A Prayer Book - Archbishop Hilarion of Austin

So, I have someone staying with me and they have deposited their books.
I go for a rummage (naughty I know) and come across 'Orthodox Prayers of Old England', a Western Rite publication.

I am careful to form views regarding the Western Rite and am open to receiving the perspectives of all whom it concerns; nevertheless, the Preface to the book is brilliant in its concise summary of the purpose of a prayerbook.

A Prayer book for Christian people can have but one true purpose - the salvation of their souls. This intention is that ordained by Almighty God Himself through the grace of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified and envivified by the Holy Spirit. The compositions contained in this book were written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself (consider, for example, the Psalms of St. David, King of Israel); therefore, they assist our salvation by bringing us to petition for Grace. That they are historical means that they connect us with our spiritual forebears, Western and Eastern; and they are also instructive, thereby enlightening the intellect. The intellect, after all, is no enemy to faith, but was itself created by God to guide the heart, so that humankind might seek their Creator.

The book (I have yet to explore its contents) is available at St. John Cassian Press

On Theology

Glory to you O Lord, glory to you.

If you are a theologian you pray truly, and if you pray truly you are a theologian. - Evagrius Ponticus c.346-399AD.

It is my aim in the writing of this blog to write in an understandable language. Theology is a beautiful science, it is a record of the mark of love in history, the way that God has touched the hearts of His people. The theologian being a prayerful creature and not exclusively academic or rational, seeks to practice what he preaches, but furthermore, to preach what he practices.

Theology is a continuing dispensation of wisdom to human individuals. It is a living science because it is concerned with the living God, the giver and sustainer of all life.

Moses receiving divine wisdom (theology) at the burning bush.

Perils of Theology

The theologian should never glorify himself, through the expression of their finely formed thought and musings on the divine, rather, they, like the Virgin Mary, should point away from themselves to their creator and the source of that glory. 'My soul magnifies the Lord'

There is a danger which the theologian must be very aware of. Though they may understand in their minds the theology which has been revealed to them, they must be able to translate that effectively so it may be understood, or at least, made legible, by the persons they wish to speak it to. 

Theology can be an effective tool in the healing of souls.

This is particularly difficult with theology because too often it is not concerned with dogmatic, objective, or conveniently set down and recorded apologetics which can simply be reworded into contemporary language. Rather more, theology is concerned with the heart, which is to say, that instinct, 'feeling' which draws it to God. Love.

§14. When a man begins to perceive the love of God in all its richness, he begins also to love his neighour with spiritual perception. This is the love of which all the scriptures speak. - Diadochos of Photiki (5th Cent.), 'On Spiritual Knowledge'. 

To be lost for words is a good thing for the theologian.

To be incapable to share the experience of that love is a fortunate thing in that it is certain proof of the irrational origin of that experience or thought. God speaks irrationally, which is to say, beyond reason. Love is irrational, it causes people to do things which they would never consider under usual circumstance. God wills that all may come to enjoy the love which he offers to all.

Every theological statement falls short of the understanding of the speaker. Our understanding is weak, and our tongue is even more defective. - Basil the Great c.330-379AD.

C. S. Matthew, MMXII