K
keith2002
Guest
Could anyone tell me if the philokalia is something that a Catholic should read. I’m thinking yes from my investiagtion, but you all seem to have some insught at times that is helpful.
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A
akemner
Guest
I cannot see why not, since it deals with prayer life. Mostly it is read and used by those who have spiritual directors who are familiar themselves with its content (this is talked about even within the text-spiritual fathers are important to protect for spiritual delusion). It is an anthology of texts, and perhaps is not best read frpom beginning to end. You may want to read first The Way of the Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues his Way. There is with in that text a particular order that texts of the Philokalia would be read for a beginner. I do not remember which part this key is in; it may take both parts to get the full explanation of the key, and most certainly to understand what the *Philokalia *is about.
In Christ,
Adam
In Christ,
Adam
V
_veritas
Guest
I have not read much of the Philokalia, so do not take this as being a well-learned response. However, I will offer a brief suggestion on the work as I understand it.
The Philokalia is a book in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, and provides reflection and guidance on prayer and living a life with God. It may or may not have issues theologically, it was written before the Great Schism when the Eastern and Western Churches were for the most part united. I am uncertain of how much oversight was placed upon the book then, or what it’s “official” position is in the Catholic Church today, though there are multiple Eastern saints attributed to it…
As far as Catholics reading the book, I do not think there should be major problems with that so long as the Catholic is well grounded in their faith and have an understanding of the foundational principles of the faith. The danger of the book lies in misinterpreting its ways of prayer as being more “Eastern mysticism” than Christ-centered. It advocates a type of prayer that is outwardly very similar to the standard New Age-type “centering” prayer (ie, controlled breath patterns, repetition of the “Jesus Prayer”). In fact, it seems that it is more the secular Western world that has latched onto the Philokalia, for these very reasons (another “way” of “finding oneself”), than Christianity per se.
So – I would suggest that the Philokalia is not a “banned” book so to speak, but one that requires careful reading and attention to the theological underpinnings behind the process. Be cautious not to get too caught up in the external elements described. I would further suggest that anyone who intends to put this style of prayer into practice do so under the guidance of a trusted spiritual director.
+veritas+
The Philokalia is a book in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, and provides reflection and guidance on prayer and living a life with God. It may or may not have issues theologically, it was written before the Great Schism when the Eastern and Western Churches were for the most part united. I am uncertain of how much oversight was placed upon the book then, or what it’s “official” position is in the Catholic Church today, though there are multiple Eastern saints attributed to it…
As far as Catholics reading the book, I do not think there should be major problems with that so long as the Catholic is well grounded in their faith and have an understanding of the foundational principles of the faith. The danger of the book lies in misinterpreting its ways of prayer as being more “Eastern mysticism” than Christ-centered. It advocates a type of prayer that is outwardly very similar to the standard New Age-type “centering” prayer (ie, controlled breath patterns, repetition of the “Jesus Prayer”). In fact, it seems that it is more the secular Western world that has latched onto the Philokalia, for these very reasons (another “way” of “finding oneself”), than Christianity per se.
So – I would suggest that the Philokalia is not a “banned” book so to speak, but one that requires careful reading and attention to the theological underpinnings behind the process. Be cautious not to get too caught up in the external elements described. I would further suggest that anyone who intends to put this style of prayer into practice do so under the guidance of a trusted spiritual director.
+veritas+
A
a_pilgrim
Guest
The order that a beginner should approach the Philokalia as referred to by Adam and recommended in The Way of a Pilgrim is as follows:
1. the book of Nicephorus the Solitary, in the second part;
2. the book of Gregory of Sinai with the exception of the short chapters;
3. Simeon the New Theologian about the three forms of prayer and the lesson on faith;
4. the book of Callistus and Ignatius.
The Way of a Pilgrim goes on to say that…
The writings of these Fathers contain complete directions about interior prayer of the heart and can be easily understood by everyone.
It also says…
If, however, you desire even more simple information regarding interior prayer then find the summarized version of Patriarch Callistus of Constantonople in the fourth part of the book.
a pilgrim
C
cleopa
Guest
One should not attempt to read the Philokalia without the direction of a spiritual father.
~cleopa
~cleopa
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
Some abbot wrote a key to the Philokalia * because he thought it too deep for his monks to read. the comment I saw was that we still need a key to the key.
The Way of the Pilgrim and *The Pilgrim Continues his Way are great.
The Way of the Pilgrim and *The Pilgrim Continues his Way are great.
A
asteroid
Guest
The Way of the Pilgrim is fantastic. Highly recommended. It gave a lot to think about and some things to act on. I bought it from the Bruderhof, an anabaptist community group who seem to cover most traditions in their influences.
The Philokalia itself is great but very very difficult to understand except for a few parts. It’s on our shelves but won’t be attempted just yet.
I can recommend, if it’s still available “The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology” compiled by Igumen Chariton of Valamo - still not the easiest thing to read and it takes a lot of thought and you may not agree with everything but it’s very good.
Or try J D Salinger - Franny and Zooey - a fiction work containing much about the Jesus Prayer and inherent dangers in jumping in at the deep end with The Pilgrim.
Blessings
Asteroid - protestant with weird reading tastes!
The Philokalia itself is great but very very difficult to understand except for a few parts. It’s on our shelves but won’t be attempted just yet.
I can recommend, if it’s still available “The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology” compiled by Igumen Chariton of Valamo - still not the easiest thing to read and it takes a lot of thought and you may not agree with everything but it’s very good.
Or try J D Salinger - Franny and Zooey - a fiction work containing much about the Jesus Prayer and inherent dangers in jumping in at the deep end with The Pilgrim.
Blessings
Asteroid - protestant with weird reading tastes!
H
Hesychios
Guest
Glory to Jesus Christ!
I am inclined to agree with Cleopa, it is best to study the Philokalia with spiritual direction. However most people who read it probably don’t. I have the first four volumes and I have barely touched it, preferring to concentrate on other things. It is basically from the tradition of the Greek fathers but I believe it extends into the era of Gregory Palamas and that would be beyond the commonly accepted time of the Great Schism.
Better yet, there is a great compendium of the Philokalia available from Light and Life Publishing company called, of all things Philokalia - The Bible of Orthodox Spirituality, imagine that! It’s very good, I recommend it highly.
With Asteroid I warmly suggest The Art of Prayer - an Orthodox Anthology compiled by Igumen Chariton of Valamo sometime early in the last century. It is basically Russian in spirituality (drawing largely from the papers of Theophan the Recluse) and should be helpful to someone interested in developing an interior life.
These things are perfectly fine for Catholics to read, one will not find anything heretical in them. Just be aware that there is definately a mystical aspect to most of this literature, some things are better studied under spiritual direction. We are all learners, our spirtuality develops over time.
There is a small but very vibrant Russian Catholic church, and they will tell you that they are Russian Orthodox in Communion with Rome. This is their spirituality, drink deep of it if you are serious about learning of these treasures of our common Faith.
St Michaels’
Our Lady of Fatima
In the Theotokos,
Michael, that sinner
I am inclined to agree with Cleopa, it is best to study the Philokalia with spiritual direction. However most people who read it probably don’t. I have the first four volumes and I have barely touched it, preferring to concentrate on other things. It is basically from the tradition of the Greek fathers but I believe it extends into the era of Gregory Palamas and that would be beyond the commonly accepted time of the Great Schism.
Better yet, there is a great compendium of the Philokalia available from Light and Life Publishing company called, of all things Philokalia - The Bible of Orthodox Spirituality, imagine that! It’s very good, I recommend it highly.
With Asteroid I warmly suggest The Art of Prayer - an Orthodox Anthology compiled by Igumen Chariton of Valamo sometime early in the last century. It is basically Russian in spirituality (drawing largely from the papers of Theophan the Recluse) and should be helpful to someone interested in developing an interior life.
These things are perfectly fine for Catholics to read, one will not find anything heretical in them. Just be aware that there is definately a mystical aspect to most of this literature, some things are better studied under spiritual direction. We are all learners, our spirtuality develops over time.
There is a small but very vibrant Russian Catholic church, and they will tell you that they are Russian Orthodox in Communion with Rome. This is their spirituality, drink deep of it if you are serious about learning of these treasures of our common Faith.
St Michaels’
Our Lady of Fatima
In the Theotokos,
Michael, that sinner
B
bkropp
Guest
Hello,
The priest who I am courting to hopefully be my spiritual director recommended Way of the Pilgrim and Pilgrim continues his way which I have read and loved. Last time we met he also recommended Philokalia volumes 1-2. He states that 3-4 gets into more of the Eastern Orthodox anti-Catholocism. I did a little background research and sure enough, volumes 3-4 were written later chronologically after the schism.
Prayers requested on the first mentioned point above!
Peace,
Brandon
The priest who I am courting to hopefully be my spiritual director recommended Way of the Pilgrim and Pilgrim continues his way which I have read and loved. Last time we met he also recommended Philokalia volumes 1-2. He states that 3-4 gets into more of the Eastern Orthodox anti-Catholocism. I did a little background research and sure enough, volumes 3-4 were written later chronologically after the schism.
Prayers requested on the first mentioned point above!
Peace,
Brandon
G
Gregory84
Guest
Much of the Philokalia was written for monks so you must keep this in mind. Much of the texts speaks in ways that take alot of time to understand. I agree completely with the above that you should study it with the help of a spiritual father/mother to help you. I read it the first time by myself and received some help but when I studied it with a father I got so much more out of it. I would also warn that there is quite a bit about battle of the demonic and the self-control of the body that are not as common in the preaching/teaching of the Roman Catholic Church today. Veritas, on a side note, the Jesus Prayer is not a centering prayer in the New Age tradition as you have put it. Many have said that but most Eastern Fathers belief this is wrong. Ignatius Brianchaninov’s book On the Prayer of Jesus illustrates this point. I would also point out that to understand the Jesus Prayer in the eastern tradition you need to understand hesychasm. My apologies for getting off track from the Philokalia which I do hope you find someone to mentor you through. PAX
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