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SKU:
T38
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MP3
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Talk 38: Pride and Vainglory: A Spiritual Cancer

(MP3 duration: 3hrs 50mins) 

Despite advances in medical science, occurrences of cancer are becoming increasingly frequent. Many live in fear of falling victim or losing a loved one to this disease. However, few give thought to a far worse disease, spiritual cancer: that of pride and vainglory. The saints of old did all they could to fight off the spiritual disease of pride and vainglory by avoiding praise and even hiding their gifts of miracle-working. Today’s Christians, however, frequently choose not to fight against pride and vainglory or, are even unaware of them – in both cases with disastrous consequences.

Using the Holy Fathers as a guide, Father Kosmas explains the dangers of vainglory and pride in the spiritual life. He also uses examples from the lives of saints to emphasise their attitude towards miracle-working and other divine gifts, an attitude which for many would be very surprising.

The following questions are also discussed: where have all the altar boys gone? What is meant by pressuring God? Why did one elder beg God to allow him to become possessed? What is meant by ‘a proud person has become a devil and his own enemy’? Can divine gifts be harmful for the soul? Is the Pentecostals’ emphasis on earthly prosperity and health justified by the Gospel? What was the purpose of Saint Paul’s sufferings? Do Christ’s words “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works” lead to vainglory and pride? Is it beneficial to openly confess our sins and weaknesses to others?

Other points covered in this talk include: overconfidence and unholy familiarity with God; why denying our natural gifts can be spiritually beneficial; obesity and holiness; why those who expose the passions are hated; how we should view those who praise us to our faces; the difference between the praise of demons and the praise of men; and the concept of “mad pride.”

Format:
MP3
Duration:
3hrs 50mins
Speaker:
Priestmonk Kosmas
File Size:
158MB
Location:
St George Church, Carlton, Sydney
Date:
12 December 2010
Re-edited:
15 July 2018
Series:
Talks 32 to 38

  • Talk 34: What Do We Need to Know to Understand the Deceptions of Our Times?
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  • Talk 32: O Child, You Have Massacred The Demon!
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  • Talk 33: And No Wonder, for Even Satan Disguises Himself as an Angel of Light
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  • Talk 35: Seeking Signs and Miracles: Beneficial or Harmful?
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  • Talk 36: Unless You See Signs and Wonders You Will Not Believe!
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  • Talk 37: What is the True Purpose of Signs and Miracles?
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  • Talk 41: Type 1 Deception: Striving for a High Spiritual State
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  • Talk 42: Type 2 Deception: Striving for Exalted Spiritual Feelings
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