Monastic Obedience for Lay People: THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ต.ค. 2020
- One of the most common questions we get is 'what should we read?'. Leaving aside the Gospels, and apart from the services of the Church and Her collections of prayers, which writings do we recommend? In this video, we'll talk about the Lives of the Saints, which can function as a replacement of the monastic Elder in the lives of lay people.
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The video 'Monastic Obedience for Lay People: THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS' was recorded by Fr Seraphim Aldea, at Mull Monastery (The Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints), on the Isle of Mull.
The light from the candle reflects on the icon of St Cuthbert. As the video plays, the candle burns and the flame descends into the forehead of the praying saint. I cannot ignore how this flame could symbolize the Holy Spirit.
Today is the day I needed to hear this. Amen.
My God. This needs to be transcribed and published. We love you so much in Christ, Father.
Fr Seraphim should write. One day he could very well be one of the saints people should read about and learn from.
11:24 hadn’t heard this before
12:14 Faith
✝️🙏⛪️hopeful words Father 13:44 amen 14:43 amen 15:47 beautiful 😊
Since becoming Orthodox I have found that even hearing the lives of the martyrs being read in church has changed the way I think about my own priorities.
I wonder if you could print a calendar for 2021. Perhaps for raising funds to help sustain Mull Monastery. I would trust your choice of photography for the months of the year around the environment of the Monastery. Perhaps you could include a few photos of your saints. Thank you and God bless you.
I love this idea and I would buy one!
Great idea! I like pictures ( icons) they have there too.
Wendy Flanagan I would buy one too.
Wendy Flanagan what a great idea. I would buy one too!
Me too! I would buy one.
Thank you Father Seraphim! Great insight for all, but especially those who are not in a position to have a spiritual father at this time. I am thankful that I can turn to the saints.
Thank you, Father. I've been absent for a few weeks; allowing my busy life and worries of this world to interfere with my spiritual life. Thank you for this beautiful encouragement. Pray for me, a sinner.
Thank you Father Seraphim. All that you have said applies to us in the Catholic Church as well. Right now I am reading about Father Willie Doyle who stayed with the men in the trenches of World war one. His personal notes reveal that he had lived long years of ascetism and charity before joining the military. In Christ (isabella)
Father William Doyle looks like the young "Lazzaro" in the inspirational movie "Happy as Lazzaro"...
@@lessthandust Thanks, i'll have to check that out!
Ecclesiastes 3
King James Version
“3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;”
It is the hardest thing to do which is to crucify humbly the mind for the love of Christ.
Your prayers Father.
The Saints experience pointing to Christ helps me lay aside my judgment.
Thank you father for this word! 🤗
Greetings from Timisoara - România
I am a roman catholic from birth. I was away from the church for many years. I've recently had a conversion moment and went back to the catholic church. As such things seem to go I've been drawn to your videos and others of the orthodox faith. I can't believe how the practicality of these videos speaks to me, my life and my sinfulness. I don't know now what to do with this knowledge. I've opened Pandora's box and I can't close the lid. god bless ernesto
Thank you, dear father Seraphim, for your reply. I recieve it in my heart with humbleness. May God bless you and the monastery, now and always.
This was so refreshing...thank you..I will start reading about the Saints
❤️
Could you ever give a tour of the monastery even the outside and setting. It seems a place of great serenity
Check out some of the previous videos. There is a recent one that shows us around a little.
I love the icon is showing a live living holy spirit flame 🔥 over his head.
I love reading the lives of the Saints! I need to do it more. This was so convicting and well said! The fruit and gardening analogies were great. Sadly these things were so divorced from my Christian life as a Protestant; thanks be to God that He has given us His Church! Bridging the distance is finally not only more than a theological idea but an actual expected path to walk! Father bless.
This is a song to my heart, so deeply felt. Thank you and all the saints for humane examples of the divine. We are constantly blessed by Christ’s divinity and knowing what we, in the image of Christ, are capable of.
Father Bless, this was a much needed reminder for me in the depths of my study.
Your words helped me to remember that it was an experience which brought me to faith in Christ and, for all my study, it was the lives of the saints and praying to them which brought me to Orthodox and helped me comprehend the encounters I have had with grace. Experience and living things is the only way I can make things real to myself as abstract theology has never made made sense to me, I have reached far grater understanding in Theology by following a simple prayer rule and reading the lives of saints than I ever managed by study.
As you mentioned in a previous video it is the point where we get board with something that we discover new depth and I have certainly found that in the lives of the saints, they are also far more interesting and surprising than even well written fiction as life is always more amazing than anything people can think up.
Love you so much father and grateful for your teachings. A beautiful explanation of the saints and why we must study them.
Would you have time to post a small sampling of books you suggest as useful for our journey?
Peace and love to all. Thank you
Yes, please 😇
I would also like some book suggestions.
God Bless You Fr. Seraphim.
The lives of the Saints show us how to break our own will. The lives of our spiritual families. So beautiful! Thank you Father.
Thank you.
Yes indeed, I have learned so much from St.Faustina and St.Padre Pio’s letters.
O beautiful obedience you are a treasure of graces to my soul, I have been so blessed with a holy Spiritual Director, whom I obey wholeheartedly, knowing that I hear the voice of Jesus through him. Obedience brings holiness since Holiness consists in doing God’s Will. Obedience helps me die to my ego, to my self-will beautifully and powerfully, making room for Jesus in my soul.😃🙏🏻🕊🔥
May you be blessed , may Jesus reward you and make you holy!
Warmest greetings in
+ Jesus, Mary and Joseph+
Angèle
14:52 minute. This is Truth, every word Fr Seraphim Aldea said is Truth. I grew up in dysfunctional protestant household. Always feel....something is missing, something is strange. I left the Church (Protestant) when I was 20 years old.
30 years later, when I was 50 years, I start praying and asking: "Lord Jesus Christ are you still alive? Please show me". 2 years later, there is no doubt left in me, this trough the Great Love and Mercy of God. Thank the Lord for you're existing Fr Seraphim Aldea. Please give us all the strengh to walk in the footsteps of the Saints. I am longing for that, for total commitment and Obedience. I really longing to left my old self behind, put on fire, destroy my habbits. I have to be patience, I want it and go very fanitical going fast drive to heaven, but i have to learn deeply humble patient and patient. It is not ME ME ME who change myself in a Saint, but I have to alow The Lord working inside me. Just alow Him to be inside me.
I pray for you and your community each morning. God bless you all.
I have just finished reading the life of Saint Cuthbert. He is an amazing man. I loved the story of him praying in the sea all night then when he left the water two Otters drying him and sitting with him. I didn't realise his connection to you. Just found your channel. My new favourite. Thank you father.
Indeed..... a humbling homily direly needed. Dear father, when I hear you speak, and watch your videos I cannot help but to think, here is our spiritual father 🙏..... God Bless You and all You do.
“Obedience is love, but disobedience is non-love, it is the trampling upon love. Never decline from obedience.”
Saint Seraphim (Sobolev) of Bogucharsk
A friend is just finishing a translation of a book about some wonderful new saints and she started to doubt about its usefulness... during these times. I have tried to convince her she is not right. I have sent her your video. Recorded just in time :) I am sure it will be more convincing! :) Thank you! Your blessing, dear Father.
I enjoy your talks. Opens the heart to hear perceive and understand gods wisdom. Much peace my brother in Christ
Is this different than following your saints-prayer Chanel? Thank you for teaching these things. 🤔 It helps me.
Check out how the reflection from the candle is flickering on the icon painting, like a Tongue of fire from the Pentecost. Truly the Holy Spirit is active here.
Such wonderful advice--and I love the metaphors you use to illustrate your points. When you say it is a mistake to separate the lives of the saints from their theology, I wonder whether it wouldn't be fair to say that the theologies of the saints lies in their lives? That is, the lives of the saints are in themselves a kind of iconographic representation of the theology that motivates the actions in their lives. If so, then by studying the lives of that saints you will, at the same time, be experiencing, as it were, their theology as made manifest in their lives.
Beautiful as always. Can you recommend some of the better English language lives of saints collections, perhaps some favourites? I'm reading the Sophrony book on Silouan at the moment which is incredible
I assume your still active as a soldier for God, if so, can you talk about daily life in the monastic community, what it’s like? Beginning, middle, and advance?
What’s the biggest obstacles to overcome and how can one succeed who really wants to succeed without quitting, giving up and ending in despair?
God bless
Wow, Thank you. For your blessings father. Amen Amen Amen 🙏 🙏🙏🌹❤❤❤
Amen 🙏🏻❤️📿🙏🏻
After seeing what God did in my life to drag my stubborn scientific skeptical mind from atheistic naturalism to Christianity, I can believe He can do anything. I have to remind myself not to believe everything people claim now lol. I am reading church history now and just went to a local Greek Orthodox Church last Sunday but can you recommend any particular book/s on the lives of the saints to begin with?
I am Irish so I was thinking of reading more about St Patrick, St Brigid and my namesake, St Colmcille anyway and will try to get their icons for my home but what you have said has really spoken to me. Monasticism appeals very much to me but I have been on a mission to help steward the ecosystems back to good health using a community-centred approach and I started as a pure naturalist but I have come to see that it can only be done in obedience to God and with His blessing so I trust things will become clearer the more I draw near.
Excellent video sir.. 🕊
God bless you. You give me peace. Thank you and I pray you can continue on with this work.
Thank you! !!
Thank you Father S. 😊👍🏼
AMHN 🙏
Father, I agree with you, and it is conducive on my path. At one point, I have a problem understanding. Obedience to the Church doesn't automatically imply obedience to the bishops, doesn't it? Not all bishops see the love of enemies as you do. What does obedience to the Church mean in concrete terms?
very good video, how true, we are to believe the unbelievable.
Amen! Humility Prayer & the second chapter of Philippians; St. Paul, pray for us...
Hello Father,
Thank you very much. It's possible to subtittle for us who don't understand very well English, please ? God bless you, Amen!
In high school I read a book that changed my life called Modern Saints by Ann Ball. The book featured saints canonized within the last couple hundred years, many since photography. My heart was set aflame. Saints in this modern age? Maybe I could be one too.
Now I love reading the Church fathers and older saints too but my love for the saints started with that book.
CCC 2309 - on just wars - the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
there must be serious prospects of success;
the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.
ooooooh, somebody is feeling audacious~. Just kidding, well done and thanks as always brother. God bless
Love the simile you are using in this talk.
You are very good!
Amen!!!❤️🔥🙏
🙏
What does it mean to "read the lives of the saints"? To read their writings? Or are there biographies? Book recommendations of where to start?
I'm not quite sure what he means, but I can point you to Trisagion Films on youtube; they have an expansive playlist of videos about various saints, modern and ancient.
Essentially their biographies, yes. The Church has carefully preserved the lives of many of her saints in this way not only for their memory, but for our edification-that we may learn to see what the gospel looks like when it’s actually lived. And, of course, for all the reasons Fr. Seraphim laid out for us. This should give you a solid idea: www.oca.org/saints/lives
A great resource is St. Nikolai Velimirovic’s compilation of lives of saints, hymns and homilies-The Prologue from Ochrid. There are readings for every day of the year that work perfectly as daily devotions.
If you’re willing to spend some money and invest in a physical set: svspress.com/the-prologue-from-ochrid-set/
And here’s a free online version: www.rocor.org.au/?page_id=925
God bless you!
Thank you for the links.
I think he means either but I wouldn’t want to presume. Just a thought... Confessions by St Augustine is a beautiful book and not a hard read.
A great read (and it's not too long) is St Athanasius' biography of St Anthony. One Saint writing about another, very enlightening.
Should we obey and do what Pope Francis requests ?
As a supplement to the lives of the saints I have read The Conferences by Saint John Cassian and The Life of Moses by Saint Gregory of Nyssa, both are good tomes and should be available.😊
Amen❤️
Beloved brother Monk,
Have you actually seen what goes on in the Greek Orthodox Christian Church in America?
I am what you call a cradle Greek.I was baptized at 40 days old by the Bishop of Boston back in 1962.
Our Greek Orthodox Christian Church in America are in huge need of Jesus Christ.
Where do you start reading about the lives of the saints? Is there a book with all the important stories combined? Which books are to recommend and which one to avoid?
Thank you very much for the video!
Forgive me for my ignorance, I live in the deep woods of rural America, & have no Orthodox Church even near me; Yet, I feel drawn to learn more.
Can anyone please tell me what book of the lives of the Saints I should begin with outside of the Bible itself? thanks for any help.
There are many good books available. But getting in the habit of reading the lives of the daily Saints is a great way to begin. Even with the "first" or "first and second" ones in the list for the day. You can find them here.
www.oca.org/saints/lives
May it be blessed!
@@innocentgreen1338 thank you so much ")
Father, would you recommend the 3-voume series "Orthodox Saints, Vols. 1-3" by Fr. George Poulos?
So when can I expect a Mull Monestary for me to join as a woman?
Where can you read the lives of the saints?
What is the device light?
I am currently reading the biography of St. Theresa of Avila. Good book. I have also read about the lives of St. Solanus Casey and many books on St. Padre Pio, all Roman Catholic saints. What books does anyone recommend on Orthodox Saints?
Perhaps «wounded by love»? I was reccomended to read it by a cathechism teacher and later got it as a present.
Also, Saint Seraphim of Sarov should be mentioned. Don't know which book is recommended, though.
Check out this playlist: th-cam.com/video/BBXvDuNElB8/w-d-xo.html
For some reason I am not hearing anything
are we not to physically defend ourselves? are we to to let ourselves be shot or stabbed if we are robbed or because of other beliefs we hold in this world or who we are in this world?do i stand by and let my wife be assaulted?
Hello, my brother! Greetings from Bulgaria! You help us so much. I would like to ask you a question. What is your opinion to reject job opportunities if something like company name or logo or something seems not good. Example: a programmer applies for a job and the logo of the company has a symbol not acceptable even sinful. To reject or not. I have never met someone with such questions. Logo, name of company and so on. The result is that in this logic you can reject a great opportunity which God gave you. Even a happy marriage with a woman with tattoos. I have some knowledge on the topic - my opinion is that is silly and even psychological issue, but I want to hear you opinion.
To the topic: search for St. Jacob Tsalikis. One of the greatest saints of the 20 th century. Be blessed brother! Bulgaria loves you!
Simple example to help you understand better. A woman with a tattoo. The tattoo is with message. This message is something sinful. I love this woman. I reject her because the tattoo. She is a wonderful wonan, great spouse. Everything is fine. But this tattoo becomes an intrusive thought. Or a great company, good salary, good colleagues, nice atmosphere. But as a programmer you should work with a technology called: with a sinful name. The boss tell you: write the command to install the program and the programming code. The project is not sinful something for children. But you should type the command. Or other situation. You make a sin and you see a job offer. If you have not sinned no offer. Should you apply for it. Sorry, for bothering brother. I have rejected so many chances. Great opportunities given by God. God bless you!