Episode 1741: What is Philokalia?

The word "Philokalia" is of Greek origin and can be translated as "love of the beautiful" or "love of the good."

You know by now that I’ve have been covering the Desert Fathers and much of the early writing on the Evergentino, the ladder of divine ascent and the conferences of St John Cassian.
As I was listening to Fr Abernathy’s coverage of these great writings I began to hear the name Philokalia (Phil-O-Kalia) and as a matter-of-fact
Fr. Abernathy titled his ministry with that name.

So I promise I will not go into any of the writings of the Philokalia until I finish the other series mostly because it may be too much but more so that I can focus on just those three writings of the desert Fathers. But I will say, the more you go deep in your spiritual life and the more read the works of these great early church writers the more you realize you can go there and hold your breath longer so to speak. But what will start to happen to you is two things, well at least that is what is happening to me.
1. You just do not waste your time on the nonsense of our modern world and its influences. You start to gain a true clarity of what is necessary in your life and what has no place in it. In short you start to shut out the non-sense and just continue on a true spiritual journey and Christ will feed you. But know the Devil will also be all over you and interfere as much as possible. He was not distracted by his chaos.

2. You will slowly start to detach those things in your life.

So as we start 2024 let us do something together.
Let us detach from this world and support each other in growing in faith. Lets take those predominant sins and cancel them out. Lets get into a higher state of spirituality.
Okay so let me explain the (Phil-O-Kalia) and then I will let a scholarly Priest provide even more.
The Philokalia is a collection of texts written by various Eastern Orthodox Christian monks between the 4th and 15th centuries. It focuses on the practice of contemplative prayer and the purification of the soul. Traditional Catholics, who are generally associated with the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, may not have a uniform perspective on the Philokalia.

It is important to note that the Philokalia has its roots in Eastern Christian spirituality, which has some differences from the Western Christian traditions. However, there are also common elements, such as the pursuit of union with God and the importance of prayer and asceticism.

Some Traditional Catholics may find value in the teachings of the Philokalia, appreciating its emphasis on spiritual disciplines, inner prayer, and the journey towards union with God. Others may approach it with caution or skepticism due to differences in theological emphasis or cultural traditions.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the spiritual writings of Eastern Christianity among Western Christians, including Catholics. The Catholic Church, while having distinct theological perspectives, also acknowledges the richness and diversity of spiritual traditions within its broader communion.

It is advisable for individuals to approach such texts with an open mind, recognizing the diversity of the Catholic spirituality while remaining rooted in their own faith tradition.

But and this is a big but, If you are interested in exploring the Philokalia, you may find it helpful to do so under the guidance of a knowledgeable spiritual director or within the context of their own ecclesial community.
But now you know what it is and lets hear from the knowledgeable Father.
God Bless and Good Day.