Fifty- day spirituality

Main idea

The lecture speaks about how to preserve the spiritual life during the holy Fifty Days, and explains that the purpose of these days is spiritual joy and communion with the presence of God, not merely eating and drinking. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III affirms that spirituality is based on the heart’s communion with God more than external appearances.

Practical trainings

• Self-discipline in eating: even if we are breaking fast, meals must be organized and avoid looseness and excess in food.
• Increase prayer, hymns and psalms: replace bodily expressions with depth in prayers and sincere heart-prayers.
• Memorization and contemplation: memorize psalms, verses and hymns, repeat them and contemplate them during the day and in transportation.
• Self-examination and reproach: train the self to examine sins and weep before the Lord as a way of inward bending.

The spiritual and Coptic Orthodox educational dimension

The holy Fifty Days are a time of joy because the disciples were with Christ learning matters of the kingdom; therefore what is required is spiritual joy and adhesion to the Lord and leaving the sins that separate man from Him. The joy here is to rejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit in us, and to rejoice over one sinner returning in repentance.

Suggested daily applications

• Make the first talk of the day with God, not with people.
• Set a spiritual schedule and write down what you accomplished of prayers and contemplations at the end of each day.
• Choose a sin or habit you want to get rid of during the Fifty Days and train practically on it (like anger or sulking).
• Speak to God with full honesty of heart, confess your weaknesses and ask for deliverance and rescue.

Conclusion

The Fifty Days are not days of looseness but days of spiritual formation: disciplining the body while nourishing the spirit. The goal is to draw near to the presence of God with sincere hearts, and to celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in us through prayer, repentance, and practical love that rejoices the heart of the Lord.

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الاتصال
Communion