Detachment: Part I

A Talk by Fr. Ermatinger

Outline of Talk

Central Theme for St. John of the Cross: 00:00-0:18
Biography of St. John of the Cross: 0:18-13:38
- Learned to See Christ in Those Suffering: 2:38-4:25
- Reform of the Carmelites: 4:25-7:41
- Wrote Poetry and Books that Comment on His Poetry
- Vision of Christ: 7:41-8:41
- Commentaries on His Poetry: 8:41-9:00
  - Ascent of Mt. Carmel
  - Dark Night of the Soul
  - The Spiritual Canticle
  - The Living Flame of Love
- Apparition of Christ: 9:00-11:33
  - “More Suffering”
- Doctor of the Church: 11:33-13:22
- Authority on Mystical Theology: 13:22-13:38
What is Mystical Theology?: 13:38-22:04
- As Opposed to Ascetical Theology:
  - Mystical Theology is God’s Work on Us: 15:05-15:16
  - We are Passive in This
    - Essential Mystical Grace is Infused Contemplation: 15:16-15:53
  - Mystical Theology Regards the Work of God Upon the Soul Which is Passive: 15:53-17:43
    - Should Never Ask for It:
      - It is God’s Choice:
  - Ascetical and Mystical Theology are Different Species
- Formal Definition of Mystical Theology: 17:43-18:29
- St. John of the Cross is also Known as the Doctor of Detachment: 18:29-22:04
  - Central to Understanding the Spiritual Life: 18:37-22:04
    - Prayer and Fasting Without Understanding Detachment is Truncated: 18:50-22:04
      - Detachment Tends to Cause
        
        Unflappability in Adversity: 20:09-20:26
        
        Certain Spiritual Magnificence: 20:26-22:04
Two Preliminary Points: 22:04-25:22
- God is All in All and We are Created to Have Our Hearts Set on Him Alone: 22:53-23:16
- God is Nearer to Us than We are To Ourselves: 23:16-24:40
  - Relativise All Things in Relation to God: 24:40-25:22
Couple of Points Looking at St. John’s Writings via Detachment: 25:22-29:12
- Made for Union with God a Process that Begins with Baptism: 26:07-29:12
  - Trent: Difference Between Being Righteous and Being Holy
    - Holiness is Cooperation with Grace
  - A Certain Itinerary to Arrive at Union: 26:54-29:12
    - Purification
    - Through Detachment Go Through a Series of Trials: 28:06-28:31
      - Dark Nights-
    - The Way We Carry Out the Commandment to Love God with the Whole Person: 28:31-29:12
      - For That to Be Real We Need to Put Order in Our Life:
Disordered Attachments Hinder Intimacy with Christ: 29:12-32:13
- If Our Heart is Filled with Creatures, How Will We Go to Heaven?: 30:30-30:51
  - At the Moment of Death, the Soul Rushes to Its Proper Place According to Divine Justice: 30:51- 31:48
  - Purgation is Needed for those that Sought Full or Partial Fulfillment in This Life: 31:48-32:13
Detachment Prepares Us for Union: 32:13-34:40
- A Stillness to the House of the Soul: 32:25-34:40
  - Active Purgation of the Life of the Senses
    - This is Where One Begins
Four Stages of Purification: 34:40-35:44
- Active Night of the Senses:
  - Self-Imposed
  - Book 1 of AofMC
- Passive Night of the Senses
  - Things Our Lord Allows to Happen to Us
  - Book 1 DNofS
- Active Night of the Spirit
  - Book 2 and Book 3 of AofMC
- Passive Night of the Spirit
  - Book 2 DNofS
Night of the Senses: 35:44-47:17
- Own Efforts Supported by Grace
- Mortification of Appetites/Senses
- Transformation of the Desire for Things of the Senses: 37:51-41:43
  - Necessary if There Is to Be Progress
  - Lifelong Project that Often Goes into Purgatory
- Lack of Things is Not Goal But Denuding of Soul: 41:43-43:02
- Sacramental Church – Not Denying Use of Senses: 43:02-45:50
  - Aides in Growth in Holiness But Not Ends
- Strive for Complete Detachment/Poverty/Emptiness for Christ’s Sake: 45:50-46:07
- How Do We Walk in This Liberty of Spirit if We Are Weighed Down?: 46:07-47:17
  - Start to Deny Ourselves
  - God’s Providence
  - Normal Pedagogy of Life and Aging: 46:35-47:17
  - Lack of Ability Makes Us More Open to Him:
Preparation for God’s Work in the Passive Night of the Senses: 47:17-47:27

— Fr. Ermatinger

Detachment Part I: This Talk

Detachment Part II: Click Here