The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
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Rituals at the Time of Death: The Novena and Rosary, Filipino Style 01/27/2024 |
All peoples have their way of expressing grief and of ritualizing the death of their loved ones. Archeologists have found evidence of death rituals extending back hundreds of thousands of years, not only among homo sapiens but also among Neanderthals and other cousins of ours as
well. |
I am currently undergoing a certain expression of ritual and grief being led by women from an extended Filipino family, as one of their members with whom I have been living for the past five years died in my home last Saturday at the age of 83. |
Tim Dziak narrates an exploration of funeral and burial traditions of the
Philippines. |
The Roman Catholic Filipino tradition proposes a novena or nine days of special prayers and the turnout for this event, by Zoom, is impressive and traverses two continents. Rafael had seven children and two of them still live in the Philippines, while five live in the Bay Area along with
several children, grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous sisters, aunts, cousins, etc. |
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| The ritual practice consists essentially of reciting the “glorious mysteries” of the rosary, some
short litanies and another practice new to me called the chaplet. St. Dominic is credited with having initiated the rosary in the early 13th century. Since he was from Spain, it is very likely that he borrowed it from the Muslim tradition, which in turn may have borrowed it from Indian traditions of the
East. |
In Dominic’s version it centers on the prayer to Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is a good and refreshing thing to celebrate the Holy Mother, thereby recognizing the divine feminine at the center of the Christian prayer tradition. (Otto Rank emphasizes how early Christianity was a goddess religion.) |
The reformers of the 16th century more or less expelled the goddess. That century, by any one’s estimation, initiated a hyper-masculine era which we now call the “modern” age. Patriarchy is not at home with the goddess. |
Perdita Finn, co-author of The Way of the Rose, describes how a devotion to care of the dead led her to the rosary and the Blessed Mother. The Way of the Rose |
To
its credit, the Catholic Church and the pre-modern era made room for the divine feminine, of which the gothic revolution in architecture of the 12th century is an essential and explicit reminder.* To be continued. |
*See Henry Adams’ classic book, Mont Saint Michel and Chartres and R.P. Blackmur, in “The Revival” in Blackmur, Henry Adams (NY:
Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich, 1980), pp. 176-242.
See Matthew Fox, The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine, pp. xviif, 280f, 223f, 246f, 221, 278.
And Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance, pp.
11-34.
Banner Image: Flowers with a rosary and prayerbook. Photo by Ksenia Chernaya on Pexels. |
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Queries for Contemplation How important are prayers to the Divine Mother to you in your spiritual practice and in your prophetic action in the
world? |
Responses are welcomed. To add
your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine
To awaken what Fox calls “the sacred masculine,” he unearths ten metaphors, or archetypes, ranging from the Green Man, an
ancient pagan symbol of our fundamental relationship with nature, to the Spiritual Warrior….These timeless archetypes can inspire men to pursue their higher calling to connect to their deepest selves and to reinvent the world.
“Every man on this planet should read this book — not to mention every woman who wants to understand the struggles, often unconscious, that shape the men they know.” — Rabbi Michael
Lerner, author of The Left Hand of God
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The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance
In what may be considered the most comprehensive outline of the Christian
paradigm shift of our Age, Matthew Fox eloquently foreshadows the manner in which the spirit of Christ resurrects in terms of the return to an earth-based mysticism, the expression of creativity, mystical sexuality, the respect due the young, the rebirth of effective forms of worship—all of these mirroring the ongoing blessings of Mother Earth and the recovery of Eros, the feminine aspect of the Divine.
“The eighth
wonder of the world…convincing proof that our Western religious tradition does indeed have the depth of imagination to reinvent its faith.” — Brian Swimme, author of The Universe Story and Journey of the Universe.
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical,
cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "Matthew Fox does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic vision
to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ "Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author of God of Love and Wild Mercy Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
SPECIAL EVENT: 5-DAY WORKSHOP IN AQUINAS’ HOMETOWN OF ORVIETO, ITALY
WITH MATTHEW FOX, MESHI CHAVEZ, AND CLAUDIA PICARDI
JUNE 9-14, 2024
LEARN MORE HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox’s episode on the Take Back Your Mind with Michael B. Beckwith Podcast, Mysticism & The Modern Age, is available on the Take Back Your Mind YouTube channel. To listen, play at right. |
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Inspired by this post? Share your insights on Universeodon, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
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