Episode 1977: The Ladder of Divine Ascent - On Obedience, Part II

St. John Climacus, also known as John of the Ladder or John Scholasticus, was a Christian monk and ascetic who lived in the 6th and 7th centuries. He is primarily remembered for his influential work, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" (also known as "The Ladder of Paradise"), which is considered a classic text of Eastern Orthodox spirituality.

Life of St. John Climacus:
St. John Climacus was born in the 6th century in Syria and later became a monk at the monastery of Mount Sinai in Egypt. He eventually became the abbot of the same monastery, where he lived for several years. During his time as an ascetic and spiritual leader, he gained a reputation for his deep wisdom, humility, and profound spiritual insights.

The Ladder of Divine Ascent:
"The Ladder of Divine Ascent" is a spiritual treatise written by St. John Climacus. It consists of thirty steps, or chapters, that symbolize the journey of a Christian soul towards spiritual perfection and union with God. The book draws its name and imagery from the biblical story of Jacob's ladder, where angels ascend and descend between heaven and earth.

Structure and Content:
Each step of the ladder addresses specific spiritual virtues or vices, and the work is often used as a guide for monastic and spiritual life. Some of the virtues and vices discussed include obedience, repentance, detachment, humility, patience, love, and prayer. St. John Climacus emphasizes the importance of conquering passions and purifying the soul in order to attain a higher level of spiritual communion with God.

Impact and Influence:
"The Ladder of Divine Ascent" has had a profound impact on Christian spirituality, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. It is often read and studied by monks, clergy, and laypeople seeking to deepen their spiritual lives. The book's practical and profound insights into the spiritual journey have made it a timeless and revered work.

Feast Day:
St. John Climacus is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and his feast day is celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, where his work "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" is traditionally read.

St. John Climacus' "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" continues to be cherished for its profound spiritual teachings and remains an essential text for those seeking to grow in their faith and relationship with God.

User
can you provide me the list of chapters in the book
ChatGPT
Certainly! "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" consists of thirty steps, or chapters, each addressing specific aspects of the spiritual journey. Here is the list of chapters:

On the Renunciation of the World
On Detachment
On Exile or Pilgrimage
On Blessed and Ever-Memorable Obedience
On painstaking and true repentance which constitutes the life of the holy convicts; and about the Prison (this chapter is often merged with Step 4 in some translations)
On remembrance of death
On joy-making mourning
On freedom from anger and on meekness
On remembrance of wrongs
On slander or calumny
On talkativeness and silence
On lying
On despondency
On that clamorous mistress, the stomach
On incorruptible purity and chastity to which the corruptible attain by toil and sweat
On love of money, or avarice
On poverty (that hastens heavenwards)
On insensibility, that is, deadening of the soul and the death of the mind before the death of the body
On sleep, prayer, and psalmody with the brotherhood
On bodily vigil and how to use it to attain spiritual vigil and how to practise it
On unmanly and puerile cowardice
On the many forms of vainglory
On mad pride and (in the same Step) on unclean blasphemous thoughts. (This chapter is often merged with Step 22 in some translations)
On meekness, simplicity, guilelessness which come not from nature but from habit, and about malice
On the destroyer of the passions, most sublime humility, which is rooted in spiritual feeling
On discernment of thoughts, passions, and virtues; on expert discernment; brief summary of all aforementioned
On holy stillness of body and soul; different aspects of stillness and how to distinguish them
On holy and blessed prayer, mother of virtues, and on the attitude of mind and body in prayer
Concerning Heaven on earth, or godlike dispassion and perfection, and the resurrection of the soul before the general resurrection
Concerning the linking together of the supreme trinity among the virtues
Each step provides valuable insights and guidance on various aspects of the spiritual life, making "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" a comprehensive and timeless work on Christian asceticism and devotion.