; with conversaton about the life of virtue when you relax from silence; and with such food as is permitted when you relax from fasting."

St. Gregory of Sinai: On Commandments and Doctrines (Vol VI): "There are five ways in which the passions may be aroused in us and our fallen self may wage war against our soul. Sometimes our fallen self misuses things. Sometiems it seeks to do what is unnatral as though it were natural. Sometimes it forms warm friendship with the demons and provide it with arms against the soul. Sometimes under the influence of the passions it falls into a state of civil war, divided against itself. Finally, if the demons have failed to acheive their purpose in any ways just mentioned, God may permit them in their malice to wage war against us in order to teach us greater humility."

Two Lungs: Sacramental and Prayerful Reflections

St. Benedict (4th Century Latin Father): We believe that the divine presence is everywhere and that "the eyes of the Lord are looking on the good and the evil in every place." But we should believe this especially without any doubt when we are assisting at the Work of God. To that end let us be mindful always of the Prophet's words, "Serve the Lord in fear" and again, "Sing praises wisely" and "In the sight of the Angels I will sing praise to Thee." Let us therefore consider how we ought to conduct ourselves in the sight of the Godhead and of His Angels, and let us take part in the psalmody in such a way that our mind may be in harmony with our voice.

St. Gregory of Sinai (6th Century Greek Father): Nothing so converts anger into joy and gentleness as courage and mercy. Like a siege engine, courage shatters enemies attacking the soul from without, mercy those attacking it from within. (On Commandments and Doctrines - Philokalia Vol VI)

St. Symeon, the New Theologian (9th Century – Abbot of St. John Studious Monastery, Constantinople): You must confess all the secrets of your heart, all that you have done from your infancy until this very hour, to your spiritual father or to the abbot as if to God himself, the diviner of hearts and minds. Do this in the knowledge that John baptized with the baptism of repentance and that all came to him confessing their sins (Matt 3:16). As a result of this, your soul will experience great joyand your conscience will find relief, in accordance with the words of the Prophet “First declare your sins, so that you may be set free.” (Isaiah 43:26)

St. Thomas a Kempis (15th Century German Augustinian Monk): Give yourself to me and that is enough; apart from You there is nothing that can give me comfort. Without You I cannot exist, and without Your visits I am unable to live. I must therefore, come to You often and receive You as the medicine of salvation, otherwise, deprived of this heavenly food, I shall faint on the way. (From the Imitation of Christ on the Benefits Coming from Frequent Communion)

Note to the reader: The following post was written by Pope Shenouda III, the "Oriental Orthodox" Pope of Alexandria. Although not in Communion with either the Catholic or Orthodox Churches, I thought his comments on this subject were insightful and worth listening to. There is no heresy in the comments of his post.

H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria: Diabolic wars fight all; no one escapes them. When we speak of these wars, we mean the war waged by the devil and all his forces and supporters. Spiritual wars are allowed by God for our benefit, and for the crowns gained through them as one of the saints said “None shall be crowned except the one who conquers, and none shall conquer except the one who fights.” God intends by these wars to test the freedom of our will, and to give us the opportunity to deserve the riches of the heavens if we conquer. As for the devil, it is his nature to resist God’s Kingdom and fight those who seek it. He fights God in his children and accuses them as in the case of Job (1:2). He envies those who lead a life of righteousness so that they may not gain the divine blessing which he himself was deprived of.

Open Mind or Guarded Mind?

I've been thinking lately about those who tell me to keep an "open mind" when it comes to other people's opinions or belief systems (even those of which I am in conflict) and the more I think of it, the more I think they're full of rubbish and clay.

I'm not sure where "open minded" philosophy came into being, but whoever developed it must have been a victim of severe heat stroke, head trauma, or underwent a mid-life-crisis of post-life-proportions.

It seems to me, that approaching an opposing (usually warped) opinion with an "open mind" is like allowing a Trojan Horse within my intellect whose occupants sole purpose is to lie in wait, then assault and kill me as I sleep.

A defender seeking survival of his or her civilization would never let a foreigner inside the walls without affirmation of friend or foe. The only way to combat the error of "open mindedness" is to approach opposing opinion with a "guarded mind;" not only is it more logical, it adds a measure of safety and increases the risk measure of ones own survival.

The probable tragedy of "open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion is not only completely irrational, it crosses into the realm of self inflicted libotomy or mutilation. It essentially means that I compromise my belief or abandon myself in some thing or some way of life that runs contrary to the Orthodox Teaching of the Catholic Church which comes to us from the Holy Spirit. In today’s world, this abandonment oft results at the expense of serious damage to the soul.

"Open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion should be approached with great caution:

If I open my door willingly and without thought of consequence to a complete stranger, I risk rape, murder, dismemberment, disposal and all ill accord due to such an act of insanity. Yet if, from behind my secure door, I guardedly execute pre-established protocols for responding to strangers who come calling, I greatly reduce the risk and/or threat of buggery, disembowelment, dismemberment and roadside disposal to myself and/or my family --thus-- increasing the assurance of safety for myself and my family.

"Open minded" acceptance of opposing opinion can be applied as a matter of physics:

An army of overwhelming force attacks a lightly guarded citadel. They break through a gate & hoard their way through as they gain entry into the city--slaughtering at will... it seems nothing can stop the onslaught. Suddenly, those in front realize the entry is nothing more than a dead end with two walls to their left & right and one wall in front of them. They try to stop, but the momentum of the mass of humanity behind them has no idea what's ahead. The law of inertia kicks in and in due course, the army slams into the wall as thousands are crushed & trampled by the force in the rear. The defending army, having the enemy boxed in, attacks from behind the walls of enclosure and repels the enemy.

It's the same way with dialogue: If there's no guard in place to challenge an opinion, weakness is exploited and the challenged is massacred.

For my part, if I don't know the topic, I try to keep my mouth shut. It's better to walk away with my integrity in tact than to hold position against someone knowledgeable on the subject--not to mention the fact that there's much to be gained by dissecting one's opinion for its constructive or destructive content.

It's generally understood that opinions expressed on realities such as abortion, sexual perversion & deviation, border control, homelessness, etc., set off nuclear explosions on approach or contact. To entertain issues with "an open mind" risks abandonment of ones sense of reason & logic--not to mention morality, virtue or faith. Although it's insane for a person to sacrifice their faculties on the altar of intellectual prostitution, its commonplace today--a total war... it's the Verdun of the final age.

Before Catholics enter into dialogue on such issues, they must first know what they're talking about and also must have reconciled that knowledge with catholic faith; between right & wrong, good & evil, true & false, fact & fiction. To do so prematurely without solid foundation does not allow an opposing "opinion" proper inspection, before entry into the mind's gate which ultimately leads to the citadel of the heart. When in doubt, default to church teaching.

A "guarded mind" is essential to all dialogue. It may be safe to "listen" to the opinions of others, but human "opinion" is oft a mixture of unproven "fact" and untested "truth" and oftentimes enters into conflict with the mind and the conscience - and further, the Church, which again has ALWAYS taught that it is guided and directed by the Holy Spirit. That said, recognizing that the opinion of others is sometimes healthful & most times toxic; it is always best to guard against matters of opinion with caution so one can control access to the doors of sanity so that the devil doesn't get "in" thus resulting in "in"sanity.

If you seek self destruction, approach things with an open mind... open the gates and be conquered. If you seek preservation, stay at your post.

American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007 (Introduced in House)

A Warning: If you love America and what it stands or stood for; contact your Congressman or Congresswoman and support this bill immediately. I DID! Click on the link above for more information. Basics of the bill are as follows:

"To restore the Constitution's checks and balances and protections against government abuses as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. "

Military Personnel and Veterans in Particular should pay close attention to this bill. The actions it seeks to check are in line with defending the Constitution; the "glue" that holds your oath together. Need one say more? Click on the link and read it yourself...

Sayings from the Philokalia Volume 1.

Evagrios the Solitary (4th Century): “Be ready for the attacks of the demons, and think of how to avoid becoming their slave.”

St. Isaiah the Solitary (4th/5th Century): “He who receives no help when at war should feel no confidence when at peace.”

St. Mark the Ascetic (5th Century): “Evils reinforce each other; so do virtues, thus encouraging us to still greater efforts.”

St. Hesychios the Priest (8th or 9th Century): “The single phrased Jesus Prayer destroys and consumes the deceits of Demons.” (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the Prayers of Our Lady, have mercy on me a sinner.)

A List of 228 Virtues Found In Scripture

By St. Peter of Damascus (from the Philokalia)

Moral Judgment * Self-Restraint * Courage * Justice * Faith * Hope * Love * Fear * Religious Devotion * Spiritual Knowledge * Resolution * Strength * Understanding * Wisdom * Contrition * Grief * Gentleness * Searching the Scriptures * Acts of Charity * Purity of Heart * Peace * Patient Endurance * Self Control * Perseverance * Probity of Intention * Purposiveness * Sensitivity * Heedfulness * Godlike Stability * Warmth * Alertness * Fervor of the Spirit * Meditation * Diligence * Watchfulness * Mindfulness * Reflection * Reverence * Shame * Respect * Penitence * Refraining from Evil * Repentance * Return to God * Allegiance to Christ * Rejection of the Devil * the Keeping of the Commandments * Guarding of the Soul * Purity of Conscience * Remembrance of Death * Tribulation of the Soul * the Doing of Good Actions * Effort * Toil * an Austere Life * Fasting * Vigils * Hunger * Thirst * Frugality * Self Sufficiency * Orderliness * Gracefulness * Modesty * Reserve * Disdain for Money * Unacquisitiveness * Renunciation of Worldly things * Submissiveness * Obedience * Compliance * Poverty * Possessionlessness * Withdrawal from the World * Eradication of Self Will * Denial of Self * Counsel * Magnanimity * Devotion to God * Stillness * Discipline * Sleeping on a hard bed * Abstinence from washing oneself * Service * Struggle * Attentiveness * the Eating of uncooked food * Nakedness * the wasting of ones body * Solitude * Quietude * Calmness * Cheerfulness * Fortitude * Boldness * Godlike zeal * Fervency * Progress * Folly for Christ * Watchfulness over the intellect * Moral integrity * Holiness * Virginity * Sanctification * Purity of Body * Chasteness of Soul * Reading for Christ’s sake * concern for God * Comprehension * Friendliness * Truthfulness * Uninquisitiveness * Uncensoriousness * forgiveness of debts * good management * Skillfulness * Acuity * Fairness * the Right Use of Things * Cognitive Insight * Good Naturedness * Experience * Psalmody * Prayer * Thanksgiving * Acknowledgement * Entreaty * Kneeling * Supplication * Intercession * Petition * Appeal * Hymnody *Doxology * Confession * Solicitude * Morning * Affliction * Pain * Distress * Lamentation * Sighs of Sorrow * Weeping * Heart Rending Tears * Compunction * Silence * the Search for God * Cries of Anguish * Lack of Anxiety about all things * Forbearance * Lack of Self Esteem * Disinterest in Glory * Simplicity of Soul * Simplicity * Self Retirement * Goodness of Disposition * Activities that accord with nature * Activities exceeding ones natural capacity * Brotherly Love * Concord * Communion in God * Sweetness * a Spiritual Disposition * Mildness * Rectitude * Innocence * Kindliness * Guilelessness * Simplicity * Good Repute * Speaking well of others * Good Works * Preference of one’s neighbor * Godlike Tenderness * A Virtuous Character * Consistency * Nobility * Gratitude * Humility * Detachment * Dignity * Forbearance * Long Suffering * Kindness * Goodness * Discrimination * Accessibility * Courtesy * Tranquility * Contemplation * Guidance * Reliability * Clear- sightedness * Dispassion * Spiritual Joy * Sureness * Tears of Understanding * Tears of Soul * A Loving Desire for God * Pity * Mercy * Compassion * Purity of Soul * Purity of Intellect * Prescience * Pure Prayer * Passion-Free Thoughts * Steadfastness * Fitness of Soul and Body * Illumination * the Recovery of one’s Soul * Hatred of Life * Proper Teaching * a Healthy Longing for Death * Childlikeness in Christ * Rootedness * Admonition and Encouragement both Moderate and Forcible * a Praiseworthy ability to change * Ecstasy towards God * Perfection in Christ * True Enlightenment * an Intense longing for God * Rapture of the Intellect * the indwelling of God * Love of God * Love of Inner Wisdom * Theology * a True Confession of Faith * Disdain of Death * Saintliness * Successful Accomplishment * Perfect Health of Soul * Virtue * Praise of God * Grace * Kingship * Adoption to Sonship – Altogether 228 Virtues. To acquire all of them is possible only through the grace of Him who grants us victory over the passions.

A List of 298 Passions Found In Sacred Scripture

By S. Peter of Damascus from the Philokalia.

Harshness, trickery, malice, perversity, mindlessness, licentiousness, enticement, dullness, lack of understanding, idleness, sluggishness, stupidity, flattery, silliness, idiocy, madness, derangement, coarseness, rashness, cowardice, lethargy, dearth of good actions, moral errors, greed, over-frugality, ignorance, folly, spurious knowledge, forgetfulness, lack of discrimination, obduracy, injustice, evil intention, a conscienceless soul, slothfulness, idle chatter, breaking of faith, wrongdoing, sinfulness, lawlessness, criminality, passion, seduction, assent to evil, mindless coupling, demonic provocation, dallying, bodily comfort beyond what is required, vice, stumbling, sickness of soul, enervation, weakness of intellect, negligence, laziness, a reprehensible despondency, disdain of God, aberration, transgression, unbelief, lack of faith, wrong belief, poverty of faith, heresy, fellowship in heresy, polytheism, idolatry, ignorance of God, impiety, magic, astrology, divination, sorcery, denial of God, the love of idols, dissipation, profligacy, loquacity, indolence, self-love, inattentiveness, lack of progress, deceit, delusion, audacity, witchcraft, defilement, the eating of unclean food, soft living, dissoluteness, voracity, unchastity, avarice, anger, dejection, listlessness, self-esteem, pride, presumption, self-elation, boastfulness, infatuation, foulness, satiety, doltishness, torpor, sensuality, over-eating, gluttony, insatiability, secret eating, hoggishness, solitary eating, indifference, fickleness, self-will, thoughtlessness, self-satisfaction, love of popularity, ignorance of beauty, uncouthness, gaucherie, light-mindedness, boorishness, rudeness, contentiousness, quarrelsomeness, abusiveness, shouting, brawling, fighting, rage, mindless desire, gall, exasperation, giving offence, enmity, meddlesomeness, chicanery, asperity, slander, censure, calumny, condemnation, accusation, hatred, railing, insolence, dishonor, ferocity, frenzy, severity, aggressiveness, forswearing oneself, oath-taking, lack of compassion, hatred of one's brothers, partiality, patricide, matricide, breaking fasts, laxity, acceptance of bribes, theft, rapine, jealousy, strife, envy, indecency, jesting, vilification, mockery, derision, exploitation, oppression, disdain of one's neighbor, flogging, making sport of others, hanging, throttling, heartlessness, implacability, covenant-breaking, bewitchment, harshness, shamelessness, impudence, obfuscation of thoughts, obtuseness, mental blindness, attraction to what is fleeting, impassionedness, frivolity, disobedience, dull-wittedness, drowsiness of soul, excessive sleep, fantasy, heavy drinking, drunkenness, uselessness, slackness, mindless enjoyment, self-indulgence, venery, using foul language, effeminacy, unbridled desire, burning lust, masturbation, pimping, adultery, sodomy, bestiality, defilement, wantonness, a stained soul, incest, uncleanliness, pollution, sordidness, feigned affection, laughter, jokes, immodest dancing, clapping, improper songs, revelry, flute playing, license of tongue, excessive love of order, insubordination, disorderliness, reprehensible collusion, conspiracy, warfare, killing, brigandry, sacrilege, illicit gains, usury, wiliness, grave-robbing, hardness of heart, obloquy, complaining, blasphemy, fault-finding, ingratitude, malevolence, contemptuousness, pettiness, confusion, lying, verbosity, empty words, mindless joy, daydreaming, mindless friendship, bad habits, nonsensicality, silly talk, garrulity, niggardliness, depravity, intolerance, irritability, affluence, rancor, misuse, ill-temper, clinging to life, ostentation, affectation, pusillanimity, satanic love, curiosity, contumely, lack of the fear of God, unteachability, senselessness, haughtiness, self-vaunting, self-inflation, scorn for one's neighbor, mercilessness, insensitivity, hopelessness, spiritual paralysis, hatred of God, despair, suicide, a falling away from God in all things, utter destruction -- altogether 298 passions.

St. Peter of Damascus (750 AD) On What Is Bad...

•Not food—but gluttony..
•Not money—but attachment to it…
•Not speech—but idle talk…
•Not the world’s delights—but dissipation…
•Not love of family—but neglect of God which such love produces
•Not clothes worn for cold and heat—but those excessive & costly
•Not houses that shield from cold, heat, people or animals—but those large and expensive
•Not owning something—but owning it when it has no vital use
•Not possession of books—but books that are not spiritual
•Not friendship—but having friends that do not benefit the soul
•Not relationships—but unchastity
•Not wealth—but avarice
•Not wine—but drunkenness
•Not anger used naturally for chastisement of sin—but it’s use against a fellow person

The Hierarchy of Angels

Taken from the Pseudo-Dionysius' "Angelic Hierarchy... "

The First Order of Angels, (Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones) in the Heavenly Hierarchy are said to be ever around God and permanently united with Him ahead of any others and with no intermediary. They are in a proximity enjoyed by no other. This threefold group is said to form a single heierarchy where its members share equal status. No other is more like the divine or receives more directly the first enlightenments from the Deity. The Angels of the First Order are truly superior beings as they are God's immediate neighbor being grounded directly aroung God and receive primal theophanies and perfections. Their names indicate what God is. They are "utterly pure" because they transcend all weakness and all the lesser grades of the sacred. They are contemplative because they are filled with a superior light beyond any knowledge. They enter into communion with Jesus by participation in the divine lights working out of Him. To be like God is their special gift to the extent it is allowed them. They share, with primordial power, in His divine activities and loving virtues. They share in God's work. They are 'perfect' because of a primary and supreme deification, a transcendent and angelic understanding og God's work. They are initiated into the understandable explanations of the divine works by the very source of perfection. The First Order is said to perfect, illuminate and purify the Second and Third Orders.

- Seraphim have six wings and are Angels of Love – Seraphim means " firemaker" or "carrier of warmth" in Hebrew. Seraphim are a penetrating warmth; the overflowing heat of a movement which never falters and never fails. They purify by means of lightning flash and flame.
- Cherubim have many eyes. Cherubim means "fullness of knowledge" or "outpouring of wisdom" in Hebrew. The name means to know or see God, to receive the greatest gifts of His light, to contemplate the divine splendor in primordial power, to be filled with the gifts that bring wisdom and to share these generously with subordinates as part of the beneficient outpouring of wisdom.
- Thrones possess transcendance over every earthly defect. Their bearing is toward the ultimate heights and they are forever separated from what is inferior. They are completely intent on remaining in the presence of Him who is truly the most High. They are free of all passion and material concern and are utterly available to receive his divine visitation. They bear God and are ever open, like servants, to welcome God.

The Second Order of Angels (Authorities, Dominions, Powers ) are said to have eyes that look beyond the world. Each are far superior to us in ways that God is imitated and conformed to. This middle rank of the heavenly intelligences manifests its conformity to God which is how it achieves purification, illumination and perfection at second hand from the divine enlightenments by way of angels of the First Order and passed on secondarily through that mediating rank. The Second Order receives enlightenment from the Godhead through the beings of the First Order.

- Dominions forever strive mightily toward the true dominion and the true source of all dominion. The receive, as do their subordinates, the semblance of that domination. They signify a lifting up which is free and are unfettered by earthly tendencies of tyrrany and harsh dominion.
- Powers refer to a kind of masculine and unshakeable courage in all its Godlike activities; the type of courage which abandons laziness and softness during the reception of the divine enlightenments granted it, and it is powerfully uplifted to imitate God. It looks, without deviation, to the trtancendent power which is the source of all power. This courage becomes, as far as it is possible, the very image of that power to which it shapes itself, being powerfully returned to it because it is the source of all power. It transmits to its inferiors its dynamic and divinizing power.
- Authorities have an equal order with dominions and powers. They receive God in a harmonious and unconfused way and indicate the ordered nature of the celestial and intellectual authority. They do not employ their authoritive power to do tyrranous harm upon inferior ranks; they are uplifted harmoniously and unfailing toward the things of God and, in their goodness, lift up the inferior ranks with them. They are likened, insofar as they can be, to that authority which is the source of all authority and creates all authority; they make that authority evident, to the extent angels can, in their harmonious orders of authoritive power.

The Third Order of Angels (Principalities, Archangels and Angels) the final ranks have no share in the attributes to those superior

- Principalities refer to those who possess a godlike and princely hegemony, with a sacred order most suited to princely powers, the ability to be returned completely toward that principle which is above all principles and to lead others to Him like a prince, the power to receive to the full the mark of Principle of principles and by their harmonious exercise of princely powers, to make manifest this transcendent principle of all order.
- Archangels have the same order as Principalities and join with Angels to form a single hierarchy and rank. Every Hierarchy has first, middle and last powers, and the holy order of Archangels has something of both the others by virtue of being a mean between extremes. Archangels commune with the most holy Principalities and with the holy Angels. Like a principality, it is returned to its transcendent principle (source), that it receives upon itself as far as possible the mark of this principle and it brings about the unity of the angels due to their shared order as interpreters of those divine enlightenments mediated by the first powers. It generously announces these to the angels and through them to us insofar as we are capable of being sacredly enlightened.
- Angels complete the entire ranking of heavenly intelligences and they possess the final quality of being an Angel. Being closer to us, their hierarchy is more concerned with revelation and is closer to the world. The angels are said to take care of our own hierarchy, or so the Word of God tells us. Michael is called the ruler of the Jewish people, and other angels are described as rulers of other nations for "the Most High has established the boundaries of the nations by the number of his angels." (Dn 10:13).

*** Within all divine beings, there is a threefold distinction of "being, power and activity." Heavenly beings are called "heavenly powers" in common because each Order possesses specific powers from the Godhead and so there can be no confusion of the attributes peculiar to each rank.

The Lorica - St. Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today

Through a mighty strength:

The invocation of the Trinity!

Through the belief in the threeness -

Through confession of the oneness -

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism -

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial -

Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension -

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim -

In obedience of angels -

In the service of archangels -

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward -

In prayers of patriarchs -

In predictions of prophets -

In preaching of apostles -

In faith of confessors -

In innocence of holy virgins -

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun -

Radiance of moon -

Splendor of fire -

Speed of lightning -

Swiftness of wind -

Depth of sea -

Stability of earth -

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God's strength to pilot me:

God's might to uphold me -

God's wisdom to guide me -

God's eye to look before me -

God's ear to hear me -

God's word to speak for me -

God's hand to guard me -

God's way to lie before me -

God's shield to protect me -

God's host to save me -

From snares of devils -

From temptations of vices -

From everyone who shall wish me ill;

Afar and anear -

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today

All these powers between me and those evils:

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul

Against incantations of false prophets

Against black laws of pagandom

Against false laws of heretics

Against craft of idolatry

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards

Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison -

Against burning -

Against drowning -

Against wounding -

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me

Christ before me

Christ behind me

Christ in me

Christ beneath me

Christ above me

Christ on my right

Christ on my left

Christ when I lie down

Christ when I sit down

Christ when I arise

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me

Christ in every eye that sees me

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today through a mighty strength:

The invocation of the Trinity!

Through belief in the threeness -

Through confession of the oneness -

Of the Creator of Creation.

Prayer Against Sins of the Flesh

This prayer was developed from the dialogue that occured between St. Mary of Egypt and St. Zosimus the priest. Their dialogue was so prayerful and powerful that I think it is something one may find useful for those who struggle with adultery, fornication, homosexuality, masturbation, pornography and other sins of the flesh. It is for use before an Icon of Our Lady and a Crucufix. May the Holy Trinity protect us from all temptation and sin and may the Mother of God guide and protect us on our way through the mantle of her prayer.

In the Name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.

"Blessed is God + who cares for the salvation of men. O Lady Virgin, who gave birth in the flesh to God the Word! I know that I am unworthy to look upon your icon. I rightly inspire hatred and disgust before your purity, but I know also that God became Man in order to call sinners to repentance. Help me, O All-Pure One. Glory be to God + who accepts the repentance of sinners. Let me enter the church and partake in the Mystical Supper. Allow me to behold the Wood upon which the Lord was crucified in the flesh, shedding His Blood for the redemption of sinners, and also for me. Be my witness before Your Son that through His Grace and the mantle of your protective prayer that I will never defile my body again with the impurity of fornication or any other sin. When I behold the Cross of your Son, I will renounce the world, and go wherever you lead me. My Lady, do not reject my prayer as unworthy. Truly God did not lie when he promised that those who purify themselves will be like Him.

Recite the Creed and Our Father. Then raise your hands to the heavens and say: "

Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen Your salvation. Sweet Mother, make it possible for me to follow you and always see your holy face! For the Lord's sake, pray for me and remember my wretchedness. Pray to the Lord for me that I may I leave this world in the unity of the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and when I return to dust what is dust, that He may grant my soul repose. Glory be to You + O Christ, our God, our Hope, Glory be to You for showing me through your holy servants, Mary of Egypt and Zosimus the Priest, how far I am from perfection.

Exalt the Holy Cross:
It is time for me to fulfill my vow, which you witnessed. May God protect us from the Evil One and his schemes, for fierce is his struggle against us. Most Holy, Pure, Immaculate Mother of God and Ever Virgin, Mary; I renounce the world and all that is in it. Guide me on the path of prayer and repentance. Give the command, Mother, and I will go where you lead and will do whatever He says."

Ishtar's Gate

This is a poem written while in Iraq in 2005. Although it is a meager attempt to describe the war, it does honor Christ as the means through which to end it. May the protective prayer of the Mother of God, our Lady of Fatima, save us.


Ishtar’s Gate
Copyright © 2007

Boom sounds the terror war
Boots and bombs shake Babylon’s door
Where drums heard thousand years before
Her gardens hung in wonder –

Convoy in and convoy out
With faith obscured beyond all doubt
No knowledge of what war's about
Save casualties who suffer –

Mounted up with guns we go
Through cities, towns, the pace so slow
An ambush sits in wait to blow
Our warrior flesh asunder –

Mujahedin and Soldiers meet
Burning lead in Baghdad Streets
Clotting blood stains hospital sheets
No talk of spoils - just blunder –

Lightning flash and blind eyes glaze
Obscuring light till end of days
Bound in mind our wounded lays
In state, no words to utter –

Salvo’s burst and body dies
Our friends we cannot recognize
Though body armor petrifies
This test of faith is tougher –

Rockets, mortars, day and night
Breach our walls with aimless flight
Then impact burning flames ignite
To suck the air - we smother –

Phantom death, Iraq's road rage
Detonates - our youthful age
Their triggerman does not assuage -
Suppress their fire! Recover!

Explosions shred patrol and tent
Shrapnel hits then letters sent
To families grieving loved ones spent
In combat – still we linger –

Assassins smoke - the dust filled air
Steals our breath and in their stare
We glimpse the devil and despair
Though he has been tread under –

The sudden blast, the punctured ground
The ringing pain, then not a sound
Proceed through kill zone; honor bound
To make it back together –

The Prince of War spews fiery ice
His legions lust the sacrifice
The mounds of flesh do not suffice
To sate their voracious hunger –

Medals for our wounds they say
Are recompense for what we pay –
For standing fast in perils’ way
For Liberty our lover –

Death is life but in disguise
A life of peace to war is lies
Know death of soul is feast for flies
We pray to our sweet Mother –

Transfigured we unsanctified
Suffer wounds though Jesus died
Upon the cross of sin and cried
“Forsaken!” Still we shudder –

Freedom sappers castigate
While Lion's sentry Ishtar's gate
As dead ones share their common fate
A roar is heard like thunder!

So what is the truth of this great sin?
If one life dies then no one wins
Unless one's soul's been purged within
So contemplate and mutter –

Yet all our hope on earth relies
In resurrection, paradise
As Angel Warriors storm the skies
Before our God and Brother –

In God’s own peace our souls remain
His Mercy, cleanse us free of stain
We pray our struggle’s not in vain
For we love one another –

Copyright © 2007