Comments on: Praying the Mystics http://www.anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/ Carl McColman ~ The Fullness of Joy is to Behold God in All Sat, 19 May 2012 17:37:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: 2 elders http://www.anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/#comment-2609 2 elders Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:25:20 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/#comment-2609 a simple booklette on <b>THE JESUS PRAYER</b>! <i>The Orthodox world - and beyond - is acquainted with the justly famous and righteous <b>Elder Joseph the Hesychast</b>, who reposed on the Holy Mountain in 1959. Less known outside Russia is <b>Archbishop Golinsky-Michaelovsky</b>, who was another committed practioner and teacher of <b>The Jesus Prayer</b>. The English Language Editor was <b>Fr. Ambrose (Young)</b> and the Publisher was <b>The Skete of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple</b> in Haysville, Ohio.</i> journey <a href="http://users.rio.com/bamm/2elders" rel="nofollow">HERE</a> for a preview! a simple booklette on THE JESUS PRAYER!

The Orthodox world – and beyond – is acquainted
with the justly famous and righteous Elder Joseph the Hesychast,
who reposed on the Holy Mountain in 1959. Less known outside Russia is
Archbishop Golinsky-Michaelovsky, who was another
committed practioner and teacher of The Jesus Prayer.
The English Language Editor was Fr. Ambrose (Young) and the
Publisher was The Skete of the Entrance of the
Theotokos into the Temple in Haysville, Ohio.

journey HERE for a preview!

]]> By: Rhapsody Singer http://www.anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/#comment-2608 Rhapsody Singer Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:02:32 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/#comment-2608 I agree with all three of you totally. I have tried hard to pray but nothing really happens. But reading J.of Norwich etc. and Sri Ramakrishna and Ramana Maharish have hepled me to calm down to the point of being able to take deep breaths. Prayer still a far cry... At this point I might add that I am a married, 30 yr old Brahmin Hindu residing in interior small-town India. I immensely love three Catholic mystics --- St Catherine of Siena, Juliana of Norwich and Ignatius of Loyola ( though most would never think of the last as a mystic). I must also declare that I will never convert but feel drawn to the spirituality of St. Benedict and silence. this is a nice blog u have here. Om Shantih. I agree with all three of you totally. I have tried hard to pray but nothing really happens. But reading J.of Norwich etc. and Sri Ramakrishna and Ramana Maharish have hepled me to calm down to the point of being able to take deep breaths. Prayer still a far cry…
At this point I might add that I am a married, 30 yr old Brahmin Hindu residing in interior small-town India. I immensely love three Catholic mystics — St Catherine of Siena, Juliana of Norwich and Ignatius of Loyola ( though most would never think of the last as a mystic).
I must also declare that I will never convert but feel drawn to the spirituality of St. Benedict and silence. this is a nice blog u have here. Om Shantih.

]]> By: Peter http://www.anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/#comment-2607 Peter Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:58:14 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/#comment-2607 Darrell, I find applying Lectio Divina to the reading of the mystics (or the poets, or the great writers of literature) to be a great idea, well worth the attempt. I have just one caveat or word of caution: Without entering a fruitless argument about relative degrees of inspiration, I think we would all agree that "not all mystical writing is created equal." For example, you have expressed a preference for the kind of gnosticism that affirms the physical creation over the kind that denies or minimizes it. I agree with that preference! So I would not be able to apply Lectio Divina (which implies receptivity to the content of the reading) equally to all the mystics, perhaps not even to all on you brief list (all of which is certainly worth reading!). With this caveat in mind, I think that we can read the mystics receptively and openly as a form of prayer according to your suggestion. One I would follow without any question is Julian. There are others too. The point of Lectio Divina is to be impressed and changed by what we are reading. We have the right and responsiblity to discern and choose who and what we will allow ourselves to be changed by. Blessings, Peter Darrell,

I find applying Lectio Divina to the reading of the mystics (or the poets, or the great writers of literature) to be a great idea, well worth the attempt.
I have just one caveat or word of caution:
Without entering a fruitless argument about relative degrees of inspiration, I think we would all agree that “not all mystical writing is created equal.” For example, you have expressed a preference for the kind of gnosticism that affirms the physical creation over the kind that denies or minimizes it. I agree with that preference! So I would not be able to apply Lectio Divina (which implies receptivity to the content of the reading) equally to all the mystics, perhaps not even to all on you brief list (all of which is certainly worth reading!).
With this caveat in mind, I think that we can read the mystics receptively and openly as a form of prayer according to your suggestion. One I would follow without any question is Julian. There are others too. The point of Lectio Divina is to be impressed and changed by what we are reading. We have the right and responsiblity to discern and choose who and what we will allow ourselves to be changed by.

Blessings,
Peter

]]> By: qarrtsiluni http://www.anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/#comment-2606 qarrtsiluni Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:50:41 +0000 http://anamchara.com/2007/10/19/praying-the-mystics/#comment-2606 Actually, I try to read *everything* that way, but really only succeed with poetry. It can be a very interesting exercise - mind-altering at least in the way that hearing an oral performance can be. Seeing may be believing - of a sort - but hearing is understanding. Actually, I try to read *everything* that way, but really only succeed with poetry. It can be a very interesting exercise – mind-altering at least in the way that hearing an oral performance can be. Seeing may be believing – of a sort – but hearing is understanding.

]]>