The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Watch for Matthew Fox's video meditation -- now appearing every Monday! |
Creation Spirituality Teachings at the Medieval Cathedral in Orvieto 06/25/2024 |
CORRECTION: Yesterday I received a letter from Teresa Phillips of the Office of Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Ohio Province,which apologized for “the confusion and incorrect information that was sent out,” re: Sister Dorothy. It seems that The Sanctuary of New Martyrs is not a “Vatican memorial” but is located at the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all’Isola and is taken care of by the Community of
San Egidio. That community will install Dorothy in the Sanctuary of New Martyrs. Also the Congregation for the Cause of Saints has not issued a decree as of yet about her martyrdom. I recently spent ten days in Italy, which included a visit to two cities to speak about my book, The Reinvention of Work, newly translated by Gianluigi Gugliermetto, into Italian as Il Lavoro e Vita, “Work is Life.” |
We held a workshop in Orvieto in honor of Thomas Aquinas’s 800th anniversary of his birth and 750th anniversary of his death. Following our ICCS pedagogy, I taught in the mornings and art as meditation teachers taught in the afternoon, courses on “Putting Aquinas to Movement,' “Putting Aquinas to Haiku and Circle Dancing," and “Putting Aquinas into Imaging." It was a very rich week for all involved. Before leaving California, I heard from a publisher friend of mine who told |
Il Lavoro è Vita, Matthew Fox’s book The Reinvention of Work in its Italian translation. Cover photo by Etienne Girardet. |
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that her “favorite cathedral in all of Europe” was the Cathedral in Orvieto. Once I visited it, I understood why. The Cathedral was started just two years after Aquinas died and embodies his creation-centered spirituality. He had spent considerable time in Orvieto teaching, preaching and writing poetry. The Cathedral was a haven for artists in the Middle Ages as well as today, and an educational center. The Cathedral is full of creation spirituality—I would say that next to Chartres Cathedral it is the most creation-centered ecclesial place of worship I have visited. |
“Bas Relief of Genesis, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Orvieto.” "Bas Relief of Genesis, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Orvieto." Top left: Tubalcain discovers metals and melts bells that he is ringing and Naomi teaches spinning. On right: A son of Seth discovers laws of design, architecture and
astronomy. Left, second from top: Cain and Abel offer gifts to the Lord. On right: Cain kills Abel. At bottom: God divides the waters from the land; God creates the animals; God creates man. Above: God breathes life into Adam; God creates Eve from Adam's side. Photo by Slices of Light on Flickr. Click the image to view it in Flickr; click it there to view in greater detail. | The sculptures on its front façade tell the creation story and celebrate human arts and creativity with stories from Old Testament times along with stories and teachings of Jesus. But a plus that even Chartres Cathedral lacks is that they begin at eye height—one does not have to strain to “read” the first layers of the stories. There is humor in the sculptures and there is also an explicit acceptance of the diversity of human love and friendship. Gay couples are
depicted along with straight couples both on the exterior sculptures and in 15th century paintings of heaven and purgatory. |
This parallels the findings of the late Yale historian John Boswell in his iconic book, Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century, where he tells us that in the early years of the university movement there was a 125-year window of acceptance of homosexuality in culture and church. The truth of that is explicit in this church. As is an acceptance
of nudity and a celebration of the human body. |
See Matthew Fox, Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality.
And Fox, The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times.
And Fox, The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time.
Banner Image: Bottom Scenes of Creation, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Orvieto. Photo by Matthew Fox, used with permission. |
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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. |
Queries for Contemplation |
What lessons do you learn from studying these pictures from the Cathedral of Orvieto? |
Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation
Spirituality
Matthew Fox renders Thomas Aquinas accessible by interviewing him and thus descholasticizing him. He also translated many of his works such as Biblical commentaries never before in English (or Italian or German of French). He gives Aquinas a forum so that he can be heard in our own time. He presents Thomas Aquinas entirely in his own words, but in a form designed to
allow late 20th-century minds and hearts to hear him in a fresh way.
“The teaching of Aquinas comes through will a fullness and an insight that has never been present in English before and [with] a vital message for the world today.” ~ Fr. Bede Griffiths (Afterword).
Foreword by Rupert Sheldrake |
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The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
A stunning spiritual handbook drawn from the substantive teachings of Aquinas’ mystical/prophetic genius, offering a sublime roadmap for spirituality and
action.
Foreword by Ilia Delio.
“What a wonderful book! Only Matt Fox could bring to life the wisdom and brilliance of Aquinas with so much creativity. The Tao of Thomas Aquinas is a masterpiece.”
–Caroline Myss, author
of Anatomy of the Spirit |
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The Reinvention of Work: A New Vision of Livelihood For Our Time
Thomas Aquinas said, “To live well is to work well,” and in this bold call for the revitalization of daily work, Fox shares his vision of a world
where our personal and professional lives are celebrated in harmony–a world where the self is not sacrificed for a job but is sanctified by authentic “soul work.”
“Fox approaches the level of poetry in describing the reciprocity that must be present between one’s inner and outer work…[A]n important road map to social change.” ~~ National Catholic Reporter |
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Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
Selected with an Introduction by Charles Burack
To encapsulate the life and work
of Matthew Fox would be a daunting task for any save his colleague Dr. Charles Burack, who had the full cooperation of his subject. Fox has devoted 50 years to developing and teaching the tradition of Creation Spirituality and in doing so has reinvented forms of education and worship. His more than 40 books, translated into 78 languages, are inclusive of today’s science and world spiritual traditions and have awakened millions to the much neglected earth-based mystical tradition of the West. Essential Writings begins by exploring the influences on Fox’s life and spirituality, then presents selections from all Fox’s major works in 10 sections.
“The critical insights, the creative connections, the centrality of Matthew Fox’s writings and teaching are second to none for the radical renewal of Christianity.” ~~ Richard Rohr, OFM.
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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 has created a narrative, for every parent and grandparent, both spiritual and
scientific, that is a gift for all elders who recognize their responsibility in initiating the young ones into the grandeur of existence." Cosmologist Brian Swimme, Author of Cosmogenesis and The Universe Story "Matthew Fox has given all of us, children included, a wondrous and enchanting view of creation
and all that humanity should aspire to." - Caroline Myss, Author of Anatomy of the Spirit and A Time for Grace |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
MONTHLY: Join Matthew Fox, Mariko Middleton, and Skylar Wilson of the Order of the Sacred Earth in a free virtual meeting for connection and networking with other mystic warriors. Last Tuesday of every month, 4:00-5:00pm PT.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88665302478
Meeting ID: 886 6530 2478 Learn more at www.orderofthesacredearth.org |
Join Matthew Fox in a new, live, 7-week video course hosted by the Shift Network, Cultivating Compassion in Spirituality: What Meister Eckhart & Other World Mystics Can Teach Us About Navigating Collective Turmoil. Tuesdays, May 7 – June 25, 5:00pm - 6:30pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox and 11 other speakers for a 6-week course on Cosmic Water: The Radical Roots of Mystical Christianity hosted by Advaya.Life (Matthew speaks on June 18). Tuesdays, May 28 - Thursday, July 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT Register HERE (for 10% discount use code
FOX-WOW) |
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Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Prayer: A Radical Response to Life in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, July 18, 6:00 - 7:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "Preserving Things in the Good" at the Unity of Walnut Creek Earth Day worship service held on April 21, 2024. |
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