Post by rfmoo on Oct 21, 2008 23:55:35 GMT
I would like to strongly affirm J. D. Walter's post on Quodlibeta of his (?) reflections on Christianity and Survivalism. Thoughts very like this, though not so fully or well expressed, have been much on my mind lately. Kudos!
However, I would like to add a caveat on Walter's remarks on monasticism.
Since monasticism (both male and female) has figured importantly in Roman Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and Anglicanism, and since these three groups account for about two thirds of the world's Christians, it is a little tricky to claim that the "theological mainstream" of Christianity has in some way or other rejected it. I do not claim that monastic vocations are flourishing in the developed world, but there are still monks and nuns in Christianity and I hope that there always will be.
The view of Catholicism is that the world needs and has always needed engaged Christians (and religious) in the world and, where vocation and temperament call, in cloistered communities (which are almost never totally removed from interaction with the world). The job of the cloistered (aside from making fruitcake or wine or whatever to earn their keep) is to seek their own salvation and that of the world through prayer. The spiritual responsibility of the cloistered for others is expressed almost terrifyingly in the apparition of Jesus to Sister Faustina (as recorded in her Journal). He told her that with great charisms go great responsibilities, and that at the Judgement He would hold her accountable not only for her own soul but for that of many others. She never forgot it.
It is also important to remember that these communities ARE communities: the days of the hermit fathers in caves or on pillars in the desert are long gone, though even here religious and lay people would visit the hermits to bring sustenance and seek spiritual counsel. Monasticism and living in the world are not either/or propositions for Christendom. Both have existed side by side in mutual support and both are part of the body of Christ. I don't deny that renunciation of the world's corruption is part of the motivation of many monastics, but even Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world. Those who have vocations in the world are enjoined to be in the world but not of it. Others, like John the Baptist and the Essenes, were spiritual solitaries much of the time.
Jesus said that by their fruit you shall know them. Monastics have produced some of the greatest souls in Christianity, and it can be argued that Western Monasticism (especially as founded by St. Benedict) saved and sustained European Civilization. Sanctity and learning flourished in the monasteries (along with the usual human failure and vileness). To amuse myself I made a list in no particular order of important monks and nuns in both the Western and Eastern traditions:
St. Basil: St. Anthony; Sts. Cyril and Methodius; St Benedict (arguably an architect of Western Civilization); St. Gregory the Great; St. Jerome; Dame Julian of Norwich; St. Martin of Tours; St. John Cassian; St. Patrick: The Venerable Bede (!): John Climacus; Dom Perignon (!); St. Thomas Aquinas (arguable); Gregory Mendel; St. John Crysostom; St. Bernard of Clairvaux; Hildegard of Bingen; St. Claire of Assisi; St. John of the Cross; St. Theresa of Avila; St. Anthony of Padua; Gertrude the Great; Richard Rolle; Gregory Palamas; Thomas a Kempis; St. Rose of Lima; Brother Lawrence; St. Bernadette Soubirous; St. Therese de Lisieux; Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska; Edith Stein, Thomas Merton, Bede Griffiths, Sister Lucia of Fatima.
These, along with countless others, are a rich harvest for the Lord and for humanity. Western Civilization and Christianity would be the poorer without it.
Best,
Richard Moorton
However, I would like to add a caveat on Walter's remarks on monasticism.
Since monasticism (both male and female) has figured importantly in Roman Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity, and Anglicanism, and since these three groups account for about two thirds of the world's Christians, it is a little tricky to claim that the "theological mainstream" of Christianity has in some way or other rejected it. I do not claim that monastic vocations are flourishing in the developed world, but there are still monks and nuns in Christianity and I hope that there always will be.
The view of Catholicism is that the world needs and has always needed engaged Christians (and religious) in the world and, where vocation and temperament call, in cloistered communities (which are almost never totally removed from interaction with the world). The job of the cloistered (aside from making fruitcake or wine or whatever to earn their keep) is to seek their own salvation and that of the world through prayer. The spiritual responsibility of the cloistered for others is expressed almost terrifyingly in the apparition of Jesus to Sister Faustina (as recorded in her Journal). He told her that with great charisms go great responsibilities, and that at the Judgement He would hold her accountable not only for her own soul but for that of many others. She never forgot it.
It is also important to remember that these communities ARE communities: the days of the hermit fathers in caves or on pillars in the desert are long gone, though even here religious and lay people would visit the hermits to bring sustenance and seek spiritual counsel. Monasticism and living in the world are not either/or propositions for Christendom. Both have existed side by side in mutual support and both are part of the body of Christ. I don't deny that renunciation of the world's corruption is part of the motivation of many monastics, but even Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world. Those who have vocations in the world are enjoined to be in the world but not of it. Others, like John the Baptist and the Essenes, were spiritual solitaries much of the time.
Jesus said that by their fruit you shall know them. Monastics have produced some of the greatest souls in Christianity, and it can be argued that Western Monasticism (especially as founded by St. Benedict) saved and sustained European Civilization. Sanctity and learning flourished in the monasteries (along with the usual human failure and vileness). To amuse myself I made a list in no particular order of important monks and nuns in both the Western and Eastern traditions:
St. Basil: St. Anthony; Sts. Cyril and Methodius; St Benedict (arguably an architect of Western Civilization); St. Gregory the Great; St. Jerome; Dame Julian of Norwich; St. Martin of Tours; St. John Cassian; St. Patrick: The Venerable Bede (!): John Climacus; Dom Perignon (!); St. Thomas Aquinas (arguable); Gregory Mendel; St. John Crysostom; St. Bernard of Clairvaux; Hildegard of Bingen; St. Claire of Assisi; St. John of the Cross; St. Theresa of Avila; St. Anthony of Padua; Gertrude the Great; Richard Rolle; Gregory Palamas; Thomas a Kempis; St. Rose of Lima; Brother Lawrence; St. Bernadette Soubirous; St. Therese de Lisieux; Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska; Edith Stein, Thomas Merton, Bede Griffiths, Sister Lucia of Fatima.
These, along with countless others, are a rich harvest for the Lord and for humanity. Western Civilization and Christianity would be the poorer without it.
Best,
Richard Moorton