Forgive

[Marty Zyph]

The Pluralistic face of Christendom is so utterly disheartening. (not that orthodoxy is to blame) How can I be so attracted to something and so disturbed at the same time- so that I find myself thinking I am agnostic…

I find myself reading spiritual books and life’s of Saints from such a perspective I think, while I enjoy them, I don’t really believe much that is said…or I think it myth, fantasy etc

How terrible am I? I argue with protestants as if I know something about anything…I am not orthodox, or a voice for the Church. Its as if I want my argument to be convincing even to myself, so that I too can buy into it.


Pray for me, please

[Randy Fermo]

hmmm I know what you mean... that I wonder about that too.... tooo many saints... but many of them are just legend. The Latin Church got away ( I hope soo) withe the mythical saints and legends saints after the second vatican council. I really wish that either Roman Catholic or Orthodox need end recognizing a Mytical Saints or Legend Saints like the pagan God of Lono.... we just need to be very careful... God Bless...

[Elisabeth]

'I find myself reading spiritual books and life?s of Saints from such a perspective I think, while I enjoy them, I don?t really believe much that is said?or I think it myth, fantasy etc How terrible am I? I argue with protestants as if I know something about anything?I am not orthodox, or a voice for the Church. Its as if I want my argument to be convincing even to myself, so that I too can buy into it. Pray for me, please'

Dear Marty,

What you say is true, it is difficult and perhaps impossible to know what really happened in the lives of the Saints and Desert Fathers. How important is this documentary evidence? When we have it it is stunning, but when we are not sure then the message that the lives give us is inspiring. If the documentary evidence is unsure then we have to judge the message that the life or quote conveys. Through these lives what is God saying about repentance, healing, love etc.? In the different context of the spiritual father, in the book 'The Orthodox Way' Bishop Kallistos advises that if our spiritual father is 'unremarkable' he may be able 'to speak to me exactly the words I need to hear'. Even if those words are 'wrong, taken in obedience it will heal'.

Similarly, if we are drawn to reading the life of a particular saint, whether the document is exactly true or not, it may well have some important things to say to us personally about God's Will for us. Follow your call to read the lives of the saints!

Pray for me too,

In Christ, Elisabeth