{"title":"Monasticism","description":"\u003cp\u003eMonasticism explores the religious lives of those who choose to live in dedicated spiritual communities, often withdrawing from everyday society for contemplation, prayer, and communal living. This category delves into the origins, philosophies, and varied expressions of monastic life across different faith traditions, highlighting how monks, nuns, and ascetics have shaped religious history and spiritual practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo approach monasticism, readers may focus on specific communities, comparative studies of monastic traditions, or the evolution of practices such as vows, daily rituals, and asceticism. 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In these short stories we tried to convey some of the fathers' philosophy in asceticism, dying to the world and how they rejected the pleasures of life, to be filled from Christ and ultimately unite with Him This is an opportunity for the reader who could not visit the monasteries to learn about the monastic life, the struggle of the fathers and the wars of the devil.","brand":"ST SHENOUDA MONASTERY","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":67603809468706,"sku":"9780980517156-new","price":15.24,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0893\/4755\/5618\/files\/9780980517156.jpg?v=1793001268"},{"product_id":"ladder-divine-ascent-9781291772982-new","title":"The Ladder of Divine Ascent","description":"The Ladder of Divine Ascent is an ascetical treatise on avoiding vice and practicing virtue so that at the end, salvation can be obtained. Written by Saint John Climacus initially for monastics, it has become one of the most highly influential and important works used by the Church as far as guiding the faithful to a God-centered life, second only to Holy Scripture.","brand":"LULU PR","offers":[{"title":"New","offer_id":67603809632546,"sku":"9781291772982-new","price":15.94,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0893\/4755\/5618\/files\/9781291772982.jpg?v=1793001273"},{"product_id":"practice-presence-god-9781640322004-new","title":"The Practice of the Presence of God","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBrother Lawrence describes how practicing the presence of God is a method to be closer to God. 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Including both \u003cem\u003eThe Ascetic Life \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eThe Four Centuries on Charity\u003c\/em\u003e by St. Maximus, as well as detailed research into the life and beliefs of the monk by Sherwood, this work includes both source material and commentary. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe work begins with \u003cem\u003eLife\u003c\/em\u003e by Sherwood, a deep exploration into the life and theistic beliefs of St. Maximus. Born in 580 CE, Maximus enjoyed an education that prepared him for imperial service. He fulfilled this goal early in his career, serving as first secretary to the Byzantine emperor Heraclius. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut he soon withdrew to monastic asceticism at Chrysopolis, seeking a routine of solitude and thought. Throughout his life, he traveled across the Byzantine Empire, including present-day Turkey, Crete, and parts of Africa, clarifying his position on important theological issues and writing his many works.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEventually, he was drawn into one of the great Christian controversies of the day-the nature of Christ's will. Maximus supported the Chalcedonian interpretation, which stated that Christ had both a human and a divine will. This was in contrast to the Monothelite position, accepted as canon at the time, which held that Christ had both a divine and human \u003cem\u003enature\u003c\/em\u003e, but only a divine \u003cem\u003ewill\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor this belief, Maximus was persecuted. Eventually, his tongue was cut out and his right hand cut off, so he could no longer speak or write his \"heresy.\" He was then exiled to modern-day Georgia, where he died after just a few weeks. He was soon after vindicated and his position was upheld by the Third Council of Constantinople just 18 years after his death. It wasn't long before he was venerated as a saint.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe next section, \u003cem\u003eDoctrine\u003c\/em\u003e, is also by Sherwood, and it explores St. Maximus' views on the nature of God as \"goodness itself,\" the nature of man as a composite of body and soul, and on the salvation and deification of man through the works of Christ and asceticism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNext, we reach the works of St. Maximus himself. The first, \u003cem\u003eThe Ascetic Life, \u003c\/em\u003e is a question-and-answer book in which a young brother asks an old wise man about the Christian life and the nature of Christ. 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He became a Maronite monk and hermit, choosing a hidden life of profound prayer and asceticism. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter his death, reports of extraordinary healings and other remarkable signs began to draw pilgrims from around the world to his tomb. 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