وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

Filokalia

Filokalia

Reading the Filokalia No. 1
Elder, if we read books like Filokalia* that refer to the Jesus Prayer (Lord have Mercy on me a sinner), the so called prayer of the heart, then do we improve in our praying?
They help but only those who have humility. However, those who have pride and aim within a certain time to reach spiritual “heights”, to become like the Fathers of old, then they do not help them. One day some people came to my hut at Mount Athos and they said:
“We came here to teach us the Jesus Prayer, as you are one of those who excel in this prayer.”
“Eliminate me from your list”, I told them. “I have nothing and all I do is ask the mercy of God.”

Reading the Filokalia No. 2
Can someone, Elder, obtain the power of the Jesus Prayer, without having to read Filokalia and without following certain methods?
– Of course you can, just simply and humbly say all the time the Jesus Prayer. Because some people are stuck on the methods and stay there; they do not go any further.
In other words, they make the method their goal, whereas the method is merely an ancillary means.

*The most well-known collection of patristic texts is the “Philokalia” that was compiled/edited and published in 1782 by Agios Nikodimos the Athonite († 1809) and Saint Makarios Notaras († 1805).

[Mary Naeem]

Wisdom from Elder Leonid of Optina

Wisdom from Elder Leonid of Optina

Disciple: Is mental prayer granted to everyone?
Elder Leonid: Whomever the Lord visits with grievous trial, with sorrow or with the deprivation of a beloved neighbour: such a person will involuntarily pray with his whole heat, with all his thoughts and with all his mind. Consequently the wellspring of prayer is in everyone; but it is tapped either by gradually delving deeper into oneself in accordance with the teachings of the Fathers, or instantaneously, by God’s drill.

[Mary Naeem]

What speaks to the heart that fights with God?

What speaks to the heart that fights with God?

When I was at Mount Athos in Nea Skiti, one night we heard a knock on the door of our small monastic house and we opened to see who it was. There were three young individuals who were lost on the road and could not be hosted in the Monastery because they had closed their door. So, we had to accommodate them in our hut which was not a problem.
We prepared for them something to eat. One of them, however, was very negative with everything. I sat down to talk to them while they ate because I didn’t want to leave them alone. We said some things. Again this one person was negative. He smiled ironically and was looking at me in a strange manner. I knew he did not like me for some reason.
After eating their food, I went to show them where they were going to sleep. So, this person told me:
– Father, can I give God one last chance to speak to me?
– Nice thought. And what will happen now? How would you give God the last chance to speak to you?
– We need to talk.
I took a blessing from the Elder and went and sat with him in a chapel we had. We talked from eight o’clock in the evening until four o’clock in the morning when he heard the bell for the service. He spoke of course, did not let God talk to him because he wanted to say all that he had inside him. Very intelligent man, very well read, very well educated, was in the Law School then.
– Well, he says, look Father, I grew up in the church and I met strong spiritual fathers and priests. I know everything. When I tell you something, I know in advance what you will answer me.
And indeed, he knew too many things. I did not have anything to answer because he did know everything. And as he was intelligent and talkative with great arguments – he was a lawyer after all – I felt “squeezed” in my small humble chair. I just listened to him and prayed inside of me saying “God help us get out of here tonight. What is going to happen? Where are we going with this man?” Anyway, he talked and he talked and he talked…
I tried to say something but he did not let me. He was saying:
– I know what you’re going to say, I know.
And indeed he knew, he was not lying. When it was finally time to go he said:
– Father, you know, I was able to win all the battles inside of me. All the arguments of the Church, all the teaching of the priests, everything. I have broken them, I’ve defeated them. I have my opinions, I have strong arguments in me so I do not believe any of these things. However, there is one thing that I was not able to defeat.
– What is that?
– MY MOTHER. I cannot defeat my mother!
– What do you mean? She talks to you too much?
– No, actually my mother doesn’t talk at all.
– Well then, what does she do?
– Well, when I get up in the evening and see her praying in her knees, I cannot take this picture out of my mind. Everything else I destroyed. And the priests and the churches and the monks and everything but this image of my mother I cannot!
This young man left but finally I found out that the image of his mother won! He fought a lot with himself. He went to Mount Athos and the Monasteries all the time. We did not say anything to him again, he was just very observant of what we were doing. He observed watching things we did not see for so many years. He dealt with various situations in his life. Until his mother’s image won, which was a woman with no education but a woman of the Church who prayed too much for her child.
And today, Glory to God, this young man excels. He is a member of his local Church where he belongs. And indeed, he and his home church, his family and all who are close to him, truly excel in spiritual life. Since then, he has become a staff member and teacher of the Church, and now he also supports many other people in their struggles.

[Mary Naeem]

God should have been the master of ourselves

God should have been the master of ourselves

When man is redeemed from his self-love, from his turn towards himself, this is salvation. Related though I may be to God and ask for His blessings, his gifts, as long as I turn towards myself and I am my own master, while God should have been the master, I am selfish and conceited. And I will make no progress at all.

***

When the weakest, most sinful, most simple-minded man –he, who doesn’t understand or know much– decides to surrender to God’s grace, he’ll be redeemed.

***

Truth comes to man by itself; it isn’t found by man. Salvation comes to man by itself; it isn’t found by man. Sanctification comes to man by itself. God provides it and it isn’t found by man himself.

[Mary Naeem]

The Sense that God is Present at Every Moment of Your Life

The Sense that God is Present at Every Moment of Your Life

When you feel that God loves you and then you love God and everybody, there is nothing that can affect you. Here lies the secret of life. When you say that you love God and you are ready to blame the others, to quarrel with them, to glare at them, your love towards God is questionable.

***

No matter what another person may have done against us –even on purpose or too provocatively– we should consider things from the standpoint of his salvation.

***

The Lord is personally concerned with you in order to sanctify you. It’s up to you to be living every minute of your life before His very eyes. It is of great importance to have the sense that God is present at every moment of your life, at ev- ery situation you find yourself in. This thought helps you live carefully.

[Mary Naeem]

Advice for parents from elder Porfyrios

Advice for parents from elder Porfyrios

Today we put before you the words of one of the most inspiring elders of our times. The late Elder Porphyrios was a monk from Mt Athos who, for health reasons, had to leave Mt Athos, and ended up living in the heart of Athens for most of his life. In 1926, and at the age of twenty, he was ordained a priest by the Archbishop of Sinai, Porphyrios III, who gave him the name Porphyrios. At the age of twenty-two he became a confessor and spiritual father. Due to his extreme humility and obedience he received early the gift of spiritual discernment i.e. a type of clairvoyance. Below we provide his invaluable and insightful advice to parents on parenting issues.
What saves and makes for good children is the life of the parents in the home. The parents need to devote themselves to the love of God. They need to become saints in their relation to their children through their mildness, patience and love. They need to make a new start every day, with a fresh outlook, renewed enthusiasm and love for their children. And the joy that will come to them, the holiness that will visit them, will shower grace on their children. Generally the parents are to blame for the bad behaviour of the children. And their behaviour is not improved by reprimands, disciplining, or strictness. If the parents do not pursue a life of holiness and if they don’t engage in spiritual struggle, they make great mistakes and transmit the faults they have within them. If the par­ents do not live a holy life and do not display love towards each other, the devil torments the parents with the reactions of the children. Love, har­mony and understanding between the parents are what are required for the children. This provides a great sense of security and certainty.
The behaviour of the children is directly related to the state of the parents. When the children are hurt by the bad behaviour of the parents towards each other, they lose the strength and desire to progress in their lives. Their lives are constructed shoddily and the edifice of their soul is in constant danger of collapsing. Let me give you two examples.
Two sisters came to see me. One of them had gone through some very distressing experiences and they asked me what was the cause of these. I answered them:
‘It’s because of your home; it stems from your parents.’ And as I looked at the girl I said:
‘These are things you’ve inherited from your mother.’
‘But,’ she said,’ my parents are such perfect people. They’re Chris­tians, they go to confession, they receive Holy Communion and we had a re­ligious upbringing. Unless it is religion that is to blame…’
I said to them:
‘I don’t believe a word of all that you’re telling me. I see one tiling only, and that is that your parents don’t live with the joy of Christ.’
On hearing this, the other girl said:
‘Listen, Maria, the Father’s quite right. Our parents go to confession and receive Holy Communion, but did we ever have any peace at home. Our father was constantly complaining about our mother. And every day either the one refused to sit at the table or the other refused to go out somewhere together. So you see what the Father is saying is true.
‘What’s your father’s name?’ I asked her,
She told me.
‘What’s your mother’s name?’
She told me.
‘Well,’ I said,’ the feelings you’ve got inside you towards your moth­er are not at all good.’
You see, the moment she told me her father’s name I saw his soul, and the moment she told me her mother’s name, I saw her mother and I saw the way her daughter looked at her.
Another day a mother came to visit me with one of her daughters. She was very distressed and broke down in tears.
‘What’s the matter?’ I asked.
‘I’m in total despair over my older daughter. She threw her husband out the house and deceived us all with a pack of lies.’
‘What kind of lies?’ I inquired.
‘She threw her husband out the house ages ago and she didn’t tell us anything. We would ask on the phone, “How’s Stelios doing?’, and she would reply, “Oh, he’s fine. He’s just gone out to buy a newspaper.” Each time she would think up some new excuse so that we wouldn’t suspect anything. And this went on for two whole years. A few days ago we learned the truth from Stelios himself when we bumped into him by chance.’
So I said to her:
‘The fault’s your own. It’s you that’s to blame, you and your husband, but you most of all.’
‘What do you mean!’ she said indignantly. ‘I loved my children to the point that I was never out of the kitchen. I had no life of my own at all. I took them to the church and I was always telling them the right thing to do. How can you say that I’m to blame?’
I turned to her other daughter who was with her and asked:
‘What do you think about the matter?’
‘The Father’s right, Mum,’ she said. ‘We never ever enjoyed a single day when you weren’t quarrelling with Dad.’
‘Do you see then, how I’m right? It is you that are to blame. You traumatised the children. They are not to blame, but they are suffering the consequences.’

[Mary Naeem]

Should or shouldn’t reveal my thoughts to another?

Should or shouldn’t reveal my thoughts to another?

Some of us, today, often neglect the significance of the sacrament; Repentance and Confession. Often we feel that we can repent, confess and heal ourselves, without having to reveal our weaknesses and passions to another. Some say ‘I confess my sins directly to Christ’. Yet the desert fathers teach us that no one can save themselves! Salvation comes from above, however, via our fellow humans. For this reason the desert fathers in their humility, confessed not only their sins to fellow elders, but even their thoughts. The following account about a young monk and Elder Zeno reveals the importance of confession.
We once visited one of the Fathers and posed the following question:
“Father, if one is bothered by a certain temptation and, seeing that he is slowly conquered by it, despite reading many times what the Fathers say about overcoming the temptation and trying to apply it, does not totally succeed, what is preferable? That he should reveal his temptation to one of the Fathers or that he should concern himself with applying what he has studied and be satisfied in his conscience?”
The Elder answered:
“One who is embattled by a temptation has the obligation to reveal this thought of his to someone who has the strength to benefit him. For support, he should not rely on himself only. For no one is able to help himself, when he is actually tormented by passions.
To me,” continued the Elder, “the following occurred when I was younger. I suffered from a spiritual passion and I succumbed to it. I was informed that Abba Zeno healed many who found themselves in situations like mine. Therefore, I also decided to go and to reveal to Abba Zeno my passion; however, Satan hindered me, whispering in my soul high-sounding thoughts: ‘Since you know what you must do, act according to what you have studied in books. Why should you go and trouble the Elder?’
As many times, then, as I would decide to go to visit the Elder and to reveal to him my temptation, I would feel relief from the onslaught of that passion. This certainly was the cunning of the Devil, so that I would not go, since when I would decide not to go, I would again be possessed by the passion. Now, for a long time the Enemy pulled me astray, into this trap, not tolerating that I should confess my temptation to the Elder.
Many times I would go to the Elder with the decision to tell him my temptation; however, the Enemy would not let me, because of the embarrassment which he caused in my heart. ‘Since you know,’ he would say in my thoughts ‘how you must heal yourself, what is the need to reveal to someone your passion? Besides, you are not negligent. You know what the Fathers have said about similar situations.’
“The Enemy brought all these things into my mind, so that I would not reveal my passion to the doctor and be healed. The Elder, however, realised that I was being tormented by temptations. He did not reproach me, but waited for me to reveal them myself. He also instructed me about the correct manner of living, and let me depart with his blessing.
Once, however, after one such visit, while grieving over my miserable condition, I said to myself: ‘How much longer, my miserable soul, will you go without being healed? Many come to the Elder who live far away and are healed. Are you not ashamed to have the physician so near, and yet not be healed?’ Therefore, since my heart was warmed by these thoughts, I arose at once and said to myself: ‘I will go to the Elder and, if I find there no visitors, I will know that it is the Will of God that I confess to him my thought.’ And indeed, going to the cell of the Elder, I found no one.
“The Elder, as was his custom, instructed me again about the salvation of the soul and how it is necessary for a person to be cleansed of shameful thoughts. (I, from shame, again disclosed nothing to him, and was getting ready to leave.) Standing up, he blessed me and showed me out, waking ahead of me to the front door of his cell. Tormented, however, by the thought of whether or not I should confess my temptations to the Elder, I walked behind him with hesitating steps. Then the Elder turned to me and, seeing me thus, tortured by thoughts, tapped me in a friendly way on the chest and said to me:
“‘My son, what is wrong? I am also a man.’
“I felt the words of the Elder open my heart and, falling on my knees, I implored him with tears:
“‘Father, take pity on me.’
“What is the matter, my child?’ asked the Elder.
“‘Do you not know what is wrong?’
“The Elder, as if he knew the secret in my heart, said to me:
“‘It is necessary that you say it.’
“At that moment, then, I, with great shame, confessed to him my passion.
“After listening to me, the Elder said:
“Why were you ashamed to entrust this to me for so long? Perhaps I am not also a man? Did you just want me to reveal to you what I knew?
Why would you come here for three years already, tormented by these temptations, but without confessing them?’
“After this, deeply moved by him, I fell again on my knees, saying:
“You are right, Father, I beg you now to take pity on me, for the love of the Lord.’
“And again the Elder added graciously:
“‘Go. Do not neglect your prayer and criticise no one.’
“Going back to my cell and busying myself constantly with my prayer, by the Grace, to be sure, of Christ and through the prayers of the Elder, I was never again bothered by that passion.
“A year later, the following thought assailed my mind: ‘Perhaps God had compassion on you because of His mercy alone, and not because of the Elder.’ As soon as this thought came to me, I went immediately to the Elder’s cell, in order to test him. After finding him, I prostrated before him and said:
“‘Father, for the love of God, I implore you to pray for me on account of that temptation which once I confessed to you.’
‘The Elder left me on my knees. Then, falling silent for a moment, afterwards said to me:
“‘Get up. You should have faith.”
“As soon as I heard this answer, I experienced such shame at that moment that I wanted the earth to swallow me. And after I rose, I did not have the strength to face the Elder, but returned to my cell, full of wonder and astonishment.”

[Mary Naeem]

Prayer from someone who falls all the time in the same sin

Prayer from someone who falls all the time in the same sin

Our Lord Jesus Christ, regardless if I want it or if I don’t want it, please save me! I am mud my Lord, and so I desire the stench of sin. Only خ¥ou, as our Almighty God can stop me for this desire. To show mercy to a virtuous person, it is not as great, and to save the clean one is not as remarkable, because they are worthy of Your kindness. In me my Lord, let خ¥our mercy be wondrous, and show خ¥our inconceivable philanthropy and charity in what I ask you. Because in You my Lord, the poor one who has absolutely no virtuous, entrusts himself! Amen

Prayer from Evergetinos

[Mary Naeem]

كيف هو شكل ملاكي الحارس

هذه المخلوقات الدينيّة دائماً معنا وتكشف عن وجودها في المناسبات!

أن اللّه يعيّن لكلّ واحد منا ملاكاً حارساً يسهر عليه منذ بداية حياتنا على الأرض. في أغلب الأحيان، لا نرى هذا الملاك ولا ندرك وجوده لكنّه قد يكشف عن نفسه لنا، في بعض المناسبات، لكن بأشكال مختلفة.
لا يتمتع الملاك بجسد ولذلك غالباً ما لا نلاحظ وجوده. هو روحٌ نقيّة قد يتخذ شكلاً جسدياً عند الضرورة فالشكل المرأي الذي غالباً ما تتحدث عنه الكتابات المقدسة والقصص الشعبيّة مجرد واجهة أي قناع يضعه لكي نتمكن من رؤيته نحن بأعيننا. أما في الحالات الأخرى فهو مخلوق غير مرأي.
وقد يُظهر الملاك الحارس نفسه لنا من خلال عمل “غير مرأي” أو صوته. كتبت الأخت ماريا أنطونيا مثلاً قطعةً شهيرة حول علاقتها مع ملاكها الحارس وفسرّت كيف ساعدها الملاك خلال طفولتها على البقاء بعيدة من الخطيئة. فكانت تقول انه كلما حاولت سرقة الفاكهة مثل الأطفال الآخرين، كانت يد خفيّة تُبعد يدها وكأنها بيد شخص يمكنها أن تراه.

من جهةٍ أخرى، تظهر الملائكة بأشكال مختلفة أي على شكل طفل أو شخص راشد. فتُخبر باتي ماغواير أمسترونغ على سبيل المثال كيف أن جنديا ضل الطريق قادته “طفلة صغيرة” الى برّ الأمان. أخذته بيده وطلبت منه أن لا يتفوه بكلمة وقادته في الإتجاه المعاكس للإتجاه الذي كان يأخذه. عندها، سمع صوت جنديَين ألمانيَين يتحدثان مع النسوة اللواتي كان سيلجأ اليهن للمساعدة فأدرك أنه أُنقذ من سجن جديد.عندها اختفت الفتاة الصغيرة.
وفي حال لم نحصل على نعمة ملاحظة ملاكنا الحارس، فمن المرجح انه سيظهر علينا على شكل مشاعر سلام وأمان. يعرفنا ملاكنا الحارس أفضل من أنفسنا ولذلك يختار الشكل الذي يناسبنا غير راغب بأن يخيفنا بل فقط مساندتنا في ساعة الضيق.
نعرف، بالإيمان، أن الملاك الحارس دوماً معنا، حتى ولو لم نراه. فهو جاهز لمساعدتنا عندما نكون في أمس الحاجة اليه.

[Mary Naeem]

من هي زانية بابل في رؤيا يوحنا

“تعال، أرك دينونة البغي المشهرة” (17:1) بذلك، تعرفنا رؤية يوحنا على امرأة “بها زنى ملوك الأرض، وسكر أهل الأرض من خمرة بغائها” (17:2). لكن من هي هذه المرأة؟
يُنهي يوحنا الرؤيا بالحديث عن “المدينة المقدسة، أورشليم الجديدة، نازلة من السماء من عند الله، مهيأة مثل عروس مزينة لعريسها.” (21:2). إن هذا الملاذ الدائم للمؤمن هو ما يوازي ويُحبط في آن “المدينة العظيمة” (18:10) الراعيّة لاضطهاد المؤمنين. وبالتالي، فإن الفاسقة “سكرى من دم القديسين ومن دم شهداء يسوع” (17:6) – هي صورة. وهذا ما يوضحه يوحنا نفسه قائلاً: “والمرأة التي رأيتها هي المدينة العظيمة التي لها الملك على ملوك الأرض. “ (17:18)
لكن، أي مدينة هي “المدينة العظيمة”؟ ومن هي “بابل”؟ كثيرةٌ هي المؤشرات في رؤيا يوحنا تدل الى روما. ففي جميع الأحوال أي مدينة غير المدينة التاريخيّة “عندها سلطة على ملوك العالم؟” وبعد اضطهادات القرن الأوّل في ظل حكم نيرون و دوميتيان، من غيرها يمكن وصفه بالـ”سكرى من دم القديسين ومن دم شهداء يسوع”؟ كما وتوجد ملاحظة توحي بأن المدينة العظيمة واقعة على تلال روما السبع التقليديّة “هي التلال السبع التي عليها تقوم المرأة” (ظ،ظ§:ظ©). كما ونذكر السابقة المذكورة في العهد الجديد نفسه والمتحدثة عن روما على أنها “بابل”.
ومع ذلك، فهناك تحليل آخر. يُقال ان “المدينة العظيمة” هي المكان “الذي صلب فيه الرب” (ظ،ظ،:ظ¨) الذي كان أيضاً موقع اضطهاد الأنبياء (ظ،ظ¨:ظ¢ظ¤). أي أنّها ودون أدنى شك أورشليم! بالإضافة الى ذلك، الحديث عن دمار المدينة “القريب” (ظ¢ظ*: ظ¦-ظ،ظ¢) قد يكون إشارة الى سقوط أورشليم في العام ظ§ظ*. وأخيراً، من المنطقي أن تجد “أورشليم السماويّة” نظيرتها الأرضيّة.
تبدو الحجج المقدمة في كلا الحالتَين مقنعة. وقد يكون هذا هو الهدف! إن “أسلوب نهاية الأزمنة” الذي تتميّز به طريقة كتابة رؤيا يوحنا فيه الكثير من الصور. وفي حين تُعتبر هذه الصور رموزاً لوقائع تاريخيّة محددة (روما، أورشليم)، فهي أيضاً تُنبئ بأحداث مستقبليّة. فقبل مجيء هذه “المدينة المقدسة، أورشليم الجديدة”، كثيرون هم الأشخاص والأمكنة التي بفعل سلطتها تجبر المؤمن على القول: “يا أيها السيد القدوس الحق، تؤخر الإنصاف والانتقام لدمائنا من أهل الأرض! “ (ظ¦:ظ،ظ*)

خلال ما يُطلق عليه أغسطينوس اسم “مدينة البشر”. إن دور بغي بابل هو قبل كلّ شيء معارضة الحمل. تظهر بابل على أنها صاحبة قوة مؤثرة على كلّ شيء وحكمها أساسي لا يمكن مقاومته. إنها المدينة، التي وفي كلّ زمن تؤكد سيطرتها والتي ترسم العالم على صورتها تحقيقاً لمجدها. وإلا، فإن بابل، هي كلّ ما يدمر الأمل تحقيقاً لنصر المسيح وكلّ ما يقود المؤمن الى اقتفاء أثر الحمل أينما ذهب.
من هي إذن بغي بابل؟ كثيرةٌ هي الأجوبة وسوف نحصل على المزيد بعد. يُظهر لنا يوحنا القاسم المشترك بينها ويُظهر لنا، وهذا الأهم من هو- في جميع الحالات، سبب سقوط بابل أي المسيح، الحمل المذبوح.