Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

In tonight’s study of the Desert Fathers (Gerontikon / Sayings of the Fathers), we face some of the most challenging material yet—stories that can feel extreme to modern sensibilities, but which reveal the intensity with which the Fathers guarded purity of heart.

We continue a powerful account of St. Martinian, who chooses radical flight from the “near occasion” of temptation—teaching that victory often comes not by “proving our strength,” but by fleeing what stirs the passions. From there we move into the Life of St. Arsenius the Great, including a striking encounter with a wealthy Roman senator’s wife, and the Archbishop’s pastoral explanation: the elder’s “gruffness” is not hatred, but spiritual self-protection in a hidden warfare.

The conversation also turns toward modern life—how constant noise, news cycles, online arguments, and social media feeds can agitate the heart, weaken vigilance, and form a kind of gluttony for information. We explore what a distinctly Christian approach looks like: silence, sobriety, boundaries, discernment, and prayer.

This session also includes careful discussion of mentorship, emotional attachment, the dangers of distorted “spiritual friendships,” and why the Fathers warn against situations that can be exploited by temptation—whether in relationships between men and women, or among men and youth—always calling us back to repentance, watchfulness, and the healing life in Christ.

If this teaching helps you, please like, subscribe, and share—and consider leaving a comment with the line that challenged you most.

00:00 – Opening: Glory to Jesus Christ / study context
01:44 – Why these texts feel “extreme” today (changed sensibilities)
03:46 – St. Martinian: choosing death over bodily passions; dolphins rescue
06:19 – “Does the enemy allow me tranquil life?” Fleeing temptation
07:06 – The wisdom of fleeing the near occasion of sin
08:22 – Modern triggers: news, debates, agitation, loss of inner peace
09:32 – Silence is hard: distraction, vigilance, and spiritual laziness
11:09 – Social media: ministry use vs. spiritual danger and exposure
12:34 – Building love for virtue: Scripture, Fathers, prayer, labor, simplicity
15:19 – St. Arsenius and the senator’s wife: desire to “see the saint”
17:51 – Arsenius’ rebuke: travel, propriety, and the danger of crowds
21:26 – “I will ask God to extinguish the memory of you from my heart”
22:34 – Archbishop’s counsel: not hatred—spiritual self-protection
25:34 – Western unfamiliarity with anchorite solitude and hidden warfare
28:55 – “Don’t talk”: the danger of conversation as spark to temptation
33:18 – Boundaries, propriety, and modern oversharing
37:27 – Curiosity as a spiritual danger: “gluttony for information”
42:54 – Warnings about boys in the cell; temptation and scandal
46:49 – “Three digital P’s”: porn, pious conflict, politics
49:18 – Ephraim the Syrian: chastity on the lips, passion in the soul
54:25 – Scripture imagery, purity, and the need for discernment
56:29 – Cultural reaction to boundaries (public example discussed)
58:16 – Language, identity, and modern framing of sexuality
1:01:40 – Editor’s note on classical culture and the Fathers’ warnings
1:06:03 – “Identity vs. accident”: naming and modern categories
1:07:30 – Mentorship, emotional possession, and distorted attachments
1:10:11 – Psychology vs. spiritual tradition; the need for saints and wisdom
1:14:06 – Closing prayer (Our Father) and blessing

For more the audio only please visit https://philokalia.podbean.com/e/the-evergetinos-book-two-xxix-part-iv/ & to support Fr, who does a lot of podcast here https://www.philokaliaministries.org/ please visit https://patron.podbean.com/fatherdavidabernethy & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴
Sensus Fidelium Press - sensusfideliumpress.com

Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/
🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻

▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium

▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.us for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more.

▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms
🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium
🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/
🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311
🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/
🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c
🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c
🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium
🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium
🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium
🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium

#DesertFathers #SpiritualWarfare #PurityOfHeart #OrthodoxChristianity #Catholicism #JesusPrayer #GuardYourHeart #Temptation