The Christian Life is Monastic Life

[AMM]

Nathan Duffy. The Christian Life is Monastic Life

Thoughts on this article? Are we laypeople called to sell all we have and give to the poor? How literally should we take St John Chrysostom’s saying that “the only barns we need are the stomachs of the poor” and St Basil’s saying “your unused coat and uneaten bread belong to the cold and hungry”?

 

[Not David]

Yikes! My life is trash comparing to that of monks'

 

[ArmyMatt]

we do what we can as men in the world, and live not into excess, help the poor as we can.

pretty good article, I must say.

 

[Phronema]

Nathan Duffy. The Christian Life is Monastic Life

Thoughts on this article? Are we laypeople called to sell all we have and give to the poor? How literally should we take St John Chrysostom’s saying that “the only barns we need are the stomachs of the poor” and St Basil’s saying “your unused coat and uneaten bread belong to the cold and hungry”?

It was a good article in my opinion. It would seem that we're all called to either the married life, or the monastic life? I like the point he makes that regardless of which path we choose there will be a certain amount of asceticism in our lives if we're to attempt to live a liturgical, and sacramental life as part of the Church.

 

[FenderTL5]

I've encountered this same premise of equating marriage life with monasticism before. I don't recall exactly where, but I think it was part of some recommended reading from my former priest.
Good article and worth fleshing out some specific ways of application.

 

[AMM]

Yikes! My life is trash comparing to that of monks'

Same here, it’s a pretty convicting standard

we do what we can as men in the world, and live not into excess, help the poor as we can.

pretty good article, I must say.

How do we put that into practice in reality? Is it excess to have more than one month’s rent in your bank account, or to have an emergency savings fund? Is it excess to have two jackets and a handful of sweatshirts? (St Basil would likely say yes.)

It was a good article in my opinion. It would seem that we're all called to either the married life, or the monastic life? I like the point he makes that regardless of which path we choose there will be a certain amount of asceticism in our lives if we're to attempt to live a liturgical, and sacramental life as part of the Church.

I do think it’s a really helpful reminder, especially in our increasingly material society. Christianity isn’t a life of comfort and ease, even though we (or at least I do) often act like it is

I've encountered this same premise of equating marriage life with monasticism before. I don't recall exactly where, but I think it was part of some recommended reading from my former priest.
Good article and worth fleshing out some specific ways of application.

I think I’ve also encountered these ideas before. Figuring out the application is definitely something I want to work on in my own life. Got any ideas besides literally selling everything I have and donating everything besides the amount I need for rent and food? (Or maybe that is the answer?)

 

[ArmyMatt]

How do we put that into practice in reality? Is it excess to have more than one month’s rent in your bank account, or to have an emergency savings fund? Is it excess to have two jackets and a handful of sweatshirts? (St Basil would likely say yes.)

I think that depends on why.

 

[Not David]

I mean it is difficult to do in the US. You need money for healthcare, car, house, your children's college.

 

[Phronema]

I've encountered this same premise of equating marriage life with monasticism before. I don't recall exactly where, but I think it was part of some recommended reading from my former priest.
Good article and worth fleshing out some specific ways of application.

I believe it comes from St. John Chrysostom in his homilies on Genesis. Homily 21 I believe he equates marriage with monasticism.

 

[AMM]

I think that depends on why.

can you elaborate a bit more on what some good and bad "why"s would be?

 

[ArmyMatt]

can you elaborate a bit more on what some good and bad "why"s would be?

like if you have a job that requires or encourages more that one, say, shoe (like being in the military) because then you're not hoarding stuff for the sake of having stuff.

 

[AMM]

like if you have a job that requires or encourages more that one, say, shoe (like being in the military) because then you're not hoarding stuff for the sake of having stuff.

So if you’re simply doing what is necessary for your job (so that you can pay bills, be charitable, etc), then that’s fine. Like a lawyer shouldn’t sell all his business suits and switch to a cassock, because his job requires him to wear business suits every day. Right?

So on the other hand what if one’s job requires only business casual - would it be excess to own more than a week’s worth of clothing, or to own a suit and tie that rarely get worn?

 

[ArmyMatt]

So if you’re simply doing what is necessary for your job (so that you can pay bills, be charitable, etc), then that’s fine. Like a lawyer shouldn’t sell all his business suits and switch to a cassock, because his job requires him to wear business suits every day. Right?

So on the other hand what if one’s job requires only business casual - would it be excess to own more than a week’s worth of clothing, or to own a suit and tie that rarely get worn?

I think we're getting too legalistic here. but I don't think it's wrong to have a suit you rarely use because there could be instances where you would need it.

 

[AMM]

I think we're getting too legalistic here. but I don't think it's wrong to have a suit you rarely use because there could be instances where you would need it.

Fair enough. Thanks for your input, Father Matt!

 

[ArmyMatt]

no problem!

 

[JohnTh]

A classical position, based in fact on Saint John Chrysostom and Saint John of the Ladder.
However even if lay life is a very serious calling the two callings are different: one is for salvation and the other is for sanctification. Of course, on both roads one can be saint as well as can end in hell. I just say that the targets are different - the different ways of life lead to different results.

 

[AMM]

one is for salvation and the other is for sanctification.

What do you mean by this?

 

[Not David]

A classical position, based in fact on Saint John Chrysostom and Saint John of the Ladder.
However even if lay life is a very serious calling the two callings are different: one is for salvation and the other is for sanctification. Of course, on both roads one can be saint as well as can end in hell. I just say that the targets are different - the different ways of life lead to different results.

Isn't salvation and santification the same thing?

 

[JohnTh]

What do you mean by this?

Isn't salvation and santification the same thing?

No. In an ELI5 style, salvation is 5 stars out of 10 while sanctification is 9 stars out of 10 (ok, Mother of God is 10 out of 10).

If we look closely to Christ's words, we will notice that He says in few occasions „IF you want to be perfect...” (sell everything you have and follow Me) and „not everyone understands this word” [...].
Also, He says „In the home of My Father there are a lot of different settlements/places”. I do not know the translation in English but in original μονή / μονές ("monί”) is „settlement” or the direct translation ...„monastery”.