Humility in monasticism

News about traditional Orthodox monastics and how these monks and nuns are living out their vocations in monasteries and convents. All Forum Rules apply. No polemics. No heated discussions. No name-calling.

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SolarFlare
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Humility in monasticism

Post by SolarFlare »

A monk should not be concerned about how people address him.
When I become a monk, I want you to walk on me as if I were dirt. And don't call me "Father," or "Brother." Call me sinner or Mr. Dirt, or Mr. wretch.

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Maria
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Re: How to Greet a Monk or Nun

Post by Maria »

SolarFlare wrote:

A monk should not be concerned about how people address him.
When I become a monk, I want you to walk on me as if I were dirt. And don't call me "Father," or "Brother." Call me sinner or Mr. Dirt, or Mr. wretch.

Our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit. They are not dirt. We are to show forth Christ to one another.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

SolarFlare
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Re: How to Greet a Monk or Nun

Post by SolarFlare »

Maria wrote:

Our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit. They are not dirt. We are to show forth Christ to one another.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7).

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Maria
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Re: How to Greet a Monk or Nun

Post by Maria »

SolarFlare wrote:
Maria wrote:

Our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit. They are not dirt. We are to show forth Christ to one another.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7).

Isn't the prayer, "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" only used by Roman Catholics on Ash Wednesday?
Do Orthodox Christians ever use that prayer?

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

SolarFlare
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Re: How to Greet a Monk or Nun

Post by SolarFlare »

The point is that Genesis says we came from dust. I don't know what Roman Catholics are praying about. The Orthodox attitude about the body, is to mortify it, as we see in the lives of ascetics.

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Maria
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Re: How to Greet a Monk or Nun

Post by Maria »

SolarFlare wrote:

The point is that Genesis says we came from dust. I don't know what Roman Catholics are praying about. The Orthodox attitude about the body, is to mortify it, as we see in the lives of ascetics.

Although many Protestants believe that their bodies are just earthen vessels, which will be buried and forgotten as soon as they our buried, our bodies are created good as we are created in the image of God.

When we receive Holy Communion, we become a Temple of God. Isn't it true that it is not our reception of Holy Baptism, nor Holy Chrismation that unites us with Christ, but our reception of Holy Communion? At that point, we became Orthodox Christians.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner.

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Re: How to Greet a Monk or Nun

Post by Matthew »

Amen, Maria. That is also why the whole historic Church has always condemned very sternly the pagan body-negating and body-denigrating practise of cremation. Rather the body is to participate in eternal redemption and that so-called dust to which we will be TEMPORARILY returned to will be raised in an INCORRUPT and ETERNAL and GLORIFIED state! SolarFlare needs to humble himself and admit that while what he says is partly true, it is very misleading and erroneous because it is NOT the whole truth, and as such has brought him to some very problematic and wrong attitudes about the physical body. Also, in my experience about monastic zeal, it is dangerous and prideful in fact to declare how much one wants to denigrate oneself in a human effort to imitate humility by performing acts of humiliation. If you really want to develop humility and not merely a reputation for it then start with the far more difficult and honest task of simply not standing out, boldly and freely declaring your opinions, and so forth. Being quiet, very slow to speak, and tempering your words with self-mistrust and asking for the wisdom of others is better. But to declare that one will rush to be insulted, and trodden underfoot and seek epic billboard humiliations, well that is already walking hurriedly down a road away from the very humble heartedness you proclaim yourself to be seeking.

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