“Perfect contemplation of God and divine things is not only a stripping away, but beyond this, a participation in divine things, a gift and possession more than stripping away” (Gregory Palamas, The triads, I.3.18).
On contemplation and deification – 1
“If contemplation may not be equated with the via negativa, neither is it identifiable with the via positiva: contemplation is not simply abstraction or negation but a union and a divinization that occurs mystically and ineffably by the grace of God” (Williams, on Gregory Palamas I.3.17).
On deification – 12
“To understand the nature of God is to become deified; those who know that God is Spirit are those who become god completely and know God in God … [they] see God by God (Gregory Palamas, II.3.68; II.3.52).
Review of The Divine Family: Experiential Narratives
By Josh Baker (Author: Please Don’t Remove MarGreat’s Glasses).
“From the moment I read the opening commentary from Pope Urban VII on private revelations, I knew I was in for something special. Each of the author’s personal accounts (peira) are beautifully conveyed in a style which will leave even the most pious reader feeling unworthy to eavesdrop on these intimate revelations.
“The pure reverence and humility in which these accounts are presented filled me with hope, and softened my natural scrutiny of the extraordinary. After reading Continue reading
On deification – 11
“Those who have been purified … make themselves worthy to contemplate invisible things, the essence of God remaining beyond their attainment; but those who are worthy of this contemplation can be initiated into it and make it the object of their understanding; thus they participate Continue reading
On deification – 10
“Deification is both the light encountered (inasmuch as it is a visible apparition) and something that attaches to the person, becoming one with her and changing her. It is both God as other and God transforming the human person from within” (A. N. Williams, 1999).
On deification – 9
The deifying gift of the Spirit is “the deifying energy of the superessential divine essence, although not the totality of this energy … Deification is … everywhere, ineffably present in the essence and inseparable from it, as its natural power. But if [the divine manifestation] seizes a suitable material, free from every veil … Continue reading
On deification – 8
“Deification is an enhypostatic and direct illumination which has no beginning but appears in those worthy as something exceeding their comprehension. It is indeed a mystical union with God beyond intellect and reason, in the age when creatures will no longer know corruption. Thanks to this union, the saints, Continue reading
On deification – 7
“What belongs to the divine nature is predicated of the human nature—not, indeed, as it belongs wssentially to the divine nature, but as it is participated by the human nature. Hence, whatever cannot be participated by the human nature (as to be uncreated and omnipotent), is nowise predicated of the human nature” (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, III.16, S ad 3).
On deification – 6
“When it is said that the Father doth not give the Spirit by measure … it may be referred to the gift which is given the human nature, to be united to the Divine Person” (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, III.7,11 ad 1).
On deification – 5
“The disposition to the form of fire can be natural only to the subject of that form. Hence the light of glory cannot be natural to a creature unless the creature has a divine nature; which is impossible. But by this light the rational creature is made deiform” (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Response to 1.12,5 ad 3).
On deification – 4
“By way of similitude, however, ‘this name God is communicable, not in its whole signification, but in some part of it by way of similitude so that those are called gods who share in divinity by likeness, according to the text I have said, ‘You are gods (Ps 82:6)” (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Response to I.13,9).
On deification – 3
“When any created intellect sees the essence of God, the essence of God itself becomes the intelligible form of the intellect … This increase of the intellectual powers is called the illumination of the intellect, as we also call the intelligible object itself by the name of the light of the illumination [lumen vellux]. And Continue reading
On deification – 2
“Man’s happiness is twofold … One is proportionate to human nature, a happiness to wit, which man can obtain by means of his natural principles. The other is a happiness surpassing man’s nature, and which man can obtain by the power of God alone, by a kind of participation of the Godhead [ad quam Continue reading
On deification – 1
“It is … necessary that God alone should deify, bestowing a partaking of the divine nature … The gift of grace surpasses every capability of created nature, since it is nothing short of a partaking of the divine nature, which exceeds every other nature” (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Response to I-II.112, 1).
What readers are saying
“Very well written and full of amazing experiences.”
“Beautiful and moving.”
“Powerful, inspiring.”
“Well written and experiences are expressed in clear, easy descriptions.”
“It is striking.”
“Consumed it . . . could not put it down . . . must read it again and again.”
Notice – My books in Malta
All books I have written and which are currently in print can now also be obtained in Malta directly from the brick-and-mortar store and online through Mireva Bookshop. The books presently available at Mireva’s are:
- The Divine Heart of God the Father, 2nd rev. ed. – preview video here;
- The Icon of the Divine Heart of God: Apologia and Canon - preview video here;
- Thoughts for the Day: Reflections for the Soul - preview video here.
My new release The Divine Family: Experiential Narratives - preview video here - will also be available in Malta from Mireva within a month’s time. Thank you for your interest.
On faith, theology and theoria
When the nous, the heart of the soul, of man begins with simple faith, it will eventually attain a theology that transcends the nous and that is characterized by unremitting faith of the highest type and the vision of the invisible – St Thalassios
On theology
Man is granted the grace of theology when, carried on wings of love in theoria and with the help of the Holy Spirit, he discerns the qualities of God – Maximus the Confessor.
God or Satan? – Response to a question
The question was asked, “God or Satan?” The answer is simple and comes in the form of another question: “Who do you want to live with forever?” Both God and Satan are real; very real. The former is pure love, love you cannot even begin to conceive, whereas the latter is pure hatred. The choice is yours to make; it belongs to no one else. But remember that forever never ends.
Notice – From where the book is available
The new release The Divine Family: Experiential Narratives is written in English and available in both paperback and Kindle ebook editions from the following venues:
- US and India – Amazon US and the distributors who ship globally;
- Canada - Amazon Canada and our distributors;
- Asia – Amazon Japan and the distributors;
- Europe – Amazon UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and also from the distributors;
- Latin America – Amazon Brazil and the distributors;
- All other continents – directly from the distributors.
The book is also available globally in Nook ebook edition from Barnes & Noble.
Notice – Goodreads Book Giveaway
Details of new Goodreads Book Giveaway:
- Book is The Divine Family: Experiential Narratives
- 1 copy available
- Giveaway entry dates are from April 18th to May 17th 2013
To enter the Goodreads giveaway or obtain further details, please click here
Video of new book – The Divine Family: Experiential Narratives
NEW RELEASE – The Divine Family: Experiential Narratives
In The Divine Family: Experiential Narratives by Marcelle Bartolo-Abela, the lived experiences of the author with the Members of the Divine Family and others are presented openly in print for the first time. These experiences occurred from 2010 through 2012. Written predominantly in a dialogical narrative style suitable for believers and non-believers alike, the author chronicles first-hand some of her personal experiences with the archangels Michael and Raphael; demons and Satan, the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Continue reading
Betraying our Father
Everything we have and are come from God the Father. As our Eternal Father and Creator, He made us, provided and continues providing for us, continually looking out for our welfare even when we omit to do so ourselves. In repayment, however, we neglected, marginalized, ostracized, forgot and abandoned Continue reading
God will heal and restore our souls
The declaration was made: “God will heal and restore our souls.” The response is, “Yes, indeed, when we decide to return to Him out of our free-will choice.” So let us turn to the Father of mercies with sincere repentance for what we did and genuineness in our hearts, in order to become fully His anew after having drifted far away.
What was Adam like? – Response to a question
The question was posed, “What was Adam like?” The short answer is: “For the era of the first five days of creation, Adam was godlike because he was deified fully by the grace of God; he was sinless. He did not need to work to sustain himself with work and he did not suffer. Then in the era of the sixth day, Continue reading
How do we discern God from the devil? – Response to a question
The question was asked, “How can one discern whether something is from God or from the Devil?” Naturally, there are several issues to consider, as well as modes of discernment and confirmation. But the brief, simple response is: “Peace, as God both is Peace Himself and gives peace.” The Devil – Satan – can mimic Continue reading
Happy Easter to all my readers
What does it take to have a divine heart? – Response to a question
The question was asked, “What does it take to have a divine heart?” The answer is brevity and simplicity in itself: “You have to be God to have a divine heart, because only He is divine.”
