The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Appendix "To The Shepherd", Part II

We continued our reading and discussion of the treatment and cures that the spiritual father must understand for every malady that afflicts a person in the spiritual life. He must understand not only how to apply them but also the manner they are applied to each individual person with their unique needs. No person is the same and in the spiritual battle the elder must understand the subtle manifestations of spiritual illness and the manner in which various cures might be applied.

One of the most striking aspects of tonight’s discussion was on the capacity of the elder to be free from and endure nausea and to be able to untiringly strive to dispel the stench of vomit. Of course, St. John is speaking about sin itself and the willingness of the elder to enter into the darkness in which the other person finds himself; to descend into their hell and to endure the stench of sin itself. The capacity to do this comes through engaging in the spiritual battle throughout the course of one’s life and attending in obedience to the counsel of one’s own spiritual father. The lack of nausea and the ability to endure the stench of the vomit of sin comes from having long been immersed in it through one’s own struggles. Compassion is born in a powerful way through the experience of common trials. 

Beyond this, St. John tells that the shepherd must experience blessed dispassion. In other words, he must be free of the passions that would blind him and his ability to discern the particular needs of those in his care. This discernment allows the elder to illuminate the path that leads to repentance and so gives him the capacity to “resurrect every dead soul”.

This is the identity that every Christian soul should seek to embrace. While it’s true that not everyone is called to be a spiritual elder, every Christian by virtue of their baptism is called to the holiness described here and given the responsibility for the care of souls in their midst. We are responsible for the salvation and goodwill of those around us as much as we are responsible for our own.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:04:47 Anna Lalonde: Well my kids learned to walk up our hallway wall today so you up for that Father? 😄

00:08:41 Bob Cihak, AZ: P. 250, # 12 halfway down "An ointment...."

00:10:11 Lori Hatala: https://gmail.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c38acab568d650f7ef65f39df&id=3f6ad96818&e=b6af48f1a0

00:10:52 Lori Hatala: link for To the Shephard pdf

00:11:18 Bob Cihak, AZ: P. 250, # 12 halfway down "An ointment...."

00:25:47 Anna Lalonde: Anyone have a link for buying this version?

00:27:09 Bob Cihak, AZ: The current book is The Ladder of Divine Ascent by Saint John Climacus at https://www.bostonmonks.com/product_info.php/products_id/569 .

00:41:33 Anna Lalonde: Replying to "The current book is ..." 

 Thank you! Ordered

00:43:28 Bob Cihak, AZ: Replying to "The current book is ..."

Good! It's on the expensive side, but is well worth it; the quality of the book exceeds its price.

00:45:11 Anna Lalonde: In Roman Catholic there are Spiritual Director certificates. But I love using Desert Fathers for this aspect with my clients.

00:51:23 Anna Lalonde: I prefer Catholic Coaching versus Therapy because it's an integrative of the soul as the trauma is affecting the soul.

00:55:52 Myles Davidson: Jung had very high praise for the Catholic Mass and felt that Catholicism was the closest thing to psychotherapy Interestingly enough

00:58:20 David: There is a nice podcast by Fr. Joshua Macoul called "Healing the Unresolved" but I don't know what school he ascribes to but does mention the desert fathers sometimes.

01:01:35 David: In the presence of nothing, everything is revealed. Can't remember which desert father wrote this but it stuck in my head.

01:02:40 Kate : What about the role of the grace of priesthood in shepherding of souls?  I know there are some Catholic spiritual direction training programs that train laity to be spiritual directors.  But what about the grace of priesthood in leading souls?  Isn’t this something that cannot be “trained” so to speak?

01:07:05 Anna Lalonde: I agree Father! As a certified Catholic Coach and a Certified Catholic Spiritual Director. My living the ascetic life and domestic monastics while studying desert fathers is very great so I can serve souls.

01:07:08 David: Not a criticism but it seems with all the honey, coffee, handicrafts and items monasteries produce it might be better to offer spiritual direction and donations through patreon or something?  My old parish priest mentioned he did not have capacity to offer spiritual direction to all the young people we had in catechism.  There seems to be a great lack of this for most parishes.

01:07:49 Anna Lalonde: Agree David!

01:17:26 Phil: Thank you, Father and Victor, for your responses.

01:18:16 Céline: Thank you father God Bless you.

01:18:23 Victor - WV: Thank you!

01:19:23 Bob Cihak, AZ: Sometimes it's focus, not digression.

01:19:24 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father!

01:19:37 Jeff O.: Thank you!! Great to be with you all!

01:20:10 Aric Bukiri: Thank you Father!

01:20:11 David: Thank you Father. May God bless you and your mother!

01:20:17 Rachel: Thank you!