COMMENT: Nicholas Cabasilas - The Study of Spirituality

Dear William,

You are the indispensable 'Reader', as 'Readers' are full-time tutors in Ox/Bridge colleges. 

You pointed me to the very volume, on the very shelf, with the precise knowledge of the background of Nicholas Cabasilas.

- - -

Many thanks.

Yours ...
Donald.

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William - - -
To: Fr Donald - - ->
Sent: Friday, 11 May 2012, 20:23
Subject: Re: Nicholas Cabasilas

Dear Father Donald,

 

I find his writing like to a crystal mountain stream: "If this sacrament [the Eucharist] is fully effective it is quite impossible for it to allow the slightest imperfection to remain in those who receive it".  There is a very helpful write up in the book "The Study of Spirituality" (sadly I don't have a scanner, but I have seen this book in your library, yellow binding). The section begins: "The links of Hesychasm with the wider culture of the day are exemplified in particular by Gregory Palamas' contemporary and friend St Nicholas Cabasilas...." p 255.

 

 Wikipedia carries a short summary of his Works and a brief Bibliography. There is, suprisingly, only a brief entry on the Orthodox version of Wikipedia:  http://orthodoxwiki.org/Nicholas_Cabasilas

 

You do discover for us ever more amazing avenues of spirituality, thank you!

 

With my love in Our Lord,

William

 

  

The Study of Spirituality SPCK 1986

The Hesychasts - KALLISTOS WARE see p. 255

Kallistos and Ignatios, like Gregory of Sinai, are writing with monks in mind. But the Hesychast teaching was never restricted to an exclusively monastic milieu. Gregoryof Sinai sent his disciples back to the city from the desert, to act as guides to laypeople, and Gregory Palamas, in a sharp dispute with a certain monk Job, insisted that Paul's injunction 'Pray without ceasing' (1 Thess. 5.17) is addressed to every Christian without exception. The links ofHesychasm with the wider culture of the day are exemplified in particular by Palamas' contemporary and friend St Nicolas Cabasilas (c. 1320-C. 1391). Highly educated, pursuing in his earlier years a political career, Cabasilas to the best of our knowledge was never ordained or professed amonk. Although he wrote a short tract in support of Pal am as against Gregoras, in his two main works, The Life in Christ and A Commentary on the Divine Liturgy,Cabasilas avoids all explicit reference to specifically Hesychast themes, such as theJesus Prayer, the light of Tabor, or the uncreated energies. He expounds the spiritualway simply in terms of the sacraments: 'life in Christ' is nothing else than 'life in the sacraments', and this is accessible to each one alike, whether monastic or married, whether priest, soldier, farmer or the mother of a family. Like Palamas, he sees continual prayer as the vocation of all: 'It is quite possible to practise continual meditation in one's own home without giving up any of one's possessions' (The Life in Christ, 6; ET, p. 174). Hesychasm is in principle a universal path.

 

Second Reading

From The Life in Christ by Nicholas Cabasilas 
(Lib. 3: PG 150, 574-575)

The sacrament referred to in this reading by the Eastern name of"chrismation" is known in the West as confirmation. Cabasilas stresses the importance of this sacrament. through which Christians share in the power of the Holy Spirit and receive the virtues needed for spiritual maturity.

St. Teresa 6000 souls by prayer

 
Blog:

“And He made me remember that He had granted six thousand conversions for one of St. Teresa of Avila's prayers.”

An excerpt from “He and I” gives a taste of style of Gabrielle Bossis.

William expresses very appreciatively the simplicity and intimate dialogue with the Lord.

Apart from the scholars the verdicts on exact decision on ‘revelation’, Gabrielle's words are utterly entrancing in the presence of 'Him'.

The exchanges of the First-Person, Secdond-Person and Third-Persons are illumination, as in the St. Teresea reminder..

Email

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: William Wardle
To: Donald Nunraw  
Sent: Saturday, 12 May 2012, 19:07
Subject: Re: Gabrielle Bossis "He and I"

                                                                                                                              

Dear Father Donald,

Gabrielle Bossis' journal of the words spoken to her by the "Inner Voice" of Christ are extraordinarily affective.

I think it is the intimacy of her conversations with the Lord that instantly drew me into the sanctuary of presence:

  

'What have I done to deserve the kindness of My God?' one will ask. And [the Lord] shall reply, 'You loved Him with all your strivings and you let Him love you'"

I wonder: I have read a number of commentaries on the Lord's Prayer, especially with regard to the meaning of the petition, "Give us this day our daily bread": I wonder if the hidden meaning is a prayer for heavenly love: "Give us this day the love we need", from which would follow, 'forgive us our lack of love, as we forgive those who turn away their hearts from us."

               [Edit: a friend hoping repair and restore statue of Terese  of Lisieux.]

To restore antique statue
of Little Flower

The desperately sad face of the old 13" statue of the Little Flower shows an intense appeal for heavenly love to be poured out upon mankind. It is a haunting image.

Thank you for many quiet moments of reflection.

With my love in Our Lord,

William

HE AND i 
by Gabrielle  Bossis

March 15 – 1948

 Coming back from Mass I was thinking of sinners. It was cold and I was walking barefoot.

"Perhaps, Lord, You will give me two for my two feet?" "Two what? Two thousand?"

And He made me remember that He had granted six thousand conversions for one of St. Teresa of Avila's prayers.

March 17 - "I am thirsty. I have only what one gives Me. I take nothing."

March 18 - On the street in the morning among the laborers going to work, I said, "I too am going to my day's work living for You."

"Do you realize how many sinners you can save in a single day? Think of My dazzling power, riches and generosity. Who could hinder Me from giving you souls if I wish to do so?

For the earth, My justice is shackled by My mercy, moved to pity by the prayers of those I love. So count more on My generosity both for you and for all those you commit to Me. Dare to hope more than you have ever hoped before, as you come to believe in the divine open handedness. We aren't on the same plane: then expect the extraordinary. You have already experienced it. It will strengthen your faith and hope in a way that you don't suspect. For it is I Myself who come and can I come other than as God?

My love is the source of everything. Did you think it was My pity? My pity, yes, but moved by this love of Mine that is greater than all other loves. I can only teach you about it little by little, because you are so fragile. For you would faint like the beloved in the Song of Solomon, if more vehement words from My heart fell upon your ear, and if, as in beautiful books, I add­ed pictures. You're thinking, 'He's talking to me again about Love: And I'm thinking, 'When can I begin to talk to her about it?' ( ••• )

Bellarmine Medal in 2004. Dr.Robson

New Bishop for Scotland 

http://www.cinews.ie/article.php?artid=10165 

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

Cardinal O'Brien and Auxiliary Bishop Robson at Gillis Centre

On Tuesday (May 8), the Holy Father appointed Msgr Stephen Robson of the clergy of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, as auxiliary of the same archdiocese. 

The new Auxiliary Bishop will assist Cardinal Keith O’Brien in the administration of the diocese.  The diocese last had an Auxiliary Bishop in 1996, and the appointment reflects Cardinal O’Brien’s national responsibilities and his international role as a member of a number of Pontifical Councils in Rome.

“I have known the new Auxiliary Bishop, Mgr Stephen Robson for well over 35 years.  He has been involved with me in pastoral work and schoolwork, seminary apostolate and during his further studies, literally everything a priest should be involved in.  I am happy once again to have an Auxiliary Bishop to help in pastoral work and administration,” said Cardinal O’Brien. 

“He is highly respected by his brother priests and also by the deacons, religious and people of this Archdiocese and beyond, because of his open, friendly and pastoral zeal.  Also he combines his very personal manner with his own deep spirituality and academic learning, so that he can bring to bear on a variety of problems an incisive knowledge and an ability at decision making.”

Reacting to the appointment Mgr. Robson said, "Although I have experienced great peace and joy on receiving the appointment by the Holy Father as Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal O'Brien there has also been a great sense of unworthiness and at the same time, trust.”

Mgr Robson added, “My first duty as Auxiliary is to my Archbishop, Cardinal O'Brien and he is no stranger to me.  I have known him over 35 years and served him as my bishop for twenty-seven years.  As he reminds me, I am his Auxiliary, first and foremost!  My second duty is to serve the priests and then the faithful and religious of our Archdiocese in the best way I can.  And this is impossible without the help of the Good Shepherd who is the model, inspiration and more important the grace and strength working through all Bishops.”

The Episcopal ordination of the new bishop will take place in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh on the Feast of St. Columba Saturday June 9 in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini. 

Saint Columba the Abbot, Evangeliser of Scotland and Northern England is Secondary Patron of Scotland.  As a Celtic monk, Columba, or Columcille set off on pilgrimage for Christ, placing himself in exile from his own family to preach the Gospel.  It is for this reason that Mgr Robson has chosen as his episcopal motto Peregrinatio pro Christo - on pilgrimage for Christ.

The bishop-elect was born in Carliste, England in 1951 and ordained a priest in 1979.  He studied in Scotland and in Rome, then worked in pastoral care in the archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh.  From 1998 to 2006, he was spiritual director of the Pontifical Scottish Seminary in Rome.

He was awarded The Bellarmine Medal in 2004.  The gold doctoral medal is awarded annually by the Gregorian University in Rome to the two best doctoral theses submitted each year, one in philosophy and one in theology.  He was awarded the theology award in 2004 for his thesis on St Bernard's spiritual theology.

The Vatican statement describes the archdiocese as having a population 1,521,000, in which there are 115,000Catholics, 151priests, 3 permanent deacons, and 165 religious.

_________________________________________

Filling up the profile:

Msgr Has been Director of Visits to the Internations Eucharistic Congress in Ireland, beginning 10th June 2012

ciNews, the newsroom of www.catholicireland.net, has been in operation since April 2004.

Stepen has a genuine Scottish accent. Could his parents have been Scottish ?Bishop Stephen spent some time as Br Austin at Ampleforth!

In the the doctoral dissertation, the final acknowledgement is for the parents.. .

"Finally, I wish to dedicate this work to my parents. They first taught me what unconditional love is all about, and in that sense they first introduced me to the Lord. They have always believed in me. They have always supported me.I cannot begin to thank them and shall be eternally in their debt. They know how much I love them and they remain my closest friends on earth. I cannot thank them adequately but I dedicate this work and all my best endeavours to them."

Anolecto Gregoriono

Cura Pontificiae Universitatis Gregorianae edita Vol. 293. Series Facultatis Theologiae: sectio B, n. 107

STEPHEN ROBSON

'WITH THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH' (Lk 1,17)

The Prophetic-Reforming Spirituality of Bernard of Clairvaux

as evidenced particularly in his Letters.

EDITRICE PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIT A GREGORIANA ROMA 2004

- - -Back Cover

Bernard of Clairvaux is one of the most multi-dimensional and enigmatic figures of the twelfth century. This study situates Bernard in his own proper social, historical, ecclesial and monastic context and seeks to identify and evaluate a simple unifying and interpretative key for use in the reading of Bernard' s works. At the outset, the contention of the author is that all Bernard's writings have, in one way or another, a prophetic-reforming purpose.

First, Bernard's prophetic-reforming work as Abbot is considered. Also examined is the extent to which Bernard not only formed future leaders with a similar reforming vision as his own, but also how he used 'windows of opportunity' and 'circles of influence' to further his prophetic-reforming aims through others. Next, five crucial epistolary contexts are scrutinised. Here, evidence is advanced to demonstrate Bernard's prophetic-reforming aims in his concerns about the unity of the Church, about the righteous exercise of power by Christian Princes and Kings, about the guarantee of the libertas ecclesiae in episcopal elections, about the unity and purity of the faith in times of heresy and, finally, about integrity of action in the fight against Islam before and during the second crusade. The study then examines several' 'indicators' present within Bernard's letters as further evidence of his prophetic-reforming purposes and evaluates the validity of using them as further helps in interpretation.

The conclusion reached is that 'prophetic-reforming' is indeed a valuable and a valid hermeneutic key for giving both a preliminary unified understanding and interpretation of Bernard' s writings.

STEPHEN ROBSON was born in Carlisle, in the United Kingdom, in 1951. After undergraduate study in the University of Edinburgh (B.Sc, 1974) and St Andrew's Seminary, Drygrange, he was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh in 1979. After a period of teaching and further postgraduate work in the University of Edinburgh (M.Th, 1988), Fr. Robson became a Parish Priest and Vicar Episcopal for Education in his Archdiocese (1990-1998). Since 1998 he has been Spiritual Director of the Pontifical Scots College, Rome, as well as completing Licentiate and Doctoral studies in Spiritual Theology in the Pontifical Gregorian University. He is currently completing a Licentiate in Canon Law before returning to Scotland.

ISBN 88-7839-006-2

111111111111111111111111

9 788878 390065 

2nd Nocturn: The Life in Christ by Nicholas Cabasilas

At the Night Office, a Reading occurred for Nicholas Cabasilas. He is popular in the Easter cycle, he appears on six occasions.

Our Library seems to lack. A Bibliography could be useful.

One Ref. Surface with Pope Benedict XVI. 

The Beauty and the Truth of Christ by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI),
Section 5 discusses Cabasilas' The Life in Christ. ---Eternal Word Network

Book:  Life in Christ by Nicholos Cabasilas, paperback, Amazon

+ + +

FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER 

Thursday

Year 11

First Reading  From the Acts of the Apostles (19:1-20) Acts 15:8-9; 11:18

Second Reading

From The Life in Christ by Nicholas Cabasilas
(Lib. 3: PG 150, 574-575)

The sacrament referred to in this reading by the Eastern name of "chrismation" is known in the West as confirmation. Cabasilas stresses the importance of this sacrament. through which Christians share in the power of the Holy Spirit and receive the virtues needed for spiritual maturity.

The purpose of chrismation is to enable us to share in the power of the Holy Spirit This anointing brings the Lord Jesus himself to dwell in us, our only salvation and hope. Through him we are made sharers in the Holy Spirit and are led to the Father. Unfailingly it procures for Christians those gifts that are needed in every age, gifts such as faith. reverence for God. prayer, love, and purity. It does so even though many are unaware of having received such gifts. Many do not know the power of this sacrament or even that there is a Holy Spirit, as it says in the Book of Acts, because they were anointed before reaching the age of reason and afterward they blinded their souls by sin Nevertheless, the Spirit does in truth give the newly initiated his gifts, distributing them to each one as he wills; and our Lord. who promised to be with us always, never ceases to shower blessings on us.

Chrismation cannot be superfluous. We obtain the remission of our sins in baptism and we receive the body of Christ at the altar. These sacraments will remain until the unveiled appear­ance of their author. It cannot be doubted. then. that Christians also enjoy the benefits that belong to this holy anointing and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit How could some sacraments be fruitful and this one without effect? How can we believe that Saint Paul's words: He who promised is faithful apply to some sacraments but not to this one? If we discount the value of any sacrament we must discount the value of all, since it is the same power that acts in each of them, it is the immolation of the same Lamb, it is the same death and the same blood that gives each of them its efficacy.

The Holy Spirit is given to some, as Saint Paul says, to enable them to do good to others and to edify the Church by prophesying, teaching revealed truth, or healing the sick by a mere word The Spirit is given to others for their own sanctification. imparting to them a shining faith and reverence for God. or making them outstanding in purity, charity, or humility.

From Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI)

Nicholas Cabasilas: the wound of the beauty of the Spouse

In the 14th century, in the book, "The Life in Christ" by the Byzantine theologian, Nicholas Cabasilas, we rediscover Plato's experience in which the ultimate object of nostalgia, transformed by the new Christian experience, continues to be nameless. Cabasilas says: "When men have a longing so great that it surpasses human nature and eagerly desire and are able to accomplish things beyond human thought, it is the Bridegroom who has smitten them with this longing. It is he who has sent a ray of his beauty into their eyes. The greatness of the wound already shows the arrow which has struck home, the longing indicates who has inflicted the wound" (cf. The Life in Christ, the Second Book, § 15).
The beautiful wounds, but this is exactly how it summons man to his final destiny. What Plato said, and, more than 1,500 years later, Cabasilas, has nothing to do with superficial aestheticism and irrationalism or with the flight from clarity and the importance of reason. The beautiful is knowledge certainly, but, in a superior form, since it arouses man to the real greatness of the truth. Here Cabasilas has remained entirely Greek, since he puts knowledge first when he says, "In fact it is knowing that causes love and gives birth to it.... Since this knowledge is sometimes very ample and complete and at other times imperfect, it follows that the love potion has the same effect" (cf. ibid.). He is not content to leave this assertion in general terms. In his characteristically rigorous thought, he distinguishes between two kinds of knowledge: knowledge through instruction which remains, so to speak, "second hand" and does not imply any direct contact with reality itself. The second type of knowledge, on the other hand, is knowledge through personal experience, through a direct relationship with the reality. "Therefore we do not love it to the extent that it is a worthy object of love, and since we have not perceived the very form itself we do not experience its proper effect". True knowledge is being struck by the arrow of Beauty that wounds man, moved by reality, "how it is Christ himself who is present and in an ineffable way disposes and forms the souls of men" (cf. ibid.).
Being struck and overcome by the beauty of Christ is a more real, more profound knowledge than mere rational deduction. Of course we must not underrate the importance of theological reflection, of exact and precise theological thought; it remains absolutely necessary. But to move from here to disdain or to reject the impact produced by the response of the heart in the encounter with beauty as a true form of knowledge would impoverish us and dry up our faith and our theology. We must rediscover this form of knowledge; it is a pressing need of our time.

     Link note above