His Holiness Pope Tawadros II delivered his weekly sermon at the Wednesday meeting this evening, from the Church of St. Anthony in the Papal Residence in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo. The sermon was broadcast on Christian satellite channels and the C.O.C channel of the Church’s Media Center on the Internet.
His Holiness continued the series of “Strong, Short Prayers from the Liturgy,” and addressed part of the thirtieth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy verses 11-20, and referred to a short request of the requests that the Church raises after the prayers of sanctification in the Gregorian Mass, which are: “Asceticism to the monks and nuns”, H.H. explained that it means monks and nuns and all those involved in the life of consecration, and that the most famous monastic area in the world is the Wadi al-Natroun area, which is called “Skete,” which is a Greek word meaning “university of ascetics.”
Wadi El-Natroun region attracted great people wishing to learn about monastic life, and it has many geographical names, such as: “Wadi Shehit” and “Mizan Al-Kelob.” Then His Holiness explained the difference between “the ascetic” and “the poor” through:
Poor: He hopes and desires to become rich but is unable to achieve this.
Ascetic: He abstains and controls himself willingly from everything.
His Holiness set a definition of authentic Christian asceticism, which is: controlling the body with a sensitive balance, because asceticism without differentiation and a good balance is a deadly weapon for the soul, and His Holiness reflected on the word “asceticism” through its three letters/ points:
1.The life of internal and external purity of the human soul, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)
2. A life of spiritual watchfulness, as a sign of waiting and preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven.
3. The life of the Holy Bible, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”(John 6:63)
His Holiness pointed out the importance of praying for monks and nuns, and for God to give them a life of asceticism through:
1- Asceticism contains the meaning of fellowship, as the ascetic must walk on his spiritual path with the help of his spiritual father, and asceticism is free of any extremism.
2- Asceticism is a means that helps in the path of repentance
3- Asceticism is a means of balance in human life. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place”
(Matthew 6:6)
Asceticism reduces the connection to the earth and increases the longing for heaven.
4- Asceticism is considered a therapeutic method. “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.”
(I Corinthians 9:25), because control makes a person little by little liberated from earthly attachment, and makes him a guardian of all his senses and thoughts.
5- Asceticism is a powerful means for the growth of a person’s spirituality, and “Blessed is the monk who sees with joy and gladness his salvation and the salvation of others” from the sayings of Saint Evagrius of Pontius.
His Holiness addressed the signs of asceticism, which are:
1- Clothing: The monk’s clothing is characterized by simplicity, and its black color symbolizes death from the world and desires.
2- The residence: The furniture of the cell (the monk’s room) is characterized by simplicity, which makes a person feel monastic.
3- Food: The monk protects himself from cravings for the stomach (fullness) and throat (types of food).
“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
(I Timothy 6:8)
4- Silence and speech: Being keen on silence, “residing in his place with God in the group of angels,” is one of the sayings of Saint Anthony.
5- Money control: Monasticism is a life of voluntary poverty. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”
(I Timothy 6:10)
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