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Text Box: THE BASILIAN FATHERS The Society of Clerks Secular of Saint Basil at Holy Innocents Orthodox Church ~ Retreat House ~ 25401 Lorin Wall Road Holden, Louisiana 70744 U. S. A. (504) 298-3867 The Society of Clerks Secular of Saint Basil exists for the purpose of glorifying God. It and its members, and hopefully their families, attempt to operate divinely, which is a technical, theological term which means to think, act, and live in accordance with the Divine Virtue of Faith. It is by operating divinely that one attains eternal salvation. In the course of operating divinely and seeking to attain eternal salvation we pursue happiness with Christ here on Earth and for all eternity in Heaven. Happiness with Christ here in this life may or may not include elements which those who do not seek such will perceive as possessing any element of happiness. Stated from a different perspective, worldly people may not comprehend how one who experiences none or just a few of the worldly delights, or in some instances rarely accesses even the necessities of life, can possibly be happy in this life. They neither understand nor comprehend how one is able to attain happiness in this life with Christ alone. In concert with pursuing glorification of God, operating divinely, attaining eternal salvation, happiness with Christ here on earth and for all eternity in heaven, we also seek to love God with all of our heart - with complete totality of self, and to love others in like manner, and to assist others to do the same. Those who do not comprehend, well that is just one of their problems which we endeavor to correct.

Text Box: We pursue this - not these things or these, but this - individually and collectively. The “tools” which we use include everything and anything provided it is not evil or sinful, with the understanding the “tools” will be used in a proper manner and in proper circumstances. When it occurs that a priest or bishop - actually anyone - has a lapse in focus on the spiritual, or allows their own goals to cast God’s goals in the shadows, or as frequently occurs, utilizes procedures or alliances which are not time proven in their holiness, then that individual or those individuals have broken Faith with God and are unable to operate divinely. In so doing they give scandal. In so doing, while they may not perceive it, they attempt to usurp God’s prerogative(s). Not only do they attempt to usurp God’s prerogatives, they actually attempt to replace the incumbent Divinity by replacing His standard and procedures with their standards and procedures. Such people will deny that is what they are doing, but their denial is insufficient for “their actions speak for themselves”. It also is doubly foolish because the incumbent Divinity is a permanent position held by the entity uniquely qualified for that position. The incumbent Divinity also has given no indication of seeking to retire - which, anyway, would be counter to His nature. It is difficult if not impossible for a regular person - or even an exceptionally holy person - to live even one day without engaging in some sort of sin. Substituting one’s own standards

Text Box: and procedures for those established by God simply makes a difficult situation approach becoming impossible. Succinctly: our goal in life should be to get our sorry butts into heaven because if our butts, which are the most dense portion of our bodies, get into heaven they will drag the rest of us in as well. As priests it also is our purpose, our duty, to try to get as many other sorry butts into heaven, hoping for the same result. In fact, it is easier for a priest to get his sorry butt into heaven if he has pushed a few others in ahead of himself - hoping to hold on to those others as they get dragged in thus being dragged in himself. Just don’t hold on to their butts - try an arm. Loose sight of this and Father has a problem. Oh, those who object to use of the word butt or butts may replace the word with derrieres or derriere as appropriate. It is much better for both the priest and those entrusted to his care, if those entrusted to his care enter into eternal salvation united with Christ as a result of the priest’s work, with the a fullness of stomach and proper treatment by others being of secondary importance, than it is for them to enter into eternity with a full stomach and receiving the accolades of their companions, to spend eternity in hell standing on the head of their priest. +

Text Box: When it occurs that a priest or bishop - actually anyone - has a lapse in focus on the spiritual, or allows their own goals to cast God’s goals in the shadows, or as frequently occurs, utilizes procedures or alliances which are not time proven in their holiness, then that individual or those individuals have broken Faith with God and are unable to operate divinely. In so doing they give scandal. In so doing, while they may not perceive it, they attempt to usurp God’s prerogative(s).

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