Lectio et Oratio

Episode 10 -- Imitation of Christ I.10 -- About Useless Gossiping

What is one of the most common ways to lose the inward comfort of God?

Useless talking. We read about what the Imitation calls useless gossiping. The book does not mean what we commonly mean by gossiping: talking badly about people behind their backs. Gossiping in this chapter means any kind of idle talk, talking that does not serve any good.

Episode 9 -- Imitation of Christ I.9 -- On Obedience and Submissiveness

We read about the need for obedience to a superior. The chapter is obviously directed primarily to monks. The chapter has excellent advice, however, about the more general temptation to think that we will be happy if we just go somewhere else. How beneficial it is to live a stable life with someone to guide us, with someone under whose direction we can be obedient. How wise it is to seek to live in harmony with others and conform our lives to the common good of a community.

Episode 8 -- Imitation of Christ I.8 -- On the Danger of Being Too Familiar

Is there a difference between kindness and being too familiar?

Yes. In this reading, the Imitation of Christ distinguishes the kindness that vowed religious in monasteries owe to all and a dangerous familiarity that can arise. In other words, chapter 8 is directed especially to men who have made public vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. The Imitation warns them about certain dangers of "crossing the line" with various kinds of people whom the Lord is not asking such priests to help. The whole focus of a man's life who is dedicated to God has to be on God and drawing others to God. He must not be too worried about spending time with people that will pull him away from the Lord's humble service. This reading is good for all as a reminder to pray for priests and has some application for all people.

Last episode we read about the dangers of self-conceit, about having a too high opinion of oneself. The biggest reason for avoiding this trap in the spiritual life is that our happiness is not to be found in a creature. Creatures are finite, limited, incomplete. But we are made for the infinite, the unlimited, the perfect. God alone, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will be our happiness. This happiness we will share with others in heaven. But no mere human being will ever make us perfectly happy, including ourselves! No amount of self-admiration will satisfy us, especially when it is not built on truth! We need self-knowledge, but self-knowledge that is rooted in God and our relationship to Him. Riches, famous people, skills, beauty, health can be good, if loved in relation to God. Lord show us you will!

Episode 7 -- Imitation of Christ I.7 -- About False Self-Confidence How to Rid of Self-Conceit

In what should be our true confidence?

In Jesus Christ. In chapter seven, The Imitation of Christ describes various things that human beings like to boast about: wealth, important friends, skills, beauty, health, etc. Are these things really able to give us true self-confidence? How easily they can be lost! The Imitation points us in another direction for true self-confidence. Our Lord said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

Last episode we read about the need to moderate our passions. The whole focus of Thomas a Kempis' spirituality is to help us have peace of soul. Without peace of soul, no spiritual growth can happen. The emotions or passions are not good or bad in themselves. The are a vital part of our human nature. Passions or emotions are good or bad depending on their object. May the Lord help us to desire and to fear, to enjoy and to be sad, at the right things, in the right way, at the right time!

Episode 6 -- Imitation of Christ I.6 -- About Moderating the Passions

In trying to grow closer to Christ what is a common enemy?

Immoderate passions. The word, passions, is from a Latin root meaning to undergo or to suffer. Passions are things that we feel when we encounter something in the world that attracts or repels us. Passions are feelings that "happen to us" as a result of some object that we see or hear or touch or imagine or taste or smell. Thomas a Kempis understanding of the passions of the soul is what we usually speak of at a popular level as emotions. The main passions or emotions are desire, fear, hope, sorrow, anger, joy. Because of original sin our passions or emotions are easily immoderate. They are all over the place swinging from one extreme to another. The Imitation of Christ tries to persuade us to bring these passions under control lest we are led away by their forcefulness from Christ.

Episode 5 -- Imitation of Christ I.5 -- How to Approach the Scriptures to Find Christ

We read about Sacred Scripture. Thomas a Kempis has a high view of Scripture as one of the main means for encountering Christ. The Scriptures are made up of many thousands and thousands of words. But in all these words, God is speaking one Word to us, his Son. His Son is the fullness off Divine Revelation, the fullness of God's speaking to us about Himself and His plans. The Scriptures make present Christ himself so that we can enter more deeply into a relationship with Him. But there are many obstacles to the reading the Scriptures in the right light. We must read them with the same inspiration with which they were written. We must read them humbly with the help of the Holy Spirit. Let us hear what the Lord has to say to us!

Episode 4 -- Imitation of Christ I.4 -- Caution in Our Undertakings

How does a well formed Christian react to what he hears?

Cautiously. The Imitation of Christ gives a description of how a follower of Christ should approach all the things he or she hears about others. All the wonderful advice that we read in this episode about being cautious and careful in our reactions presumes a profound awareness of how weak and fallen human nature is. How we need to ask the Lord to teach us true wisdom and true knowledge about the world.

Last episode we read about how Christ, true God and true man, is the secret to all true learning. How we need the eternal Word to show Himself to us. How we need to believe that God has a Son, a Word. The true measure of our lives is the degree of charity we have for Christ. All that we accomplish apart from Him and His love counts for nothing eternally. But our relationship with Christ is something that grows and deepens. We are striving to win Christ, to deepen our contact with Him. We are striving by His grace to know more and more His power and mercy.

Episode 3 -- Imitation of Christ I.3 -- Learning Truth in Christ

How is truth best learned?

In the Word, by prayer. Thomas a Kempis understands that God the Son, Jesus Christ, is God's eternal Word made man. Eternally God the Father spoke all that he can speak, all that he can express, in His one Word, His Son. All created things are made through Him. In order to raise up a fallen world, the Son became man. All graces and supernatural truth comes from Him. He is the way to all truth that eternally matters.

Last episode we read about the importance of self-knowledge. The Imitation is especially concerned that we see our true selves in God. When we try to think of ourselves apart from being creatures made by God, creatures who bear the effects of original sin, creatures redeemed by God, and creatures called to eternal blessedness with God, we go astray. Why do we keep trying to think of ourselves by comparison to others? Why do we keep trying to make ourselves feel good by looking down on others? Lord, give us true self-knowledge so that we can give ourselves to You in love.

Episode 2 -- Imitation of Christ I.2 -- Knowing Oneself In God

If we want to imitate Christ, what do we need besides grace?

Self-knowledge. We read about Thomas a Kempis' advice on how to think of oneself. The Imitation is very aware of how easily we try to escape true self-knowledge by seeking after all kinds of other knowledge. We can learn all sorts of things about the world and other people and history and entertainment and sports, etc. But we can fail to know the one who knows all these things.

Last episode we began reading this masterpiece of Christian spirituality, The Imitation of Christ. The book grew out of a group of reform minded Canons Regular of Windesheim at Mount St Agnes near Zwolle. The Imitation begins with the first principle of the spiritual life: imitation of Christ! Christ is our model. The whole meaning of our lives consists in not only imitating Him, but sharing in his own Heart. We cannot imitate Christ without receiving the grace to want to follow Him. God the Father is pleased with one Person: His Son. All who want to be pleasing to God must resemble the Son of God made man. The more we are like Him the more we will be pleasing to God.

Episode 1 -- Imitation of Christ I.1 -- Asking for Christ to Imitate Christ

What is the most important thing to do in life?

Imitate Christ. As we begin this new book, on the Solemnity of St Joseph, the man who most imitated Christ, we will begin to read Thomas a Kempis' Imitation of Christ. Many saints, for example, St Therese of Lisieux, used to read a chapter every day. She is said to have many parts memorized. This book was used by St Philip himself during his sessions of talking on the book with his disciples. We begin book 1 in this episode, a book dedicated to "practical advice for following Christ." May St Joseph be with us all.

Episode 230 -- Life of St Philip XIX.230 -- Conclusion

We finish the Life of St Philip by Antonio Gallonio. Gallonio ends the book with a prayer to St Philip. The prayer is traditionally ascribed to Venerable Cesare Baronius. But Gallonio himself may have been the author. The translation of the prayer was done by St John Henry Newman. I pray that it will become one of your favourites. I pray that you will say it so often that you will memorize it. I pray that St Philip will show you his fatherly protection from heaven.

Episode 229 -- Life of St Philip XIX.229 -- Why He is the Second Apostle of Rome

We read about the events in Rome in the Jubilee of 1600. Gallonio ends by recounting the work with pilgrims that the whole of Rome was involved in, including the Pope himself. Why does Gallonio include this section at the end of the book? Is he just flattering the Pope? No. He is trying to show what a transformation Rome experienced from the arrival of St Philip 65 years earlier. The kind of work that St Philip reintroduced into Rome (laymen working in hospitals as volunteers) and the kind of work he introduced (taking care of poor pilgrims) has spread. Gallonio is trying to tell us why St Philip is the Second Apostle of Rome. He is trying to help us understand how God used this humble layman, this late priestly vocation, this simple priest for great good at the heart of the Church.

Episode 228 -- Life of St Philip XIX.228 -- Voluntary Penance Based on Charity

What was St Philip especially willing to do for the salvation of his neighbour?

Voluntary penances. We read about Fr Gallonio's summary of St Philip's heroic virtues that he does not want to discuss in detail. But the virtue he highlights is St Philip's charity for his neighbour. His longing to reconcile people with Christ led him to take on voluntary penances. St Philip would willingly endure painful things that he did not like as a way of making satisfaction for the sins of others. In and through Christ, as we are one in the mystical Body of Christ, we can help make up for sins. If people are not willing to return to God some sign of sorrow for sin and its effects, we can do so for them.

Episode 227 -- Life of St Philip XIX.227 -- Prudence in Guiding Oneself and Others to Holiness

We read about St Philip's prudence. Prudence is wisdom in practical matters, wisdom in how to achieve a certain goal. True prudence knows the best means to get to heaven and reach holiness. Prudence is both a personal virtue, knowing what one should do for one's own holiness. But there is also prudence in guiding others in the ways of God. St Philip excelled in both. But at the heart of his prudence was his recognition of the uniqueness of each person. Like St Paul, he tried to adapt himself to each person, each unique reflection of God.

Episode 226 -- Life of St Philip XIX.226 -- Gentleness Leads to Joyfulness and Apostolic Fruitfulness

What especially drew people to St Philip?

His gentleness. Fr Gallon has told us about St Philip's humility, his prayerfulness, his gift of tears. He tells us about St Philip's gentleness. Our Lord said, "learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart." Christ infused into St Philip his own gentle heart. St Philip was able to moderate his anger to a heroic degree. His gentleness influenced how he dealt with people, especially when they needed correction. His gentleness especially showed in his face. His gentleness was expressed as joy.

Last episode we read about St Philip's special gift of tears. Tears flowed from his sorrow at sin and its effects. But we will see that St Philip combined sadness with cheerfulness. His sadness did not break out into immoderate anger. His sadness did not stop him from having a joyful countenance that drew many people to the Lord's service. St Philip, help us be cheerful in penance!

Episode 225 -- Life of St Philip XIX.225 -- Gift of Tears Based on Love of Christ

Why did St Philip weep so much?

The gift of tears. We read about the sadness that St Philip experienced as he pondered the sufferings of Christ, the sins human beings commit, and our great distance from being like Christ. St Philip's subsequent tears were a sign of sympathy, of co-suffering with Christ and others. Tears are a result of solidarity, of being one with others. St Philip wept for the sins of others as though they were his own. And he wept over the sufferings of Christ out of his deep union with Christ. He truly made the interests of Christ his own, or rather, the Holy Spirit gave St Philip this gift. Come, Holy Spirit!

Last episode we read about St Philip's love for prayer. St Philip longed to pray and longer to grow in prayer. In our prayers, we especially must be grateful when we begin to desire to love the Lord more. Such desire is a sign of the virtue of hope at work in our souls!

Episode 224 -- Life of St Philip XIX.224 -- Desiring to Love God in Prayer

What was St Philip's most valued activity?

Prayer. We read Gallonio's summary of the high degree of prayer that St Philip obtained. He will stress St Philip's love of God. He will stress St Philip's interest in contemplation. One of the best places to read more about contemplation is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2709-2719. Contemplation is a "gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love" (CCC 2724).

Last episode we read about St Philip's poverty. Money is a means, not the end of life. Money cannot make us happy. But God inspired in the heart of St Philip a heroic attitude to money and riches.

Episode 223 -- Life of St Philip XIX.223 -- Love of Poverty and Danger of Riches

What is the second virtue that Gallonio especially identifies in St Philip?

His love of poverty. St Philip was very aware of the dangers of riches for the spiritual life. Like pride, money brings great dangers of self-sufficiency and illusions of importance. St Philip knew that money was meant to be spent for good things, for things that are truly necessary. He understood that necessity includes both what is absolutely necessary, but also what is necessary for a good and fitting life according to one's position. St Philip was never married. He eventually became a priest. He turned down various offers for becoming a wealthy man. Why did he do this? How did he look on money? St Philip wanted to be content with what he truly needed. He wanted his heart free for God. But at the same time, he loved to have money to give away and use for good purposes.

Last episode we finished reading about St Philip's humility. St Philip's humility often took the form of jokes! His sense of humour was used to hide from others his profound wisdom and spiritual gifts. He likes to mingle humour with his serious teaching. St Philip took God very seriously and the search for true holiness. But he did not take himself that seriously. St Philip's humility was rooted in his deep awareness of who God is. He was aware of God the Father's own "humility." St Philip wanted to be content with a loving relationship with Christ Jesus and His mystical body. How we need to pray for faith and understanding and knowledge.

Episode 222 -- Life of St Philip XIX.222 -- Humility Like the Father

Why did St Philip fear being admired and overly praised?

His humility. We read about St Philip's true desire to be thought little of. Some of St Philip's actions might seem strange to us. He really did not like admiration. He really did not like being thought great. St Philip's actions sprang from the deep inner source, his humility. Christ told us: learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart. St Philip lived in the truth of God as few ever have.

Last episode we read about St Philip's avoidance of boasting. He knew that vainglory seeks to manifest unnecessarily one's excellence to others. What pride seeks to have, vain glory seeks to show forth. Boasting is one way to gain vain glory, empty glory.

Episode 221 -- Life of St Philip XIX.221 -- Boasting Backlash

Why did St Philip not boast of founding the Oratory?

He did not intend to found it. St Philip was very aware of how little intention he had in founding the Oratory. He realized very clearly that this was God's work. He realized how little he contributed. St Philip had a strong conviction of the primacy of God's providence and His grace in directing Philip's life.

Last episode began the final section of Gallonio's biography of St Philip. Gallonio begins his discussion of St Philip's virtues by talking about humility. Humility makes one be subject to God out of reverence. Humility is built on faith in God's holiness. But humility also becomes the foundation of the Christian life because it undermines the main obstacle: pride. Humility holds us back from desiring great things that are beyond us. Humility helps us keep in mind our weaknesses and limitations so that we go for the great things that God wants us to go for.