Saints and signs
Monday July 21, 2008
Categories: Christianity (general)
Last week for some reason I decided to pull a biography of St. Silouan the Athonite off the pile of books by my bed, where it had been sitting since November, and start reading it. It's really captivating. And since...
Filed Under: Saints, St. Silouan the Athonite
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About Crunchy Con
Rod Dreher is an editorial columnist for the Dallas Morning News, and author of "Crunchy Cons" (Crown Forum), a nonfiction book about conservatives, most of them religious, whose faith and political convictions sometimes put them at odds with mainstream conservatives. The views expressed in this blog are his own.
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I was on retreat out of town and I had brought with me for reading a number of books about Eastern Catholicism and Orthodoxy. There was no Mass on site, so I went to the local parish. The first morning a young priest presided and gave his homily about the spiritual riches of the Christian East, which he was just beginning to discover. I was just awestruck...and thankful for the affirmation I saw in this "coincidence".
Here's a similar event, Jim, that sent me a mixed message. I was really struggling with whether or not to leave Catholicism for Orthodoxy. I mean, agonizing over it. I went out of town to give a speech one weekend, and visited a Benedictine abbey. I went to mass there, sat down in the pews, and noticed that somebody had left in the rack right in front of where I sat a copy of "The Way of the Pilgrim" -- the classic Russian Orthodox account of using the Jesus Prayer. I definitely took that as a sign. As I recall sitting here today -- perhaps the CC blog reader with whom I shared this story at the time has a clearer memory, and will chime in -- the "Way of the Pilgrim" was bookmarked to a point in the story in which the pilgrim learned that God can bring good out of any situation, no matter how disastrous.
Then, during the homily, the priest spoke of the Catholic sex abuse scandal, and said that the Church has always had bad bishops in its history, and most likely always will, somewhere. Bad bishops are no reason to leave the Catholic Church, he said.
Like I said, mixed messages. It so happened too that I was in that Benedictine church for mass on the Orthodox feast day of St. Benedict, whom I chose as my patron in Orthodoxy.
I was going through a very difficult time and stopped in a church to pray. I tried to recall the words of the Prayer of St. Francis ("Lord, make me a means of your peace..."), but could only remember some of them. I opened a missal and out fell a prayer card with the Prayer of St. Francis.
I was seeing my mother through a major lung illness and was moved to pray to St. Therese of Lisieux (my patron), remembering that she died painfully of TB, gasping for breath, so the intercession would be personal and acute. I was desperate relying on faith to see us through, and if He willed it, to keep her alive and healthy.
Came the day I took her for a biopsy. She was so frightened she couldn't sit up straight in the car, kept sliding down. It was terrible. I walked/dragged her into the hospital and to the testing unit. Two women were behind the big desk in the cold antiseptic-smelling room. Behind them was a biiiiiiiiiig, blaaaaaank bulletin board. But it wasn't really blank, there was a little picture high up in one corner. I looked closer and it was a holy card of St. Therese. In an oncology ward of a public hospital.
My mother did NOT have cancer, surprising even the doctors. She's still fine.
Even though I am still an inquirer into Orthodoxy, I had one saint run-in already. I have been exchanging e-mails with a woman who had a similar theological journey as I seem to be experiencing into the OC. One day, I was on a tab in Firefox, cruising through an online Orthodox gift shop. I paused to look at an icon of St. Xenia. Curiosity piqued, I did a search for her bio. On another tab, I had my gmail account sitting open. As I was reading St. Xenia's bio, an e-mail can from my friend. I clicked over. She was casually (unsolicited) sending some saints to read/consider...and St. Xenia was on the top of the list!
She is a tricky one....this St. Xenia.
i prayed one day to st. doobie, a little known patron of a small carribbean isle. that afternoon, i found extra money in my stash drawer.
St Margaret Queen of Scotland- I was not a believer in the saints up until the moment I walked into her chapel in Edinburgh. I was entirely neutral going in, a believer walking out. Still trying to figure out why it should happen. I wasn't overwhelmed or particularly impressed by her in other than in a general way that I would feel towards anyone who lived a holy life. I just was simply convinced. Its one of the strangest things that has ever happened to me and I still wonder about it. BTW, my given name is Margaret and it was only afterwards that I learned of the guild of St Margaret open to anyone with my name. Did she lay claim of me? Needless to say, she has a special place in my heart to this day and this year for the first time, I will donate flowers for the Shrine of Our Lady in my parish in her honor on her feast day. The thought gives me such a contented happy feeling whenever I think about it.
St Matthias- He is the patron saint of my parish. But I had been going there for years with hardly a thought of him really. He's rather obscure for an apostle after all. Even after my experience with St Margaret, I didn't run into church the next Sunday praying to him or any other saint. But then he started popping up all over the place. He even found me in Louisiana on retreat! There were several things going on at the time for me personally but also there was a lot going on regarding my membership in the evangelism commission at my church which we were all working very hard on re-invigorating. Ultimately, I benefitted both personally and in my capacity as a commission member. His icon became the face of our Church in our advertising. And ever since, I have simply felt it was entirely right for him to be there. I feel like he is "riding" again for Jesus in our particular context and that he is happy to help. The ad has been the most successful we have ever had. He is so real to me now in spite of the scanty information on him that is in the Bible. He gets a bunch of lit candles from me and all due honor and thanks for his example and for his intercession every chance I get.
I just got an urge to do this perhaps I feel its remiss not to do it.
Blessed Margaret and Blessed Matthias, pray for us.
When I was making my journey from Protestantism to Orthodoxy, I sneaked into the back of a little Antiochian church in my town for my first liturgical experience. On the wall, to my right, was a small icon of St. Patrick. I nodded at him and it felt through the whole service like he was watching me, really watching me and my reaction. So for the next few weeks, I stood there, right next to St. Patrick and it felt so very right.
Then, as I got to the place where I was getting ready to become a catechumen, I went to Holy Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction, Mich., with my church women's group. Each sleeping room had an icon in it, and we all grabbed rooms at random. When I finally got around to going into the room, there he was again, right above the bed: the exact same icon of St. Patrick. It was at that retreat I settled it in my mind and realized if I didn't become Orthodox as soon as possible, I was going to spiritually wither away.
That icon now hangs in my icon corner and every time I see him I know that that's one God has watching out for me.
Most Holy St. Patrick, intercede with Christ our God that He may have mercy on me and that I may bring honor to Him all my days.
beaker
www.rsgblog.blogspot.com
Prayer: Our priest has gone to Africa with several parishioners to help our sister parish with development of wells. In his absence we have a visiting priest who was introduced to us as "a canon lawyer at the chancery office", but that's all we knew of him. This weekend he gave his first homily and told us that 20 years ago he became a Catholic in order to become a Benedictine monk. He expected a life on prayer and contemplation and was surprised by the busy-busy-business of life at the abbey. A year ago he became a diocesan priest.
The homily was all about prayer and I couldn't begin to summarize it so I won't, but I thought of you, Rod (trying not to be too distracted).
By the way, we are having an explosion of babies. At that Mass there were four baptisms and ALL the godmothers were very pregnant. Is this happening elsewhere?
I have heard Fr. Patrick Reardon say on several occasions that when one is looking for a saint to have a 'connection' with, that you should "let the saint find you." In other words, don't attempt to force a relationship with a given saint just because you happen to find aspects of his/her life attractive. Be patient, and you will run across one or more that you really feel 'drawn' to, or one that continually resurfaces, as in Rod's and the others' stories.
The wife of a Lutheran pastor who's a friend of mine was feeling spiritually dry, so she began praying for a revelation of some sort, some sign of God's presence and love. She experienced, I'm given to understand, the overwhelming and pleasant fragrance of roses for some time.
I understand such things are associated with the Virgin Mary...?
I understand such things are associated with the Virgin Mary...?
Yes. That happened to me once, rather dramatically, after a lengthy period praying the rosary for direction.
There was a seria of coinsidences about prophet Iliah, only one day this winter, it was next day after a sleepless night when I was thinking that he killed pagans. I didn’t make any conclusions.
3 years ago in Crimea, I saw an icon of prophet Iliah, in church that stands on a high rock. It depicted Iliah sitting near a mountain and thinking, not in fiery chariot on sky as usual. Last year we visited that church again, it is very beautiful and full of sunlight inside, I walked around and thought where is that prophet Iliah? couldn’t find, on his place was another saint, it seems Maria Magdalina with a flower. We remained there for an hour or so, listening to service and then to a very inspirational speech about Martha and Maria, priest inspired people not to bother about tomorrow and practical things too much, not to kick up fuss about nothing. In short pray to God and everyting will be okey. Optimistic speech and nice Ukrainian priest. I was standing back to a wide column all that time, and accidentally my shoulder touched it, it’s easy to guess what i saw turning back– of course prophet Iliah sitting by the mountain and thinking. I touched it accidentally, would never dare on purpose.
What conclusions could be made? What Iliah prophet has to do with me? More than a year passed and nothing happened. (Possibility of coincidence shouldn’t be ruled out too).
That church
img141.imageshack.us/img141/3379/forostm4.jpg
Hmm... next time you come to England, you might like to take in a pilgrimage to the monastery that Fr Sophrony founded. It's a beautiful place, and very inspiring.
Masha, that icon of Prophet Elias is the one I'm most familiar with. It depicts him in the wilderness, being fed by the raven (a kind of bird) sent by God. It fits perfectly with the priest's sermon topic. Perhaps it was all meant to comfort you, and to encourage you to seek God's will and let Him worry about the rest.
Rod,
St. Silouan is having a tremendous affect on English and American Orthodoxy. His spiritual child, Elder Sophrony, founded the Monastery of St. John the Baptist near Essex, England. Elder Sophrony's spiritual child is Archimandrite Zachariah, whom you heard at the Festival of Orthodoxy in February. And now Elder Zachariah has spiritual children among the priests and laypeople here. Elder Sophrony's books and Elder Zachariah's books have brought St. Silouan's life and teaching to the fore for this generation. St. Silouan, pray for us!
Long story.
As an Antiochian Orthodox Christian, part of our training for ordination to the diaconate is to spend a week at the end of each summer that we are enrolled in the 3 year St. Stephen's course, at the "House of Studies," at the Antiochian Village.
Now I was aware that the newly "glorified," RAPHAEL Hawaweeny, bishop of Brooklyn was interred there, but they keep you so busy, that the first year I never got the chance to seek out his grave. The second year almost got away from me too, but as we were preparing to leave, I asked Fr. Paul (our new parish priest who was there w/ me that year), if he would mind seeking out St. Raphael's grave before we headed out. He did not mind, and we found the spot up the hill across from the Camp Church. Fr. Paul said a prayer to St. Raphael, asking him for his blessing on our journey home, and for his intercessions before the Lord for my hurting family (my then 2 year old had just lost his eye to cancer....google retinoblastoma and my name for the story) AND for our hurting parish ( we just lost our previous pastor in an almost church-split). He asked the St. Raphael would guide us in our journey home.
Well we headed home (Niagara Falls, NY)and started yapping about the week. We promptly missed our exit at the confusing interchange in Cranberry PA and realized the next exit was 40 miles down ther PA Turnpike. INstead of heading back, I got out a map and rerouted us through teh backwoods of Western PA. Suddenly Fr. Paul, slamms on the brakes. I lift my head and say something to the effect of, "wazzup?"
He points to the sign, "Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration." We look at each other. Now if your Orthodox you know monasteries in NOrth America are not on every corner. So suprised at our good fortune, we agreed that we HAD to stop in.
To make a long story short, the nuns were "expecting us." As they gave us the tour of their beautiful church, we noticed in the narthex a table w/ two baggies w/ cotten in them. They had prepared some oil from a miraculous weeping icon, in "anticipation of our arrival." (!) The oil was purported to bring healings and "peace" for those annoointed. Just what the "doctor" ordered for both our families, and for our parish. The nun, Mother K, then gave me the best advice I could have recieved at that point. "Don't feel sorry for your son."
Sinple words for sure, but they have stayed with us and guided us, even as see other parents make the mistake of pitying their kids, for whatever reason.
She told us of Mother Alexandria who was buried there. She was the fromer Princess Ileana of Romania, who became a nun and founded that holy monastery in 1966. There is a new book that just came out this week about her at Conciliar Press by Bev. Cooke. Its my belief that Mother Alexandria and St. Raphael were in "cohoots" to bring that expereince about. My family and I vacation/pilgrimage there every year now, and OMT has become a place of great comfort and inspiration to us.
Back to St. Raphael. I was then ordained a Subdeacon on the weekend of the feast of St. Raphael (according to Antiochian practice) in November of 2000. When I was ordained a deacon in Sept. 2001, Bishop ANTOUN brought some relics for our parish. You guessed it....St. Raphael's. So when you visit Niagara Falls, don't forget to stop and venerate his relics (along w/ Grand Duchess Elisabeth.....another story....)at St. George Orthodox Church.
i prayed one day to st. doobie, a little known patron of a small carribbean isle. that afternoon, i found extra money in my stash drawer.
Although your probably being disrespectful, you actually gave me a good belly laugh!
I understand such things are associated with the Virgin Mary...?
Yes. That happened to me once, rather dramatically, after a lengthy period praying the rosary for direction.
The few expereinces I have had w/ St. Herman (venerating his relics a couple of times), I have smelled pine. It wasn't till we visited Spruce Island, that my wife pointed out to me the smell all around us, that we already recognized....
My mom had grown up Catholic, but converted to Protestantism later in life and raised us in a strong evangelical home. When I was a teenager, my mom and I were riding in the car and she was telling me about St. Anthony. I brushed it off with usual teenager attitude, saying that "that saint stuff doesn't work." About a minute later, I opened up my purse, and found a piece of jewelry that I had been looking for forever but had eventually given up on. I've been asking him for help ever since, and he's certainly proven to be tried and true. A similar situation happened to my brother too - said it didn't work and right away he found something he was looking for. I'm an Anglican, but I have no problem giving a shout-out to the saints, especially St. Anthony.
Fr. Dcn. Raphael, the Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, Pa. is a lovely place. I live fairly close to there and visit it often.
http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=OCA-RO-ELCHXC
The strong scent of roses is also associated with Padre Pio.
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