Anastasis  Modern icon, based on Chora, Constantinople.

 

NATURAL CONTEMPLATION
 and
 NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING:
 
BEHOLDING THE CREATOR
IN THE CREATION
  

 

 

 

 

1) THE BEAUTY OF CREATION
 

1.a. Place of Incarnation;

JOHN 1:14:

 THE word

 became flesh

 and dwelt among us.

 ὁ λόγος

σὰρξ ἐγένετο

καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν

 

 

LUKE 22:15:

WITH [ardent] desire (epithumia)

Ἐπιθυμίᾳ

I have [eagerly] desired (epethumēsa)

 ἐπεθύμησα

to eat this paschal meal with youbefore I suffer.

τοῦτο τὸ πάσχα φαγεῖν μεθ΄ ὑμῶν πρὸ τοῦ με παθεῖν·

 

1.b. Concept of Natural Contemplation,

 

 

THE GIFT  of the  BODY

 

 

 

2) NATURAL CYCLES AS BLESSING  AND GIFT  
 

 

 

THE INNER CYCLICAL NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE

 

 

NATURAL CONTEMPLATION

 

 

Body and Soul, BNF FR 135, f. 5 Bart. Angl.On the Properties of Things 15th C.

 

ALTERNATIVE to REGARDING FERTILITY AS PROBLEM or DISEASE

 

 

THEOLOGY of THE  BODY

Language of Actions; Concept as Self and Sexuality as Gift at hea

 

SPLENDOR of TRUTH

 

Concept as Self and Sexuality as Gift at hea

 

 

3) RUNNING WITH EXPANDED HEARTS

 

 

 

THE INNER MEANING of CHASTITY


 

THE RULE of ST. BENEDICT:
THE PROLOGUE

  
   

Jan 7;   May 8;   Sept 7

(RM ThS 45-46)

    45 WE have therefore, to establish a school of the Lord’s service.     45 Constituenda est ergo nobis dominici schola servitii. 
46 In instituting it we hope to establish  46 In qua institutione

nothing harsh,

nihil asperum

nothing oppressive.

nihil grave nos constituturos speramus;
47 But if anything is somewhat strictly laid down, 47 sed et si quid paululum restrictius,

according to the dictates of equity

dictante aequitatis ratione,

and for the amendment of vices

propter emendationem vitiorum

or for the preservation of love;

vel conservationem caritatis processerit,

 48 do not therefore flee in dismay from the way of salvation,

48 non ilico pavore perterritus refugias viam salutis

which cannot be other than narrow at the beginning. (cf. Mat. 7:14)

quae non est nisi angusto initio incipienda.
   
49 Truly as we advance in this way of life and faith, 49 Processu vero conversationis et fidei,

our hearts open wide,

dilatato corde

and with unspeakable sweetness of love

  

 we run  on the path of God’s commandments (Ps 119:32)

inenarrabili dilectionis dulcedine curritur via mandatorum Dei,

   

50 So that, never departing from his guidance, but persevering in his teaching (Acts 2:42) in the monastery until death, (Phil. 2:8)

50 ut ab ipsius numquam magisterio discedentes, in eius doctrinam usque ad mortem in monasterio perseverantes,

we may by

 

patience

passionibus Christi per

participate in the

patientiam

passion of Christ;

participemur,

 that we may deserve also to be partakers of his kingdom.  Amen. (cf. 1Pet 4:13; Rom. 8:17) ut et regno eius mereamur esse consortes.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

xxxx» cont

This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 2003....x....  ’ “”.