Saturday 12 May 2012

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 IgnatioslikGregorof Sinai, are writing with monkin mind. But the Hesychast teachinwanever restricted to aexclusivelmonastimilieu. Gregoryof Sinasent hidisciples back tthcitfrom the desertto act as guideto laypeople, and GregorPalamas, in a sharp dispute with certain monk Jobinsisted thaPaul'injunction 'Pray without ceasing' (1 Thess. 5.17) is addressed tevery Christiawithout exception. ThlinkofHesychaswith the wideculture of thday are exemplified in particular bPalamas' contemporary and friend SNicolas Cabasila(c. 1320-C. 1391). Highly educatedpursuing in his earlieyears a political career, Cabasilas to thbest oour knowledge wanever ordained oprofesseamonkAlthough he wrote a short tract in support of Paaas against Gregoras, in hitwo main works, ThLifiChrist and A Commentary on the Divine Liturgy,Cabasilas avoids all explicit referencto specifically Hesychast themes, sucas theJesus Prayerthlight of Tabor, or thuncreateenergies. He expounds the spiritualway simplin terms of the sacraments: 'lifin Christ' inothing else tha'life in the sacraments', and thiis accessiblto eacone alike, whether monastior married, whether priest, soldier, farmeor thmother oa family. LikPalamas, he sees continual prayer as the vocation oall: 'It iquite possiblto practise continual meditation in one's own home without givinup any oone's possessions' (ThLife in Christ, 6ETp. 174)Hesychasm iin principle a universal path.

 


Second Reading
From The Life in Christ by Nicholas Cabasilas 
(L
ib3: PG 150, 574-575)
The sacrament referred to in this reading by the Eastern name of"chrismation" is known in the West as confirmationCabasilas 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.