I think the way saint Augustine thought of our Free will is that it is much too weak to withstand the spiritual battle we find ourselves engaged in and that all we should realistically expect it to do is to call upon the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in us so that HE can defend us and fight off demons for us... I think that's the essence of the New Covenant: if we truly want to do that which is Good, God will do it for us - because it so happens that this is what HE wants too! But God does leave us some latitude in choosing what we pursue - provided it be good: 'Love, and do what you will'. Am I on to something or am I way off? I'm loving this channel and these podcasts... Thanks!
Wow. This video is precious! I heard this a month or so ago and I'm glad I listened to this again today. Beautiful, edifying writings of St. J. Cassian! 🌹🙏♥️
"In time where there were no electrical currents, when the air was not swarming with electrical influences, it was easier to be human. For this reason in order to be human at all today, it is necessary to expend much stronger spiritual capacities then was necessary a century ago." -Rudolph Stiener 1917, talking about satellites and radiation. aka the unclean air that is prophecied by many prophets is the radiation that is given off by almost everything. Phones, radar, satellites, whatever.
So what should we do to effectively stave off a reflexive reaction to any thought that comes and captures us, inflames the emotions to carry us off? In such moments, on what can we rely to keep us centered on God? Or rather instead of relying on a tool in the moment, its the praxis of the tools of asceticism employed *beforehand * on which we rely?
“O God, come to our assistance, Lord, make haste to help us”
I think the way saint Augustine thought of our Free will is that it is much too weak to withstand the spiritual battle we find ourselves engaged in and that all we should realistically expect it to do is to call upon the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in us so that HE can defend us and fight off demons for us...
I think that's the essence of the New Covenant: if we truly want to do that which is Good, God will do it for us - because it so happens that this is what HE wants too!
But God does leave us some latitude in choosing what we pursue - provided it be good: 'Love, and do what you will'.
Am I on to something or am I way off?
I'm loving this channel and these podcasts...
Thanks!
Wow. This video is precious! I heard this a month or so ago and I'm glad I listened to this again today. Beautiful, edifying writings of St. J. Cassian! 🌹🙏♥️
"In time where there were no electrical currents, when the air was not swarming with electrical influences, it was easier to be human. For this reason in order to be human at all today, it is necessary to expend much stronger spiritual capacities then was necessary a century ago."
-Rudolph Stiener 1917, talking about satellites and radiation.
aka the unclean air that is prophecied by many prophets is the radiation that is given off by almost everything. Phones, radar, satellites, whatever.
So what should we do to effectively stave off a reflexive reaction to any thought that comes and captures us, inflames the emotions to carry us off? In such moments, on what can we rely to keep us centered on God? Or rather instead of relying on a tool in the moment, its the praxis of the tools of asceticism employed *beforehand * on which we rely?