www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Monastic garb???

Timothy,

I am glad to see you returning to the Church. However, I have some concerns. You seem to be very much stuck in the same mindset that led you on the path out of the Church. You seem overly concerned with the externals. As you said you are 19. You don't need to be worried about wearing monastic habits or saying a million prayers or doing a million prostrations. Find a spiritual director as soon as possible and not one of your on choosing but one of your pastors choosing and follow his directions which may very well be to do less not more.

In Christ,
Lance, deacon candidate

Dear Lance,

300 prostrations are a far cry from "millions." Three canons etc. are not "millions" of prayers.

Eastern monasticism isn't the Zen-type, feel good meditation style monasticism that one can find in some Western Orders.

It's hard spiritual work with prostrations, Psalters, Prayers and other spiritual exercises.

I've been in both kinds of monasteries and the Eastern model is by far the "narrow path."

Timothy is on the right track.

And I thought that the Byzantine tradition saw a harmony between externals and internal spirituality? Can a Latinized perspective be detected hear?

Alex

[ 05-08-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]

Thank you, Lance and Alex!

Lance: I do intend to get a spiritual father for myself a.s.a.p. That is one of my most important goals. And I try not to "go overboard" on practice, but sometimes I do more than perhaps I should.

Alex: I do feel that I'm pretty much on the right track, but Lance and Dr. John do have a good point about finding a spiritual father for myself. And I'm probably not going to change my dress or do too much of the monastic rule just yet, but rather focus on what I'm already doing, as well as reciting your wonderful akathist .

In Christ,

+Тимофей, рабъ Божій

Dear Timofey,

O.K., then I'll lay off Lance and Dr. John .

My spiritual father is wonderful and I treat his advice to me as though it were from Christ Himself!

I would recommend him to our two friends here, but, alas, he is very much into prostrations

Alex

Timothy:

Just one additional thought here...

External practices need to be made internal. The reason that Eastern Catholics/Orthodox pray as they do is to engage the entire person. We smell the incense, hear the chanting and the bells on the censor, we engage the body with prostrations and with our minds and voices we give voice to our soul.

When the focus is on the doing we can think we are on the right track, but we can easily be deceived. The focus must always be on being! Our bodies and our minds must be working in concert for our prayer life to be of any real value.

As modern culture likes to say, we must "walk the walk" not just talk it.

I don't know you, nor do I know what you are going through right now. I do know that St. Paul offers very good advice when he tells us we need baby food before we eat meat. Moving into the spiritual life requires small steps so that each aspect of our life can be harmonized. When we take giant steps, or we skip steps, we can find our mouth so full of food that we can't eat it!

Great spirituality, especially monastic, is not found in doing great things, but in doing small things well.

Edward, deacon and sinner

IMHO, to encourage Timothy to go through with any of this without a spiritual father is irresposible.

Most third orders and groups such as those require a person to have a spiritual father before they make any commitment to the group.

Its only common sense here.

I would also be very interested in any comments by our monastic bretheren that frequent this forum.

What do they think of all of this, of the laity taking on monastic dress for themselves and such other practices that have been put forward in this thread.

My suggestion would be as the Brothers and Sisters of Penance do.

STATUTES: ARTICLE 1

a. Those belonging to this Association shall dress in humble and inexpensive cloth. Subdued, solid colors, as opposed to patterns and designs, should be chosen. Colors shall be neutral shades (black, white, cream, ivory, beige, tan, camel, brown, gray, charcoal, etc.) in conformity with the colors worn by the first penitents and blue in honor of the Blessed Mother who is the patron of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. The penitent should strive to have only the least expensive and minimum amount of clothing needed for comfort, employment, and utility.



b. The penitent should mix and match styles and colors so as appear indistinguishable from other seculars and to avoid the appearance of a wearing a habit. Thus penitents will do penance privately and inconspicuously.

STATUTES: ARTICLE 2

a. Visible undergarments such as socks or stockings may be of solid neutral colors or blue. Clothing that is not visible may be of any color or pattern.



b. Men's ties should be simple, conservative, and tasteful and may be patterned and of any color or color combination provided that the ties are subdued in appearance and not "flashy."



c. Colorful ornamentation and fancy jewelry are not to be worn unless a dispensation is given. Engagement rings, wedding bands, watches, and any other similar adornments, and tasteful and unostentatious religious jewelry such as medals are permitted. Small pierced earring studs, in a simple and inexpensive style, may be allowed if needed to keep earring holes from closing.



d. For special events, a dispensation is given for the wearing of earrings, other jewelry, and clothing that falls outside the regular garb of the followers of this Rule.



e. The use of perfumes, after shave lotions, and so on should be avoided unless necessary. Wherever possible, unscented hair sprays, soaps, lotions, and so on should be chosen.



f. Female penitents may use cosmetics if necessary but should keep their makeup as conservative as possible so as not to draw attention to its use. The use of extensive makeup is discouraged.



g. At all times in public, a simple cross or crucifix must be visibly worn either around the neck or in the form of a brooch or lapel pin. The style chosen should be in keeping with poverty, humility, and simplicity according to the penitent's state in life. If a penitent is already wearing a religious habit of a First, Second, or Third Order community, the habit of the Order will suffice. A penitent can be excused from the wearing of a cross, crucifix, or habit if to do so may endanger the penitent's life or impede the penitent's manner of earning a living.


I don't think a member of the laity should call attention to them selves.

For we do not want to appear as the Pharisee but rather as the Publican.

Luke 18
10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Also remember this verse.

Matthew 6
1 "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.


Again, this is just my opinion.


David

[ 05-08-2002: Message edited by: DavidB ]

Thank you, David!

Indeed, I have decided the following:

1. Instead of any specifically "monastic" clothing, I will continue to wear the simple and modest clothing I normally wear, along with my wooden pectoral cross which was blessed by my parish priest.

2. I will seek to acquire a proper spiritual father very quickly for guidance and advice.

3. I will continue to pray morning and evening in my ikon corner, and also to say the Akathist to the Holy Theotokos of Fatima daily. Also, the Jesus Prayer with my chotki. And spiritual reading from the Philokalia ("Добротолюбие"), journal "Русскій Паломникъ", etc.

4. I will (continue to) attend Divine Liturgy on Sundays and festal days as my health permits, as well as special services (Molebens, Presanctified Liturgies, etc.) in their proper time and as my health permits.

5. I will confess monthly (or more frequently as necessary).

6. I will not make any changes in my above practices without the prior guidance and approval of my spiritual father.

I hope that all this will keep me on the straight, narrow, and holy path...

In Christ,

+Тимофей, рабъ Божій

Sounds good!

In Christ,

anastasios

PS Didn't you have a spiritual father before you left the Church? Could you seek him out? Or is the relationship broken completely? Perhaps he knows of someone else to help you?

Anastasios,

Yes, Father John Szada was my spiritual father. He moved to another parish 1 hour + away from here, so I don't know yet if he still assists Father Michael (our parish priest) in serving Liturgy at St. Ann's. If he's there, I will certainly be seeking him out...

In Christ,

+Тимофей, рабъ Божій

Dear Timothy,

God bless you for your sincerity and eagerness to serve God, and to follow his will! I pray that God will lead you, and show you exactly how he wants you to serve him!

In the Eastern Church (it is my understanding) that to wear the monastic habit is to be monk. The "clothing" or renunciation of the world, is the moment you become a monk. So to wear monastic clothing, is to begin your monastic life.

Some great saints (I believe) have undertaken this way of life of their own initiative, and made their renunciation, and have begun to dress as a monastic. This gift of God is very rare, and is not common today. In fact, I think Church authorities today generally discourage anyone taking this step.

Usually, you are "clothed" by another. You receive the monastic life, and the monastic habit, from someone who is already a monk, and himself is living the life. It is an act of following an established way, rather than initiating something new. It is following a tradition, and humbly submitting oneself to a pattern you observe and wish to follow. It is not usually an "aspiration" or design of one's one.

The beginning of the monastic life, should be like all of the monastic life (or if you prefer, the religious life), it should be an act of obedience. If one clothes himself, how is it an obedience? How is it a following?

The normal custom, is to seek out someone who is well experienced in the monastic life, an elder or a monastic spiritual father, and ask him to accept you. If he does, he will instruct you and teach you what the monastic life is, and if he considers it the will of God, when you are ready, he will clothe you as a monk. He will give you an "obedience" i.e., a way of life to follow, and will assist you by his prayers so that you will be able to persevere.

Again, I am delighted when I hear of young people who are listening to God, and show a willing and open heart! May God show you the way, and grant you also the strength to embrace his holy will!

with prayers and best wishes!

Elias

Bless me a sinner, Father Elias!

Speaking of which, could you explain more about the Carmelite Scapular and Rule of Life from the Byzantine perspective?

You promised you would . . . one day.

As I cannot imagine a Monk not keeping his promises, please share the wealth!

Alex

Father Elias, bless!

Thank you for your reply. Your response confirms what I thought was proper and the custom among us Eastern Christians. And your path is exactly what I desire to follow, so with God's help and your prayers, I know it shall come to be, in God's time...

In Christ,

+Тимофей, рабъ Божій

[ 05-09-2002: Message edited by: Timothy Herman ]

Dear Alex,

Christ is Risen!

Thank you for your timely reminder. I remember seeing once an icon, over the gate of a monastery. It was an Icon of the Pokrov, the Mother of God holding a mantle, or even perhaps something that looked like an Omophor, over the entrance... as if to say, "this is my place" "I have juristiction here".

The most remarkable thing about his icon, is that the Mother of God was dressed as a senior monastic.

I remember a similar icon of the Mother of God, over Mt. Athos, again she was dressed in the monastic habit. I heard of a tradition, that she is the only woman to visit the holy mountain.

Imagine, what it must mean for a monk to see this icon! To see the Mother of God dressed in the same way, following the same Christ!

For she was the obedient one (thy will be done!), the pure one, the chaste one, the prayerful one, the vigilant one, the servant of Christ. She is a type of the kingdom, and sign to the world of the values of the world to come!

I could speak endlessly like this about the Mother of God...

But to make a long story short...

The scapular, is a part of the monastic habit, and this identity with the vocation of the Mother of God, obedient, chaste, prayerful, ...is its meaning.

The monastic habit is a gift. It is handed on by elders who have lived this life, and toiled for generations before this. When we are clothed, we are inheritors of a great tradition, and struggle daily to be worthy of the call.

The great tradition (which is monasticism) reaches back to the Mother of God! The first disciple, the greatest among men, the perfect ascetic, the pure one who sees God (fulfilling this, and every beatitude).

It reaches incidentally to Elias, the pure one, the first monk, whose prophetic life forshadows all that is essential to our holy vocation.

(but that is another book that might be written someday).

So, the mystery of the scapular, is utterly eastern (if only the Latins knew it!).

The Mother of God of Mt. Carmel, is pictured as a true icon, and she is pointing to Christ. Associated with a Holy Mountain, a scene of the monastic and ascetical life (since the time of holy Elias), she recalls that these places of power have always called to men, and speak to their soul. There she is wearing the monastic habit with love and with joy. And as a gift, she offers in her hand (much like the icon I recall over the door of that monastery), the monastic habit as a gift.

As if to say... ..."follow me. Accept this yoke, which is light, this burden which is sheer joy."

The monastic habit is a gift, sanctified and honored by every monastic saint who has worn it, and not least, (in fact in the greatest way ever) by the Mother of God.

The wondrous awe that a monk feels to think that he is given his habit by God's Mother (through generations of followers), and to think that she understands his struggle to be faithful, to persevere in prayer, and be obedient, is a wondrous support.

The Mother of God prays and intercedes for monks. (...for all Christians of course.) But a monk is a Christian, and in this special way sees in the ascetic "yes" of the Mother of God, the perfection of his own striving.

The scapular (the whole monastic habit) is a symbol of this special relationship to the Mother of God. Essentially, though, like icons to the Mother of God (of Mt. Carmel), Christ is its focus. For he is the obedient one, who came to do the will of his Father.

Mary, Mother of God "magnifies" the Lord, and lovingly presents this aspect of the Christian call as a challenge. She wants us monks to follow her Son perfectly, for she knows what joy turns heaven, at the sight of a single repentent sinner!

The (scapular) habit, is a gift which expresses our holy vocation, ...which is gift, grace, challenge, and mystery unfolding every day of our lives.

I better stop now, but as I say, this only scratches the surface. Many big books might be "writ" about the Mother of God, the monastic vocation, the spiritual journey, God's holy mountain, the hidden life, penance, obedience, the incarnation, purity of heart, and divine contemplation, holy light, and transformation in God. Somehow, it is better not to talk to much, but to simply accept the gift as God and his Mother offer it, and struggle quietly to be faithful. And that meaning is all contained somehow in the scapular (the monastic habit) which never utters a word, types a sentence or sends an "email" message. In silence, it speaks...

That is the scapular of Mt. Carmel!

pardon me for my rambling...

Elias

Your "rambling", Father, was most beautiful...it almost makes me want to become a monk. But alas! I will live another kind of life of obedience...to a woman.

[ 05-09-2002: Message edited by: Mor Ephrem ]

Father Elias, bless!

Thank you for your most wonderful and enlightening "rambling". It was most interesting and appreciative. And I have set out to get a brown scapular.

I should also mention that I have been getting advice on preparations to the monastic life, from a knowledgeable and holy priest-monk friend of mine. Unfortunately he lives quite far away from me, but until I get a spiritual father closer, it works. Plus he has given me very good and indispenseable advice!

In Christ,

+Тимофей, рабъ Божій