Similarities / differences in Eastern and Western monastic life

[NadaTeTurbe]

Mary Little Flower : It is said that Mithridates, King of Pontus, who invented the poison called after him, mithridate, so thoroughly impregnated his system with it, that when eventually he tried to poison himself to avoid becoming the Romans' slave, he never could succeed. The Saviour instituted the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, really containing His Body and His Blood, in order that they who eat it might live for ever. And therefore whosoever receives it frequently and devoutly, so strengthens the health and life of his soul, that it is hardly possible for him to be poisoned by any evil desires. We cannot be fed by that Living Flesh and hold to the affections of death; and just as our first parents could not die in Paradise, because of the Tree of Life which God had placed therein, so this Sacrament of Life makes spiritual death impossible. The most fragile, easily spoilt fruits, such as cherries, apricots, and strawberries, can be kept all the year by being preserved in sugar or honey; so what wonder if our hearts, frail and weakly as they are, are kept from the corruption of sin when they are preserved in the sweetness ("sweeter than honey and the honeycomb") of the Incorruptible Body and Blood of the Son of God. O my child, those Christians who are lost will indeed have no answer to give when the Just Judge sets before them that they have voluntarily died the spiritual death, since it was so easy for them to have preserved life and health, by eating His Body which He gave them for that very end. "Miserable men!" He will say, "wherefore would ye die, with the Bread of Life itself in your hands?"

As to daily Communion, I neither commend nor condemn it; but with respect to communicating every Sunday, I counsel and exhort every one to do so, providing the mind has no attachment to sin. So says Saint Augustine, and with him I neither find fault nor unconditionally commend daily Communion, leaving that matter to the discretion of every person's own spiritual Guide; as the requisite dispositions for such frequent Communion are too delicate for one to advise it indiscriminately. On the other hand, these very special dispositions may be found in sundry devout souls, and therefore it would not be well to discourage everybody. It is a subject which must be dealt with according to each individual mind; it were imprudent to advise such frequent Communion to all, while, on the other hand, it would be presumptuous to blame any one for it, especially if he therein follows the advice of some wise director. Saint Catherine of Sienna, when blamed for her frequent Communions, under the plea that Saint Augustine neither commended nor condemned daily Communion, replied gently, "Well, then, since Saint Augustine does not condemn it, neither, I pray you, do you condemn it, and I shall be content." But Saint Augustine earnestly exhorts all to communicate every Sunday. And as I presume, my child, that you have no attachment either to mortal or venial sins, you are in the condition which Saint Augustine requires; and if your spiritual Father approves, you may profitably communicate more frequently. Nevertheless, there are various hindrances which may arise, not so much from yourself, as from those among whom you live, which may lead a wise director to tell you not to communicate so often. For instance, if you are in a position of subjection, and those whom you are bound to obey should be so ignorant or so prejudiced, as to be uneasy at your frequent Communions, all things considered, it may be well to show consideration for their weakness, and to make your Communion fortnightly; only, of course, where there is no possible way of overcoming the difficulty otherwise. But one cannot give any general rule on such a point, each person must follow the advice of their own spiritual Guide; only this much I will say, that monthly Communions are the very fewest which any one seeking to serve God devoutly can make.

If you are discreet, neither father nor mother, husband nor wife, will ever hinder you from communicating frequently, and that because on the day of your Communion you will give good heed always to be more than usually gentle and amiable towards them, doing all you can to please them, so that they are not likely to prevent your doing a thing which in nowise inconveniences themselves, unless they were most particularly unreasonable and perverse, in which case, as I have said, your Director might advise you to yield. There is nothing in the married life to hinder frequent Communion. Most certainly the Christians of the Primitive Church communicated daily, whether married or single. Neither is any malady a necessary impediment, except, indeed, anything producing constant sickness.

Those who communicate weekly must be free from mortal sin, and also from any attachment to venial sin, and they should feel a great desire for Communion; but for daily Communion people should furthermore have conquered most of their inclinations to evil, and no one should practise it without the advice of their spiritual Guide.

(St Francis of Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life, chapter 20, available at www.catholicity.com)

[MarysLittleFlower]

Thank you for that!:)

I am wondering about what St Francis means when he says for daily Communion they must have overcome their evil inclinations... What if Communion is what helps to overcome them? I mean its easier to fall into sin without it... Maybe he means that they should seek an especial purity of heart and not *want* any sin - even if they are very weak and need much grace to help them? My confessor never seemed against idea of daily Communion for me though - I'll talk to him more about it...

Edited April 20, 2015 by MarysLittleFlower

[NadaTeTurbe]

Remember when Introduction to the Devout Life was written, first. Then "overcome teir evil inclinations", mean (I think...), that they should not want to commit them. For exemple, I often have the evil inclinations to commit sin X. If I take the Holy Communion knowing that after I will commit sin X, I have not overcome my inclinations to sin X. If I said "God, I will not commit sin X. Please help me, by this Communion, to no do it", then, I have overcome my inclination. Maybe I will sin after, but I am in a process of non-sinning. In the spirit of the "introduction", the notion of intention is very important. 

[MarysLittleFlower]

That helps, thanks!

[Egeria]

MLF, just two points:

I think that it is very important to distinguish between being worthy and being prepared. We are never worthy to receive the Holy Gifts, but we can be - somewhat - prepared. (This is not just an East-West thing, but also plays out within the Orthodox Church too. There's an article that I find quite helpful here: http://araborthodoxy.blogspot.com/2011/10/met-saba-esber-on-preparing-for.html

From what you write, you sound thoroughly Latin, not just in regard to the Eucharist, but other things too - and of course they all hang together as present western practices and devotions come out of a whole history of theological development - and I'm not going to argue with you about that now . But from the Eastern Catholic monasteries I know or know of, most are seeking to be true to their Eastern and Orthodox roots, which does make me wonder how well you'd fit in there. But then, these things are ultimately up to God...

[Egeria]

I was reminded of this conversation when I saw this video. It doesn't really address the issues we discussed, but it does present a nice brief introduction to one Eastern Catholic community, that of Holy Resurrection Monastery that I mentioned above.

 

[Yaatee]

Very nice video.

I suggest to Mary'sLittleFlower that she contact the communities of Eastern Catholic women directly with a list of her questions.

[BarbTherese]

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 I loved this video and Abbot Nicholas was a humble and down to earth priest with a similar description of religious life.  Thank you for posting!

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[marigold]

Very nice video.

I suggest to Mary'sLittleFlower that she contact the communities of Eastern Catholic women directly with a list of her questions.

​I agree. Maybe if you're still interested, MLF, you could write/phone the Christ the Bridegroom sisters and talk to them - they might be able to explain things in a language you'll understand, and they're certainly no strangers to having to straddle the East/West divide and talk to both sides!  They're super friendly and accommodating so there'd be no need to try and figure out the fine points of what you're trying to ask beforehand either...