Comparison of Spiritualities of St Seraphim & RC St Fran

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Nevski,

"I say download away, Nicholas. I'm aware of the patristic utterances that so opine. But I think your offer to provide a "100 gigabyte's" worth will be a tall order for you indeed."

It will be far more than you could read in a week I assure you, which point is to put the above in its proper place.

"Need" and "lack" constitute a big difference? How so? "

Lack - as in, doesn't have and does not nessesarily need.
Need - as in, must have.

"But I'm happy that you at least recognize the fact that God's grace may in fact be operative outside of the walls of the Orthodox Church, as spiritually dangerous a place as that may be. As long as you persevere in that recognition, I have no serious bone of contention with you."

The operation of the Holy Spirit outside the Church is a spiritual fact. The confinement of Grace, the Mysteries of the Church, to the Church is also a fact. This is the teaching of the Church, if there are any exceptions then they are only known to God, for us, we have the Holy Tradition which we are bound to follow to the last days.

They are two distinct realities which are easily and often confused.

[Nevski]

OOD: It will be far more than you could read in a week I assure you, which point is to put the above in its proper place.

Me: Well, I say again: whether it is "100 gigabytes" worth or a "weeks" worth, I say the production of this volume would be a tall order indeed. I've invited Nicholas to produce it. I invite you as well.

OOD: Lack - as in, doesn't have and does not nessesarily need.
Need - as in, must have.

Me: I still maintain it's a distinction without a differerence. But I''m guessing the Greek might prove instructive. What say you?

OOD: The operation of the Holy Spirit outside the Church is a spiritual fact. The confinement of Grace, the Mysteries of the Church, to the Church is also a fact.

Me: I agree wholeheartedly. The stuff of paradoxes, this Orthodox faith of ours.

OOD: They are two distinct realities which are easily and often confused.

Me: As a believer in proper Orthodox theological paradox, I don't want to confuse them.

Nevski

[Julianna]

Great article. Ecumenists fuming should've been expected of course.

[Nevski]

Great article. Ecumenists fuming should've been expected of course.

Fuming ecumenists? Where, Juliana? Did I miss something?

Nevski

[Apologitis]

Francis was not a saint. He was a very good person.