What To Do When You Have Spiritual Wanderlust
I recently went through a 90-day ascetical and spiritual renewal program called Exodus 90.Exodus 90 is a regimen of daily prayer and ascetical discipline, supported by weekly fraternity meetings and...
View ArticleHandle the "Bad News" Like a Desert Father (or Mother)
Controversy and negativity sell. A couple of weeks ago I was browsing an article by Catholic apologist David Armstrong. In it he states that, for once, he agrees with the editor of a certain "Catholic...
View ArticleHow the Devils Use Bad News and Prophecies
How many times they [the devils] inform me beforehand concerning the flood of the Nile... and how many times did I say to them, "And, as for you, what have you?" I used to say to them, "I have no need...
View Article4 Insights on the Demonic from Saint Athanasius
I’ve never understood certain sectors of Christianity and their fascination (dare I say "obsession") with the demonic. They insist that priests need to preach “fire and brimstone,” that we need “more...
View ArticleWhat Should I Read? Part 4
[T]hose who imagine that they have no need of teachers, or will not be convinced by those who teach them things of good, are sick with the need of knowledge, the mother and the producer of...
View ArticleWhat Should I Read? Part 3
Lives of the SaintsThere are few "best-practices" in the business world that I think can be incorporated into the spiritual life without a great deal of modification or a total change in the...
View ArticleWhat Should I Read? Part 2
1. ScriptureIf you read the lives and sayings of the Desert Fathers, you'll find that they were steeped in Scripture. They read the Scriptures and meditated on them continually. Many of them memorized...
View ArticleWhat Should I Read? Part 1
Do you ever wonder what you should read...There are so many Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian books out there that it feels like we have endless options for reading materials to help us grow in...
View ArticleAsceticism vs. Hospitality - Which is Better?
I always love returning to the stories and sayings from the lives of the Desert Fathers. It seems every time I do I get some fresh perspectives and fresh insights on my own journey with the Lord.Today...
View ArticleResurrecting, Refreshing, and Rebranding
Changes Coming to the Master BeadsmanWow...It's been far too long since I've written anything. I don't know if anyone is reading this blog any more, but if you are, thank you for sticking with me.I...
View ArticleGod in My Coffee
It never ceases to amaze me how God reveals Himself during the most unusual times. My four-year old son loves to help me make my morning coffee. Even better if he can just make it for me himself. By...
View ArticleThe Ascension and the Heart's Deepest Longing
For Catholics, Eastern and Roman, we now find ourselves between the Feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost; we are at the end of the great season of the Resurrection. I've always experienced the Feast...
View ArticleSubmission, Obedience and the Spiritual Elder
One of the defining characteristics of Eastern Christian spirituality is the need for/emphasis on having a spiritual father or mother; someone to guide us on the path of the spiritual life. For those...
View ArticleThe Christian Calling
I realize it has been quite some time since I've written or posted anything on this blog. To anyone who has been anxiously awaiting, I apologize. Over the last six months or so I have been...
View ArticleThe Hail Mary and the Jesus Prayer: Part 2
In my previous post I began a series on the theological parallels between the Western Hail Mary and the Eastern Jesus Prayer. As I was waking up this morning it struck me that I ought to kick off this...
View ArticleThe Hail Mary and the Jesus Prayer: Part 1
A thought occurred to me recently. As part of my daily routine, I've begun praying a 5-decade Rosary followed by 100 repetitions of the Jesus Prayer while on my lunch break. I do this while I take a...
View ArticleImages, Images, and more Images
Christ is risen!Recently, as I've been meditating on the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, a thought has occurred to me. I have spent the past couple of weekends watching videos on the Shroud of...
View ArticleA Lack of Spiritual Guides?
In reading the writings of the great mystics, both those of the East and those of the West, it is not uncommon to find the saints morning the lack of experienced spiritual elders and guides in their...
View ArticleWhat Do You Seek?
It is good to know what we are after in the spiritual life. Where are we headed? What is the goal? It is good to examine our hearts, our intentions; to ask ourselves some honest questions and search...
View ArticleChrist is in Our Midst!
Many folks like to argue that the East is "mystical" and the West is "rational" (as though those two are actually opposed to one another). I've argued time and again that anyone who actually believes...
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