Monday, November 19, 2012

THE MONASTIC DESERT

Monks answer the call of Christ to the point of anticipating, even now, the future glory and transfiguration that will be ours. Monks renounce human love, in its fecundity and joy, in order to be, now on earth, a sign of the Absolute of God who shares with those who love him the Absolute of Life. In this apparent death in one of the dimensions of human existence, they become signs given by God of the Resurrection of the dead. They accept this apparent death of their human capacity and strength in order that the fecundity and vitality of the Love that comes from God may shine forth. In this era, when all is relative, monks are witnesses of the Absolute. At this time in history, monks are witnesses of the completion of history. In this age that begets death, monks are witnesses of the Resurrection.

  Cardinal Lustiger

Sunday, November 11, 2012

ENEMY TERRITORY

"I had embraced a shadow, married an illusion, possessed a fantasy.  Alas, where is the fantasy I imagined now?  Where is the fulfillment of the dream?  Lady World, even if I had possessed you for a thousand years, what would that be now?  Like a fleeting moment!  Proper to your nature is to pass away.  I thought I could hold you in my embrace, but look how you have vanished before my very eyes.  If a person does not abandon you first, then you abandon him.  You murderess, you!  And so, farewell, farewell.  May God be good to you today and always.  Deceive those who do not know you.  Me you shall never deceive again!"

Bl. Henry Suso, Little Book of Letters, I