Detachment... Holy Indifference

[TrueLight]

I have to say, St Teresa’s Book of her Life, which I’m currently reading and St Maria Faustina’s Divine Mercy in My Soul, made a tremendous difference in my prayer life.

 

[Sirach2]

Yes, indeed - two classics that are indispensible for anyone serious about Divine Intimacy and holiness. Not to overload you when you have these two good books, but some day tuck away in your mind to read Marcel AuClair’s book of St. Teresa of Avila. In her humility, St. Teresa tiptoes over some things that may scandalize the reader, but Marcel reveals the intimate details.

You may have noticed in her early years that she read to her uncle from Third Spiritual Alphabet by Francisco deOsuna. When you read his teachings on recollection, you will find that St. Teresa used a lot of this holy man’s analogies in her writings. I couldn’t put these books down. LOL!!!

Some day, hopefully, you’ll come back and share your insights with us.

 

[TrueLight]

Yes, indeed - two classics that are indispensible for anyone serious about Divine Intimacy and holiness. Not to overload you when you have these two good books, but some day tuck away in your mind to read Marcel AuClair’s book of St. Teresa of Avila. In her humility, St. Teresa tiptoes over some things that may scandalize the reader, but Marcel reveals the intimate details.

You may have noticed in her early years that she read to her uncle from Third Spiritual Alphabet by Francisco deOsuna. When you read his teachings on recollection, you will find that St. Teresa used a lot of this holy man’s analogies in her writings. I couldn’t put these books down. LOL!!!

Some day, hopefully, you’ll come back and share your insights with us.

Thanks for the suggestions. You’ve made me curious about AuClair’s book. I happen to have a new lay Carmelite friend, so I am always babbling to her about St Teresa.

I don’t know if you noticed a thread I started about how I was ready to read about St Teresa. I felt that she was calling me to find out more about her.

I had gotten her mixed up with St Catherine of Sienna, who I am sure is awesome, but her drinking of pus, put me off, so I had stayed away from St Teresa, confusing her with St Catherine.

Imagine my surprise when I got corrected on the thread that it wasn’t St Teresa I was thinking of, so of course I delved right in.

I am so thankful.

 

[Sirach2]

Hmm. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Perhaps through your friend’s influence, together with your attraction to St. Teresa, it will develop into a latent vocation to be a Secular Carmelite.

 

[TrueLight]

Hmm. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Perhaps through your friend’s influence, together with your attraction to St. Teresa, it will develop into a latent vocation to be a Secular Carmelite.

I really have no idea. I seem to be very much into mysticism and contemplation, but I am also very much into going out there to share my faith, so .

She can also be the vehicle that God is using to teach me what I need to learn now.

 

[JReducation]

Br. Jay,
Awesome post, as usual!!

Can you recommend any books that speak, in general, to the “Christian Spiritual Tradition” that you are speaking about?

What about some books on mysticism?
Again, maybe something general, like a “Mysticism for Dummies” kind of thing.

Peace be with you!

Greetings, again, Oneofthewomen,

Wondering if you have seen the beautiful series on EWTN called “Living the Discerning Life?” It concluded a week ago, but the network started it up again from the beginning on Sunday nights at 8 PM, so he has not touched on very much if you jump in now. Fr. Gallagher presents all of St. Ignatius’ teachings on discernment in - I’m guessing - perhaps a dozen consecutive airings. He is such a gentle spirit and spends a good amount of time to be sure the listener understands. The program repeats on Mondays at 1 PM. Actually, he is filling the slot that Fr. Corapi used to hold on his Catechism series.

BTW, I have both of his books on discernment and they are EXCELLENT!

One of the best books on the spiritual life is The Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay.

Father Gallagher is absolutely awesome. If you can’t tune in to the series, I believe that EWTN sells the DVD.

Read the writings of Brother Lawrence.

Also, read Come Be My Light. The spiritual journey of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Very powerful!!!

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Celticnovice]

I have been trying to track down books by Fr. Thomas Dubay, they have come highly recommended.

Trulight, have you read or have a copy of the Interior Castle by St. Teresa De Avila

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Thanks, Br. Jay!

I read Come Be My Light in my spirituality class a couple of years ago. I myself was in a very dark place at the time, and I found the book very difficult to read. Maybe it’s time to dust it off and read it again!

I will definately check out the other recommendations!

One of the best books on the spiritual life is The Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay.

Father Gallagher is absolutely awesome. If you can’t tune in to the series, I believe that EWTN sells the DVD.

Read the writings of Brother Lawrence.

Also, read Come Be My Light. The spiritual journey of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Very powerful!!!

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[TrueLight]

Trulight, have you read or have a copy of the Interior Castle by St. Teresa De Avila

Hi Celticnovice,

Not yet, but I will eventually.

I started a three-book series, called The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila. I’m on the first book, which consists of

• the book of her life
  – Spiritual Testimonies
  – Soliloquies

Book two consists of the Way of Perfection and the Interior Castle.

 

[TrueLight]

Thanks, Br. Jay!

I read Come Be My Light in my spirituality class a couple of years ago. I myself was in a very dark place at the time, and I found the book very difficult to read. Maybe it’s time to dust it off and read it again!

I will definately check out the other recommendations!

What did you find difficult about Come Be My Light?

I know almost nothing about Mother Theresa and I’d love to learn about her.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

What did you find difficult about Come Be My Light?

I know almost nothing about Mother Theresa and I’d love to learn about her.

Much of the book was about her own “dark night”.
The fact that I was in a very dark spiritual place at the time I took this class,
and looked to Mother Theresa as some kind of “perfectly spiritual being”, reading of her struggles was almost too much for me to bear.

To be honest, I am not sure if I really actually “read” the book due to my circumsatances at the time. I just pulled it off the shelf and plan on reading it again, starting tonight!!

 

[TrueLight]

Much of the book was about her own “dark night”.
The fact that I was in a very dark spiritual place at the time I took this class,
and looked to Mother Theresa as some kind of “perfectly spiritual being”, reading of her struggles was almost too much for me to bear.

To be honest, I am not sure if I really actually “read” the book due to my circumsatances at the time. I just pulled it off the shelf and plan on reading it again, starting tonight!!

Ahh. I see.

 

[hazcompat]

A “dark night” is the suspension of time in a locution.

peace

 

[hazcompat]

St. Seraphim of Sarov’s Conversation With Nicholas Motovilov
A Wonderful Revelation to the World

…"that in your childhood you had a great desire to know the aim of our Christian life, and that you continually asked many great spiritual persons about it."I must say here that from the age of twelve this thought had constantly troubled me. I had, in fact, approached many clergy about it; but their answers had not satisfied me. This was not known to the Elder.“But no one,” continued Father Seraphim, "has given you a precise answer. They have said to you: ‘Go to Church, pray to God, do the commandments of God, do good—that is the aim of the Christian life.’ Some were even indignant with you for being occupied with profane curiosity and said to you: ‘Do not seek things that are beyond you.’ But they did not speak as they should. And now poor Seraphim will explain to you in what this aim really consists.“Prayer, fasting, vigil and all other Christian activities, however good they may be in themselves, do not constitute the aim of our Christian life, although they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end. The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. As for fasts, and vigils, and prayer, and almsgiving, and every good deed done for Christ’s sake, they are only means of acquiring the Holy Spirit of God. But mark, my son, only the good deed done for Christ’s sake brings us the fruits of the Holy Spirit. All that is not done for Christ’s sake, even though it be good, brings neither reward in the future life nor the grace of God in this. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ said: He who gathers not with Me scatters (Luke 11:23). Not that a good deed can be called anything but gathering, …”

Come Holy Spirit.

peace

 

[simple_soul]

*I was thinking about this thread this morning and I was reminded of this one line from the Beatitudes and I believe it suddenly seems to have so much more meaning to it.

“Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God!”

Is it when we learn to detach from everything we believe we need or want and instead trust God for everything we need or want, we will then see God in everything? Including our own thoughts and opinions? *

 

[Oneofthewomen]

*I was thinking about this thread this morning and I was reminded of this one line from the Beatitudes and I believe it suddenly seems to have so much more meaning to it.

“Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God!”

Is it when we learn to detach from everything we believe we need or want and instead trust God for everything we need or want, we will then see God in everything? Including our own thoughts and opinions? *

I would say the answer to these questions is yes.
And for me, the ultimate goal!!

I have been thinking about this thread also, and the question of what the “traditional” meaning of detachment is and this came to mind (my emphasis added)

Colossians 3:6-17
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming [upon the disobedient]. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. ***And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, ***as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Seems to me that you can’t get much more “traditional” than St. Paul!!

 

[fred_conty]

Detachment is when you bump your head and you say “thank you Jesus”.

Just a thought.

 

[hazcompat]

The Philokalia

St Theodoros the Great Ascetic
A Century of Spiritual Texts

1. With those who live in the world and are associated with the material things that feed the passions, the demons wage war through practical activities; while with those who dwell in the wilderness, where material things are rare, they fight by troubling them with evil thoughts. This second mode of warfare is far more difficult to cope with; for warfare through things requires a specific time and place, and a fit occasion, whereas warfare of the intellect is mercurial and hard to control. But as our trusty weapon in this incorporeal fight we have been given pure prayer: that is why we are told to pray without ceasing (cf. 1 Thess. 5:17), Prayer strengthens the intellect in the struggle, since it can be practiced even without the body taking part.
2. With reference to the perfect mortification of the passions St Paul says: ‘They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh together with the passions and desires’ (Gal. 5:24). For when we mortify the passions, utterly destroy desires, and subjugate the will of the flesh to the Spirit, we take up the cross and follow Christ (cf. Matt.16:24). For withdrawal from the world is nothing else but the mortification of the passions and the manifestation of
   the life that is hidden in Christ (cf. Col. 3:3-4).
3. Those who have given up their hour-by-hour warfare, because of their distress at the rebelliousness of ‘the body of this death’ (Rom. 7:24), should blame not the flesh, but themselves. For if they had not given it the strength, providing for it so it could gratify its desires (cf. Rom. 13:14), they would not have been so greatly distressed by it. Do they not see how those who have crucified themselves together with their passions and desires, and who proclaim the death of Jesus in their mortal flesh (cf. 2 Cor. 4:10), have made the flesh tractable and obedient to the law of God, so that it proves an ally rather than an adversary in their aspirations towards the divine? Let them do likewise and they will enjoy the same peace.

peace

 

[simple_soul]

I would say the answer to these questions is yes.
And for me, the ultimate goal!!

Dear Oneof the women, I do beleive it is the same for me.

I have been thinking about this thread also, and the question of what the “traditional” meaning of detachment is and this came to mind (my emphasis added)

Seems to me that you can’t get much more “traditional” than St. Paul!!

*Thank you for sharing St. Paul.
I do believe it has reaffirmed what I was thinking.
What I believe I have be trying to work on is to not hold so tightly to my opinions and understandings by opening myself up to others opinions and understandings. Sometimes I believe my opinions and understandings can become an idol in the sense that they become more important to me than seeing God in the other person.
Doe that make sense or sound right?
… *

 

[simple_soul]

*Dear Hazcompat,

I know I never say anything to your posts but please keep them coming. I always find what you post to be so nourishing for the heart, mind and soul.
Thank you for taking the time to post them…*