#St. Nilus of Sinai

[dramoor]

[hieromonkcharbel]

St. Nilus of Sora - Of our struggle against these temptations of the mind, which are to be vanquished through the thought of God and through the guarding of the heart, that is, through prayer and spiritual silence. And furthermore of spiritual gifts.

The fathers counsel us to put forth a resistance equal to the force of the attack, whether we are to triumph or to suffer defeat. In other words, we should fight against evil thoughts with all the energies at our command. By conflict we shall either obtain the crown of life or be led to torment - the crown, to those who conquer; the torment, to those who have sinned and have not repented in this life.

A wise and excellent means of struggle, the fathers tell us, is to uproot at the very first impulse - that is, at the assault - the thought which comes to us. They also advise us to pray constantly. For by resistance in the beginning, we cut off the whole sequence. A man who struggles in this prudent manner, turns away the mother of all evil - that is, the baneful assault. Especially should he strive to render his mind deaf and dumb in prayer, as Nilus of Sinai says, keeping his heart silent and aloof from any thought whatever, even if it be a good one. For after the dispassionate thoughts come the passionate, as experience demonstrates, and it is to the entrance of the former that the latter owe their admittance. It is for this reason that we should endeavor to maintain our mind in silence, remote even from such thoughts as may seem legitimate. Let us constantly look into the depths of our heart, saying: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me.” Some of the time we should repeat only part of this prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me,” then again, resuming, say: “Son of God, have mercy upon me”; since, according to Gregory of Sinai, this is easier for beginners. However, due order should be observed in this, and such alternations not made too frequently. The fathers in our day add still another sentence: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me, a sinner.” This is also good, and most appropriate for us sinners. Recite the prayer attentively in this manner, standing, sitting, or reclining. Enclose your mind in your heart and, moderating your respiration so as to draw breath as seldom as possible (as Simeon the New Theologian and Gregory of Sinai teach us), call upon God with fervent desire, in patient expectation, turning away all thoughts.

The saints teach us to refrain from the frequent drawing of breath because, as experience will demonstrate, this exercise is most effective in bringing the mind under control. Nevertheless, if you are unable to pray without thoughts, in the silence of your heart, and are conscious of their increase, do not lose courage, but continue to pray. In the certain knowledge that we, who are wrought upon by passion, shall experience difficulty in conquering evil thoughts, Gregory of Sinai says that no beginner can hold his mind in check and turn away the thoughts which assail him without God's help. It is the privilege of the strong to preserve control over their minds and to divert imaginations, and even they do not deflect the attacks by their own strength, but with God's assistance, armed with His grace.

If you glimpse the impurity of malignant spirits in the representations of your mind, do not fear, do not wonder, and even though they seem good to you, pay no attention to them, but forcibly restraining your breathing and gathering your mind into your heart, call Jesus Christ to your aid, arming yourself with Him, appealing to Him frequently and laboriously, and the imaginations will dissolve, burnt invisibly by the Divine Name. But should these thoughts continue to harass you, then rise to your feet to pray against them, and resume your exercises with determination. How you should pray against your thoughts I shall now further describe with the help of God.

When, despite these exercises, thoughts develop and multiply, and your mind is powerless to defend your heart, you should recite an oral prayer with intense application and patience. And if you should grow weary and sluggish, then call upon God for help and compel yourself to go on praying with all your forces, never once turning from your purpose, and the imaginings will leave you immediately with the help of God.

When you are free from such delusions, then listen once more to your heart and do the prayer of the heart or mind. For although there are many good exercises, the good of the others is partial; the prayer of the heart is the source of all good, which refreshes the soul as if it were a garden, according to Gregory of Sinai. The achievement of this action - that is, this containing of the mind within the heart, free of all imaginings - is difficult not for beginners alone, but even for experienced and well-practiced souls, if the latter have not yet received and preserved the sweetness of prayer in their hearts through the effects of grace. And we know from experience that, for weak souls, it is even more arduous and painful. But one who has acquired grace prays easily and lovingly, comforted by this very grace. And when the action of prayer begins to take effect, then, as the Sinaitas says, it encompasses the mind within the heart. making it joyful and free.

The fathers say that if the mind and the body nevertheless grow weary, and the heart begins to ache from the effort of this continual invocation of our Lord Jesus, then we may sing a little, and this will provide some relaxation. This is, in fact, an excellent rule, prescribed by wise teachers both for those who pray in solitude and those who are attended by a disciple. If you do have a faithful disciple, let him recite the psalms while you listen in your heart. But pay no attention whatever to the dreams and images which may present themselves, lest you be seduced. For dreamlike fantasies occur even when the mind is motionless in the heart, generating prayer, and only the soul that is perfect in the Holy Spirit, having achieved freedom through Jesus Christ, can exercise control over them.

One of the saints tells us from his own experience that we should concentrate all our efforts on the prayer itself, reciting psalms only to dissipate accidie, or dejection, with the addition of a few penitential troparia but without any chanting. For “the pain of the heart born of piety will suffice for their joy,” says St. Marcus, “and the warmth generated by the spirit will bring them comfort.” St. Marcus instructs us always to say the trisagion and alleluia. He also has given us a rule for these exercises; he tells us to pray for an hour, then read for an hour, and in this manner to spend the day. This is a good practice within the limitations of time and the resources of each monk. You may do as you think best, either observing the rules given above, or practicing constant recollection, which is to pursue God's work always.

But if your prayer is filled with the sweetness of divine grace, and you are conscious of its action in your heart, then it is advisable for you to persevere in it. When you are aware of the continuous action of prayer in your heart, do not interrupt it or rise for singing, for fear that it should forsake you because of your own negligence. For to leave God within you in order to appeal to Him from without is like stooping from a height. Moreover, such a distraction agitates the mind and draws it away from silence. For silence is the absence of noise; it is attained through tranquillity and peace, and God is peace beyond all noise of utterance.

On the other hand, those who do not know this prayer, which is the source of all virtues and, according to the Ladder, waters the gardens of the soul, should practice singing frequently and live according to other rules and standards. For the action of prayer in monks observing silence differs from that in the monks of a community. There is a due measure in all things, according to the sayings of wise men. When the sails of a ship are filled with wind, no oars are required to bring it across the sea of passion. But when the ship is at a standstill, we must use oars or launch a rowboat for our passage.

To those who, for the sake of controversy, cite the holy fathers with reference to celebrating the all-night service or practicing continuous chanting, Gregory of Sinai permits us to make this answer: “Not all souls attain perfection in all things because of the defects of our human nature, the lack of zeal, bodily exhaustion. But what is small in the great ones is not entirely small, and what is great in the small ones is not entirely perfect; indeed, not all the ascetics of present or past have walked the same way or followed it to the end.” Those who are in progress and in a state of enlightenment are not asked to recite psalms; they must practice silence, abundant prayer, and contemplation, for such souls are united with God and should not detach their mind from Him and permit it to be troubled; for the mind which turns away from the thought of God and busies itself with inferior matters commits adultery.

St. Isaac, speaking sublimely of such things, writes as follows: “When men are visited by this ineffable joy, it cuts the very prayer from their lips; the mouth and the tongue are stilled; silenced are the heart, guardian of imaginings, and the mind, guide of the senses, and the thoughts, swift as boldly soaring birds. Then thought does not govern prayer, nor has it any free movement, but instead of instructing, it is itself instructed by a power which holds it captive. It dwells on things ineffable and knows not where it is.”

St. Isaac calls this the awe and vision of prayer and says that it is prayer no longer. For the mind no longer communicates itself by means of prayer but is lifted above utterance. Prayer is abandoned, a superior good having been attained. The mind is in ecstasy, and knows not whether it is in the body or out of the body, as the Apostle says. St. Isaac says moreover that prayer is the seed, and this the harvest; the harvesters are stunned at a vision so incommunicable, that from a seed poor and naked such fruit of grain should suddenly have sprung.

The fathers call such a condition prayer because this great gift has its wellspring in prayer and is bestowed on the saints during prayer, but no man knows the real name for it. For when, by this spiritual operation, the soul is drawn to what is divine, and through this ineffable union becomes like God, being illumined in its movements by the light from on high, and when the mind is thus allowed a foretaste of beatitude, then it forgets itself and all earthly things and is affected by nothing. And it is said elsewhere that during prayer the mind rises above desire, entering a realm of incorporeal ideas which are inaccessible to the senses. Of a sudden, the soul is infused with joy, and this incomparable feast paralyzes the tongue. The heart overflows with sweetness, and while this delight endures a man is drawn unwittingly from all sensible things. The entire body is pervaded with such joy as our natural speech is unable to describe; all that is earthly takes on the semblance of ashes and dung. When a man is conscious of this sweetness flooding his entire being, he thinks that this indeed is the kingdom of heaven and can be nothing else. And it is said in another place that one who has discovered this joy in God, not only knows no stirring of passion, but is forgetful of his very life, since the love of God is sweeter than life, and the knowledge of God sweeter than honey, and the honey-comb, and love is born of it.

“But this is incommunicable,” says Simeon the New Theologian: “What tongue could express it? What words could describe it? This is formidable, indeed, formidable; it surpasses the understanding. I behold a light which the world does not see, glowing in my cell, as I sit on my couch. Within my own being I gaze upon the Creator of the world, and I converse with Him and love Him and feed on Him, am nourished only by this vision of God, and I unite myself with Him. And I rise above heaven: this I know surely and for certain. But where, at such a time, is the body? I do not know.” And further, speaking of God, Simeon the New Theologian says: “He loves me and receives me unto Himself and folds me in His embrace; while He is in heaven, He is at the same time in my heart, and I behold Him, here and there.” And Simeon addresses God: “This, O Lord, shows me to be equal to the angels, and even above them, for your substance is invisible to the angels, and your nature is inaccessible to them. Yet to me you are wholly visible, and your substance is fused with my nature.” It is this that St. Paul describes when he says that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard.” In this state, not only am I without desire to leave my cell, but I long to hide in a pit deep in the earth, for there, removed from the whole world, I should gaze upon my immortal Lord and Creator.”

In accordance with this testimony, St. Isaac also writes: “When the veil of the passions is lifted from the eyes of the mind and a man discerns this glory, he is elevated and filled with awe. If God did not place a limit to such a state, how long would one not dwell in it? And if it were permitted to last throughout a man's life, he would never wish to turn away from this wondrous vision.” But God in his mercy diminishes His grace for a while in His saints, to let them care for the brethren through preaching and example, as St. Macarius says, speaking of those who have attained perfection. And he gives this illustration: “A man is ready to stand in the twelfth degree of perfection, but grace decreases, and so he descends and stands in the eleventh degree; full measure shall not be granted to such souls, in order that they may find time to attend to their brethren.”

But what shall we say of those who, in their mortal body, have tasted immortal food, who have been found worthy to receive in this transitory life, a portion of the joys that await us in our heavenly fatherland? Such men no longer look for the pleasures and sights of this world, nor do they fear its sorrows and sufferings, for now they dare to say, with the Apostle: “Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

But we who are burdened with many sins and preyed upon by passions are unworthy even of bearing such words. Nevertheless, placing our hope in the grace of God, we are encouraged to keep the words of the holy writings in our minds, so that we may at least grow in awareness of the degradation in which we wallow: of the folly in which we are engrossed, squandering our resources in worldly purposes, exposing ourselves to the dangers of the world to obtain perishable goods; for the sake of these things, we are drawn into conflict and disorder, to the damage of our souls. And we think that this activity is good and praiseworthy! But woe to us if we neglect our souls and forget our calling, as St. Isaac says, and if we come to think that this life, its joys and sorrows, has some meaning. Woe to us if, because of our sloth and relaxation, we conclude that the way of life that was suitable for the saints of old is neither right nor possible for us. No indeed, this is not so. Such practices are impossible only to those who are engulfed by passions of their own will, who have not the desire to repent sincerely and labor for God, but are absorbed in the vain preoccupations of this world. But all who do repent sincerely, God will forgive, for he favors and glorifies those who seek this goal with great love and fear. Have this only before your eyes, and obey His commandments, living constantly in prayer.

It is most expedient that we should employ ourselves in this spiritual exercise during the night. For, as blessed Philotheus of Sinai tells us, it is especially at night that the mind is capable of purification. And St. Isaac teaches that prayer offered at night is the most salutary of all, for the joy which the penitent receives during the day has its source in nocturnal exercises. And other saints are likewise of this opinion. Therefore St. John Climacus instructs us to give more time to prayer at night and less to singing. And if we grow drowsy, we should rise to our feet for prayer.

Now in this prayer, too many words disperse the mind, but a few words assist in recollection. When we are assailed by imaginings, St. Isaac advises us to turn to reading. When our mind is scattered, we should occupy ourselves more with reading than with prayer, or we should apply ourselves to some manual work, as the angel taught the great St. Anthony. Manual labor, or some other assigned task, is most profitable to souls who have not had much experience of the assaults of imaginations, and especially in the course of accidie. Blessed Hesychius of Jerusalem prescribes four methods of this mental exercise: to guard oneself consciously against the impetus of thought; or to keep the heart silent in its depths, free from all imaginings, and to pray; or to call Jesus Christ to one's aid; or to think of the hour of death. All these methods, says the father, conquer evil thoughts; whichever way is chosen, all of them are called “sobering,” in other words, “mental doing.” Examining all these methods, each of us has to fight according to his own way.

[bylagunabay]

Power of Prayer

PRAY ALWAYS …

A monk when he eats, drinks, sits, officiates, travels or does any other thing must continually cry: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me!” so that the name of the Lord Jesus, descending into the depths of the heart, should subdue the serpent ruling over the inner pastures and bring life and salvation to the soul. He should always live with the name of the Lord Jesus, so that the heart absorbs the Lord and the Lord the heart, and the two become one.

- St. John Chrysostom

PRAY WITH YOUR HEART …

Do not spare yourself from heartfelt prayer even when you have spent the whole day in hard work. Do not indulge in laziness when you pray; tell God everything that is in your heart. If you allow yourself time to pray with diligence, you will not fall asleep before you have wept over your sins. Believe that, if for the sake of bodily rest you pray hurriedly, you will lose the tranquility of both body and soul. By what labor, sweat and tears is our closeness to God achieved!

- St. John of Kronstadt

PREPARE TO BE TEMPTED NOT TO PRAY …

If you strive after prayer, prepare yourself for diabolical suggestions and bear patiently their onslaughts; for they will attack you like wild beasts…. Try as much as possible to be humble and courageous. He who endures will be granted great joy.

- St. Nilus of Sinai

FORCE YOURSELF TO PRAY …

I advise you to convince yourself and force yourself to prayer even if you do not feel the desire for it. God seeing such labor and application will give you goodwill and zeal. Such good will and a certain attraction to prayer is often a result of habit. Get into this habit and it will draw you to prayer and good actions.

- St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

[silvestromedia]

SAINTS NOVEMBER 12

St. Ymar, 830 A.D. Benedictine martyr of England. A monk in Reculver Abbey, Kent, England, he was put to death by marauding Danes. Feast day: November 12. St. Cadwallader, 689 A.D. A king of the Saxon peoples. He is also called Cadwalla and Ceadwalla. Born circa 659, Cadwallader became king of the West Saxons in 685 or 686. He expanded his kingdom to Sussex, Surrey, as well as Kent, In 668, he resigned and went to Rome, where he was baptized on Easter eve, by Pope Sergius I. He died a few days later and was entombed in St. Peter's.

St. Livinus, 650 A.D. Martyred Irish bishop, ordained by St. Augustine of Canterbury, England. He was the son of a Scottish noble and an Irish princess. Livinus and three companions went to Flanders, Belgium, where they evangelized the area. He was martyred near Clost, in Brabant. Also called Lebwin, he is identified by some scholars with St. Lebuinus.

ST. JOSAPHAT KUNCEWICZ, BISHOP AND MARTYR- This 17th century Ukranian monk and bishop lived, labored and died for the unity of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The feast day of this “martyr of unity” is celebrated on November 12. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/11/12/st--josaphat-kuncewicz--bishop-and--martyr-.html

St. Cummian Fada, 662 A.D. Irish monastic founder and defender of Roman liturgical customs. The son of the king of West Munster, Ireland, he entered Clonfert Monastery and headed the school there. He later became abbot of Kilcummin Monastery, which he founded. Cummian was a stout defender of the Roman liturgy against the Celtic school. His Paschal Epistle is still extant. Called “Fada,” Cummian received the name “tall” because of his height.

St. Lebuin, 773 A.D. Benedictine called Leaf Wine in his native England who worked with St. Boniface. He was a monk at Ripon, England, who went to Germany in 754. There he worked with St. Marchelm among the Frisians. Lebuin went to a pagan gathering at Marklo, where he won the respect of the Westphalian Saxons.

St. Machar. Founder of Aberdeen, Scotland, and companion of St. Columba. Also called Macharius and Mochuemna, he was baptized by St. Colman and joined Columba on lona. Machar evangelized the island of Mull. Consecrated a bishop, he became the Apostle to the Picts in the Aberdeenshire region.

ST. DIEGO, LAY FRANCISCAN, Born in Alcalà del Puerto, in Spain, around the year 1400. Didacus became a Franciscan lay brother. Although not a priest, he was sent to establish the Faith in the Canary Islands. During a plague in Rome in 1450, Didacus remained to assist the sick, even after the Curia had fled. Nov 12

St. Nilus the Elder Feastday: November 12 Bishop and friend of St. John Chrysostom. He was reputedly a member of the imperial court at Constantinople, modern Istanbul, who gave up his family and, with his son, Theodulus, took up the life of a monk on Mount Sinai. Theodulus was kidnapped by Arab raiders, and Nilus set out to find him. They were reunited, and both were ordained by a bishop at Eleusa. They then returned to Sinai. Nilus also became the bishop of Ancyra and was the reputed author of ascetical treatises and many letters. There is a possibility that he may be confused with the monk of Ancyra called “the Wise,” who wrote the various treatises.

[brookston]

Holidays 11.12

Holidays

Arches National Park Day

Are You Ready For Some Football? Day

Constitution Day (Azerbaijan)

Cultural Renaissance Day (China)

Dia del Cartero (Postman’s Day; Mexico)

Doctors’ Day (China)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Day (a.k.a. Stanton Day)

Exotic Dancer’s Day

Fancy Rat and Mouse Day

Father’s Day (Indonesia)

Heir to the Throne Day (Tuvalu)

Holland Tunnel Day

Journee Nationale Maore (Comoros)

Leotard Day

National Football Day (American)

National Gaming Day

National Girls Learning Code Day

National Health Day (Indonesia)

National Pride Day (Mongolia)

National Youth Day (East Timor)

Order of Fools

Sigma Gamma Rho Day

Sun Yat-Sen Day (Republic of China)

Wangala Festival (Meghalaya, India)

Wear Blue Jeans on World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

A&W Root Beer Mug Day

Chicken Soup For the Soul Day

Eat Yourself Out Of House and Home Day

Gingerbread House Day

National French Dip Day

National Happy Hour Day

National Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day

2nd Saturday in November

All American Day [2nd Saturday]

Carl Sagan Day [2nd Saturday]

Lord Mayor’s Day (London, UK) [2nd Saturday]

Sadie Hawkins Day [Saturday after 11.9; also 11.13, 11.15]

Wine Tourism Day [Saturday of 1st Full Week]

Independence Days

Independence Day (Cartagena, Columbia)

Feast Days

Arsatius (Christian; Saint)

Astrik (a.k.a. Anastasius) of Pannonhalma (Christian; Saint)

Birth of Bahu'u'llah (Baha’i)

Colonel Claghorn (Muppetism)

Cumméne Fota (Christian; Saint)

Cunibert (Christian; Saint)

Drunk Creation Contemplation Day (Pastafarian)

Emilian of Cogolla (Christian; Saint)

Imerius of Immertal (Christian; Saint)

Josaphat Kuntsevych (Roman Catholic Church, Greek Catholic Church)

Khalkeia (Festival of Smiths; Ancient Greek)

Lebuinus (a.k.a. Liafwine or Lebwin; Christian; Saint)

L'Hôpital (Positivist; Saint)

Livinus (a.k.a. Livin) of Ghent (Christian; Saint)

L. Ron Hubbard Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Machar (Christian; Saint)

Margarito Flores García (Christian; Saint)

Nilus of Sinai (Christian; Saint)

Old Teutonic Yule Festival

The Osirian Mysteries begin (Ancient Egypt) [thru 11.14]

Patiens (Christian; Saint)

Prophet’s Birthday (Mouloud; Sunni Muslims) [12th of Rabi’al-awwal]

René d'Angers (Christian; Saint)

Tewa Buffalo Dance (Native American Tewa of the Tesque Pueblo) [through 15th]

Theodore the Studite (Christian; Saint)

Ymar (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Absolutely Fabulous (UK TV Series; 1992)

All This And World War II (Film; 1976)

Ben-Hur, by Lew Wallace (Novel; 1902)

Dogma (Film; 1999)

Electric Ladyland, by Jimi Hendrix (Album; 1968)

Like a Virgin, by Madonna (Album; 1984)

Lionheart, by Kate Bush (Album; 1978)

The Mandalorian (TV Series; 2019)

The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, by Agatha Christie (Mystery Novel) [60]

Mort, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1987) [Discworld #4]

Noelle (Film; 2019)

Nursery Cryme, by Genesis (Album; 1971)

Paint Your Wagon (Broadway Musical; 1951)

The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg (Children’s Book; 1985)

Red Notice (Film; 2021)

Rock Justice, by Marty Basin (Rock Opera; 1979)

Slumdog Millionaire (Film; 2008)

St. James Infirmary, recorded by Artie Shaw (Song; 1941)

Tick, Tick … Boom! (Film; 2021)

Unstoppable (Film; 2010)

Today’s Name Days

Christian, Emil, Josaphat, Kunibert (Austria)

Emilijan, Jozafat, Milan, Renato (Croatia)

Benedict (Czech Republic)

Torkild (Denmark)

Konrad, Kuno, Kuuno (Estonia)

Virpi (Finland)

Christian (France)

Christian, Kunibert (Germany)

Jónás, Renátó (Hungary)

Ninfa, Renato (Italy)

Kaija, Kornelija, Kornēlijs (Latvia)

Alvilė, Ašmantas, Kristinas, Renata (Lithuania)

Torkil, Torkjell (Norway)

Cibor, Czcibor, Izaak, Jonasz, Jozafat, Konradyn, Konradyna, Krystyn, Marcin, Renat, Renata, Witołd, Witold, Witolda (Poland)

Svätopluk (Slovakia)

Cristián, Cristian, Emiliano, Millán (Spain)

Konrad, Kurt (Sweden)

Colan, Colin, Colleen, Collin, Cullan, Cullen, Culver, Kiley, Kyla, Kyle, Kylee, Kyleigh, Kyler, Kylier (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 316 of 2022; 49 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 45 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Constraint) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Lùyuè), Day 19 (Ji-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 18 Cheshvan 5783

Islamic: 17 Rabi II 1444

J Cal: 16 Mir; Oneday [16 of 30]

Julian: 30 October 2022

Moon: 83%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 8 Frederic (12th Month) [L'Hôpital]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 51 of 90)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 21 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.12

Holidays

Arches National Park Day

Are You Ready For Some Football? Day

Constitution Day (Azerbaijan)

Cultural Renaissance Day (China)

Dia del Cartero (Postman’s Day; Mexico)

Doctors’ Day (China)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Day (a.k.a. Stanton Day)

Exotic Dancer’s Day

Fancy Rat and Mouse Day

Father’s Day (Indonesia)

Heir to the Throne Day (Tuvalu)

Holland Tunnel Day

Journee Nationale Maore (Comoros)

Leotard Day

National Football Day (American)

National Gaming Day

National Girls Learning Code Day

National Health Day (Indonesia)

National Pride Day (Mongolia)

National Youth Day (East Timor)

Order of Fools

Sigma Gamma Rho Day

Sun Yat-Sen Day (Republic of China)

Wangala Festival (Meghalaya, India)

Wear Blue Jeans on World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

A&W Root Beer Mug Day

Chicken Soup For the Soul Day

Eat Yourself Out Of House and Home Day

Gingerbread House Day

National French Dip Day

National Happy Hour Day

National Pizza With the Works Except Anchovies Day

2nd Saturday in November

All American Day [2nd Saturday]

Carl Sagan Day [2nd Saturday]

Lord Mayor’s Day (London, UK) [2nd Saturday]

Sadie Hawkins Day [Saturday after 11.9; also 11.13, 11.15]

Wine Tourism Day [Saturday of 1st Full Week]

Independence Days

Independence Day (Cartagena, Columbia)

Feast Days

Arsatius (Christian; Saint)

Astrik (a.k.a. Anastasius) of Pannonhalma (Christian; Saint)

Birth of Bahu'u'llah (Baha’i)

Colonel Claghorn (Muppetism)

Cumméne Fota (Christian; Saint)

Cunibert (Christian; Saint)

Drunk Creation Contemplation Day (Pastafarian)

Emilian of Cogolla (Christian; Saint)

Imerius of Immertal (Christian; Saint)

Josaphat Kuntsevych (Roman Catholic Church, Greek Catholic Church)

Khalkeia (Festival of Smiths; Ancient Greek)

Lebuinus (a.k.a. Liafwine or Lebwin; Christian; Saint)

L'Hôpital (Positivist; Saint)

Livinus (a.k.a. Livin) of Ghent (Christian; Saint)

L. Ron Hubbard Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Machar (Christian; Saint)

Margarito Flores García (Christian; Saint)

Nilus of Sinai (Christian; Saint)

Old Teutonic Yule Festival

The Osirian Mysteries begin (Ancient Egypt) [thru 11.14]

Patiens (Christian; Saint)

Prophet’s Birthday (Mouloud; Sunni Muslims) [12th of Rabi’al-awwal]

René d'Angers (Christian; Saint)

Tewa Buffalo Dance (Native American Tewa of the Tesque Pueblo) [through 15th]

Theodore the Studite (Christian; Saint)

Ymar (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Absolutely Fabulous (UK TV Series; 1992)

All This And World War II (Film; 1976)

Ben-Hur, by Lew Wallace (Novel; 1902)

Dogma (Film; 1999)

Electric Ladyland, by Jimi Hendrix (Album; 1968)

Like a Virgin, by Madonna (Album; 1984)

Lionheart, by Kate Bush (Album; 1978)

The Mandalorian (TV Series; 2019)

The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side, by Agatha Christie (Mystery Novel) [60]

Mort, by Terry Pratchet (Novel; 1987) [Discworld #4]

Noelle (Film; 2019)

Nursery Cryme, by Genesis (Album; 1971)

Paint Your Wagon (Broadway Musical; 1951)

The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg (Children’s Book; 1985)

Red Notice (Film; 2021)

Rock Justice, by Marty Basin (Rock Opera; 1979)

Slumdog Millionaire (Film; 2008)

St. James Infirmary, recorded by Artie Shaw (Song; 1941)

Tick, Tick … Boom! (Film; 2021)

Unstoppable (Film; 2010)

Today’s Name Days

Christian, Emil, Josaphat, Kunibert (Austria)

Emilijan, Jozafat, Milan, Renato (Croatia)

Benedict (Czech Republic)

Torkild (Denmark)

Konrad, Kuno, Kuuno (Estonia)

Virpi (Finland)

Christian (France)

Christian, Kunibert (Germany)

Jónás, Renátó (Hungary)

Ninfa, Renato (Italy)

Kaija, Kornelija, Kornēlijs (Latvia)

Alvilė, Ašmantas, Kristinas, Renata (Lithuania)

Torkil, Torkjell (Norway)

Cibor, Czcibor, Izaak, Jonasz, Jozafat, Konradyn, Konradyna, Krystyn, Marcin, Renat, Renata, Witołd, Witold, Witolda (Poland)

Svätopluk (Slovakia)

Cristián, Cristian, Emiliano, Millán (Spain)

Konrad, Kurt (Sweden)

Colan, Colin, Colleen, Collin, Cullan, Cullen, Culver, Kiley, Kyla, Kyle, Kylee, Kyleigh, Kyler, Kylier (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 316 of 2022; 49 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 45 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Constraint) [Day 15 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Lùyuè), Day 19 (Ji-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 18 Cheshvan 5783

Islamic: 17 Rabi II 1444

J Cal: 16 Mir; Oneday [16 of 30]

Julian: 30 October 2022

Moon: 83%: Waning Gibbous

Positivist: 8 Frederic (12th Month) [L'Hôpital]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 51 of 90)

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 21 of 31)

[edwordsmyth]

"Let us look into the grave and what do we see? We see our created beauty, now without form, without glory, nothing good remaining. Seeing our bones, do we know to whom they belong? Was he a king, a beggar, honorable or without honor? All that the world considers beautiful, powerful, turns again into nothingness as a beautiful flower fades and dies, as a shadow passes by: thus all mankind must pass away. Feel this instability."

-St. Nilus of Sinai

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading:Tue., Nov. 12, 2019

St John -the- Merciful

Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria, was born on Cyprus in the seventh century into the family of the illustrious dignitary Epiphanius. At the wish of his parents he entered into marriage and had children. When the wife and the children of the saint died, he became a monk. He was zealous in fasting and prayer, and had great love for those around him.

His spiritual exploits won him honor among men, and even the emperor revered him. When the Patriarchal throne of Alexandria fell vacant, the emperor Heraclius and all the clergy begged Saint John to occupy the Patriarchal throne.

The saint worthily assumed his archpastoral service, concerning himself with the moral and dogmatic welfare of his flock. As patriarch he denounced every soul-destroying heresy, and drove out from Alexandria the Monophysite Phyllonos of Antioch...continue reading OCA

Venerable Nilus the Faster of Sinaï

Saint Nilus the Faster of Sinai, a native of Constantinople, lived during the fifth century and was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. Having received a fine education, the saint was appointed to the important post of prefect of the capital while still a young man. During this period, Nilus was married and had children, but the pomp of courtly life bothered the couple. Saint John Chrysostom exerted a tremendous influence upon their lives and their strivings. The spouses decided to separate and devote themselves to the monastic life.

The wife and daughter of Nilus went to one of the women’s monasteries in Egypt, and Saint Nilus and his son Theodulus went to Sinai, where they settled in a cave dug out by their own hands. For forty years this cave served as the dwelling of Saint Nilus. By fasting, prayer and works, the monk attained a high degree of spiritual perfection. People began to come to him from every occupation and social rank from the emperor down to the farmer, and each found counsel and comfort from the saint..continue reading

Colossians 2:20. 3:3  (NKJV)

20 [a] Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

3:3  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Footnotes:

Colossians 2:20 NU, M omit Therefore

Luke 14: 25-25 (NKJV)

Leaving All to Follow Christ

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Tasteless Salt Is Worthless

34 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the [a]dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Footnotes:

Luke 14:35 rubbish heap

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. at Biblegateway

[the-saints-and-history]

Today's Saint: Saint Nilus

“He who endures distress, will be granted joys; and he who bears with unpleasant things, will not be deprived of the pleasant.” ~Saint Nilus of Sinai

Nilus was a layman married with two sons. He was an officer in the Court of Constantinople, it is said he was part of the Praetorian Perfects, the heads of all four main governors of the four main divisions of the Empire. But their authority had begun to decline by the 4th century. Nilus was directed in Scripture and works of piety by St John Chrysostom.

Nilus and his son, Theodulos, left their family around 390 or 404, to become monks in Mount Sinai. In 410 the monastery was attacked by Saracens and Theodulos was taken prison and sold as a slave. After sometime he was taken in by the Bishop of Elusa in Palestine and made part of his clergyman as a door keeper. Nilus left the monastery in search of his son and found him in Elusa, the Bishop ordained both of them as priests. Nilus' wife and other son also pursued religious lives in Egypt

He was seen as an important Biblical scholar and ascestic writer, people of all classes wrote to consolt with him. He wrote mostly letters speaking against heresy, paganism, abuses of discipline, and maximis of the religious life. He was not afraid to shun and warn those in high positions, from bishops, princes and even emperors, about these subjects. He spoke against the persecution of Saint John Chrysostom to Emperor Arcadius and his courtiers.

[stkatherine]

My son, always strive to be simple and kind. -St. Nilus of Mount Sinai

[sogoodcontent]

The beginning of a fruit is a blossom, while the beginning of a productive life is self-restraint. A sufficient quantity of matter will fill a container, but a stomach, even if it bursts, will not say: enough. A body sparsely fed is like a well-ridden horse — it will never throw its rider. Just as a dead enemy will not evoke fear, so a body mortified through fasting will not disturb your soul.

St. Nilus of Sinai

[dramoor]

[hieromonkcharbel]

St.Nilus of Sora on Prayer

On having any evil thought, one must call upon God's help, for, as St. Isaac of Syria said, we do not always possess within ourselves the strength to oppose evil thoughts, and there is no help in this matter but from God. Therefore, guided by the instructions of Nilus of Sinai, we need to assiduously pray, with sighing and tears, to the Lord Jesus Christ thus: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, and do not allow me to perish! Rout, O Lord, the demon attacking me. O my sure hope, make Thy sign over my head in the day of my battle with the demon! Overcome the enemy who is doing battle with me. O Lord, O Word of God, with Thy peace and quiet tame the thoughts that are assailing me!" Or, according to the instruction of blessed Theodore the Studite, on having unclean thoughts, pray using the Prophet David's words, 'Judge them, O Lord, that do me injustice and war against them that war against me' and then recite the entire 34th Psalm [Ps 35 in the KJV]; and as the hymongrapher wrote, "Gather together and collect my scattered mind, O Lord, and cleanse my wild heart. As Thou did unto Peter, grant me repentance, as unto the publican, sighing, as unto the loose woman, tears, that I might cry unto Thee: help me and rid me of foul thoughts! For, like ocean waves, my transgressions rise up against me, and like a ship in the deep, I am loaded down with my thoughts and intentions; but do Thou guide me into a quiet safe harbor. O Lord, save me as well through [my] repentance, for I mourn greatly over the weakness of my mind, for not of mine own will do I undergo truly involuntary changes - vacillation, assaults, defeats. Because of this I cry unto Thee: O Holy Trinity without Beginning, help me, and confirm me to stand firm in good thoughts and intentions, senses and feelings!"

[djstarrburst]

265. Gluttony and satiety in food produce defiled lust, while free association with women enflames the fire of lusts ... At the time of struggle with defilement, punish your thoughts with lack of nourishment, so that you will think not of defilements, but of hunger, and reject the invitation to go visiting. (St. Nilus of Sinai) 300 Sayings of the Ascetics of the Orthodox Church.

[catholicsoul]

Stand patiently and pray steadfastly, brushing off the impacts of worldly cares and all thoughts.

St. Nilus of Sinai

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Tue., Jan. 14, 2020

HolyMonastics  Fathers slain at Sinai and Raithu

There were two occasions when the monks and hermits at Sinai and Raithu were murdered by the barbarians. The first took place in the fourth century when forty Fathers were killed at Mt. Sinai, and thirty-nine were slain at Raithu on the same day.

Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments had been given to Moses, was also the site of another miracle. Ammonios, an Egyptian monk, witnessed the murder of the forty holy Fathers at Sinai. He tells of how the Saracens attacked the monastery and would have killed them all, if God had not intervened. A fire appeared on the summit of the peak, and the whole mountain smoked. The barbarians were terrified, and fled, while the surviving monks thanked God for sparing them.

That day, the Blemmyes (an Arab tribe) killed thirty-nine Fathers at Raithu (on the shores of the Red Sea). Igumen Paul of Raithu exhorted his monks to endure their suffering with courage and a pure heart.

The second massacres occurred nearly a hundred years later, and was also recorded by an eyewitness who miraculously escaped: Saint Nilus the Faster (November 12). The Arabs permitted some of the monks to run for their lives. They crossed the valley and climbed up a mountain. From this vantage point, they saw the bedouin kill the monks and ransack their cells.

The Sinai and Raithu ascetics lived a particularly strict life: they spent the whole week at prayer in their cells. On Saturday they gathered for the all-night Vigil, and on Sunday they received the Holy Mysteries. Their only food was dates and water. Many of the ascetics of the desert were glorified by the gift of wonderworking: the Elders Moses, Joseph and others. Mentioned in the service to these monastic Fathers are: Isaiah, Sava, Moses and his disciple Moses, Jeremiah, Paul, Adam, Sergius, Domnus, Proclus, Hypatius, Isaac, Macarius, Mark, Benjamin, Eusebius and Elias...keep reading (from Orthodox Church of America_OCA)

St Nina of Georgia, equal of the Apostles

Born in Cappadocia in the late third century, St. Nina (or Nino, the Georgian form) was the only daughter of a Roman general, Zabulon, and his wife, Susanna. On her father's side, she was related to St. George, and on her mother's, to the Patriarch of Jerusalem. When Nina was twelve, her family traveled to Jerusalem, where with the Patriarch's blessing, her father became a monk; her mother became a church worker; and Nina became the foster child of Nianfora, a pious elderly woman. Under the tutelage of her foster mother, Nina quickly learned the rules of faith and piety. At fourteen, Nina questioned her mentor about the location of Christ's robe; Nina felt that such an important relic could not have been lost. Nianfora told her that it was in Iberia (now Georgia), a land not yet completely illumined. When the apostles had drawn lots to determine who was to preach where, the Theotokos had received the lot for Iberia, but she had been held back from going and was assured that someone would later enlighten it. In a dream, the Theotokos came to Nina and urged her to preach the gospel in Georgia. The Mother of God assured Nina that she would protect her and as a pledge, left a cross of grape vines. The patriarch, her uncle, was delighted with the news of her vision. He eagerly gave her his blessing. When the time arrived for her departure, the patriarch led Nina into the church and up to the holy altar, and placing his hands on her head, he prayed the following words: Lord God, Our Saviour! As I let this young girl depart to preach Thy Divinity, I commit her into Thy hands. Condescend, O Christ God, to be her Companion and Teacher everywhere that she proclaims Thy Good Tidings, and give her words with such force and wisdom that no one will be able to oppose or refute them. And Thou, most Holy Virgin Mother of God, Helper and Intercessor for all Christians, clothe with Thy strength against all enemies, visible and invisible, this girl whom Thou Thyself hast chosen to preach the Gospel of Thy Son and our God among the pagan nations. Be always for her a shield and an invincible protection, and do not deprive her of Thy favour until she has fulfilled Thy holy will.1Nina joined the party of Princess Ripsimia, which was traveling to Georgia to escape the persecution of Diocletian. All but Nina, who was sheltered in a crevice, were martyred in Armenia after Ripsimia declined to marry the king, Tiridat. Living as pilgrim, by the grace of God and on the bounty of strangers, Nina once became weary. She wondered briefly where she was going, what she was doing. She fell, exhausted, asleep and had a vision of a majestic man who handed her a scroll in Greek, which she read upon waking:...keep reading ( from the Sacred Monastery of St Nina)

Hebrew 12: 25-26; 13:22-25 NKJV

Hear the Heavenly Voice

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I [a]shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

Footnotes:

Hebrews 12:26 NU will shake

13:22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly.

24 Greet all those who [a]rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes:

Hebrews 13:24 lead

Mark 8:22-26

A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida

22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.

24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”

25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, [a]“Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”

Footnotes:

Mark 8:26 NU “Do not even go into the town.”

New King James Version(NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. from Biblegateway.com